temperamental car
- noun
:
coche temperamental
- She refuses to drive her temperamental car long distances because it's so unpredictable.
Examples
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Our old temperamental car broke down again on the way to work.
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You never know if his temperamental car will start in the morning.
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My new temperamental car broke down again!
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Tom's temperamental car has been unreliable for years.
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Her temperamental car breaks down frequently, especially on cold mornings.
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I regret buying a temperamental car that refuses to start when I need it the most.
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Many drivers avoid temperamental cars because they can be frustrating to own.
Synonyms
3
5.2
An old car that is worn out and often breaks down
How Reliable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a car that behaves unpredictably or unreliably' is directly derivable from combining the adjective 'temperamental' (prone to sudden behavior changes) with 'car' (vehicle). This is a straightforward adjectival modification pattern—applying a known adjective to a noun—so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the intended sense.
Etymology
Temperamental car comes from comparing a car to a moody person: temperamental means 'moody', so imagine a car that sometimes starts and sometimes does not. That's why the phrase means 'unpredictable' or 'unreliable'.