1.perish的基本意思是“毁灭”“死亡”,多指惨死或暴死,常用在书面语言,尤其是新闻报道中。
2.perish用于被动式,表示“…坏了”“…得要命”“使…难堪”。
3.perish常用作不及物动词,也可用作及物动词。用作及物动词时,接名词或代词作宾语。

perish by(v.+prep.)
〈正〉死于…之下,死于…方式 die by means of (sth)
〔说明〕 perish by常不用于进行体。
▲perish by sth
Anyone who opposes the king shall perish by the sword.反对国王者将死于剑下。


perish from(v.+prep.)
〈正〉因…而死 die from (a cause)
〔说明〕 perish from常不用于进行体。
▲perish from sth
A large number of the soldiers perished from hunger and thirst.很多士兵死于饥渴。
Many people in tropical countries perish from disease.在热带国家,很多人死于疾病。
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perish in(v.+prep.)
〈正〉因…而死,在…中死去 die in (sth such as a cause)
〔说明〕 perish in常不用于进行体。
▲perish in sth
More than 200 people perished in the great floods.在这次大水灾中,二百余人丧生。
Five people perished in the fire.大火中有五人丧生。
Dozens perished in the storm.暴风雨中有数十人死亡。

perish with(v.+prep.)
〔说明〕 perish with常不用于进行体。
▲perish with sth
1.死于…之下,死于…方式 die by means of (sth)
All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.执剑者将死于剑下。
2.由于…而遭受痛苦 suffer because of (sth such as cold or hunger)
The children are always complaining that they are perishing with hunger. Don't take seriously.孩子们总抱怨他们要饿死了,甭拿这个当回事。
I felt ready to perish with cold.我感到我快要冻死了。
Let me in.I'm perishing with cold.让我进去,我要冻死了。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
We were perished with cold.我们冻得要命。
3.因…而变坏,腐烂,腐朽 decay because of (a cause)
Even the best quality rubber will perish with age.即使质量最好的橡胶,时间长了也要老化。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
Hundreds of sheep perished that year because of drought.那年由于干旱,几百头羊突然死去。
The rubber belt has perished.这条胶皮带已经老化了。
Flowers perish when frost comes.当霜冻来临时,花都凋落了。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
Oil on your car tyres will perish them.车胎上的油会腐蚀轮胎的。
Continuous washing has perished the rubber.不断地洗涤使橡皮筋失去弹性。

perish, die, expire, pass away
参见pass条。

perish与thought连用时,在旧英语里表示“祈求”,在现代英语中还可表示极度厌恶或反对,作“但愿不是如此”解。例如:
Perish the thought that Mary should have cancer.但愿玛丽不是得了癌症。
Perish the thought!不要说了!得了!得了!