gremlin
noun /ˈɡremlɪn/
/ˈɡremlɪn/
- an imaginary creature that people blame when a machine suddenly stops working
（假想的）捣蛋小精灵（机器出故障时人们常归咎于它） - They blamed gremlins in the printer for the fact that the work was late.
他们把工作迟到的事实归咎于印刷工人。 - What wrong with this program? Looks like the gremlins have been at work again!
这个节目有什么问题？看来格林一家又开始工作了！
词源1940s: perhaps suggested by goblin. - They blamed gremlins in the printer for the fact that the work was late.