| 释义 |
noun bɔːlbɔl 1A solid or hollow spherical or egg-shaped object that is kicked, thrown, or hit in a game. 球 板球。 Example sentencesExamples - The ball cannoned off the keeper on to the post before spinning agonisingly over the line.
- Not every child gets a cricket bat, rugby ball, pair of football boots or spikes as a Christmas or birthday present.
- In those days we were just a bunch of street kids playing cricket with a tennis ball and practising drop kicks over the telephone wires.
- We're playing street soccer, and the ball is kicked way over the fence onto the road behind the court.
- When we returned to Bristol they'd want to throw a baseball with the big gloves and everything rather than a cricket ball.
- It was a little dangerous as we were worried that our oldest son might kick the soccer ball over the wire and set off the alarms.
- I had enough of pebbles being kicked up at my car, of balls purposely thrown at my windshield, of gargantuan sized twelve year olds banging on my trunk.
- Heather darted for the ball as it came back to her left side and hit it with a backhand.
- If you see one having fun with a soccer ball then you should immediately kick the ball into the river or ocean.
- On Sunday it rang to the sounds of snooker balls being shot across the snooker tables, playing host to a snooker competition.
- Can you imagine… it must be about twenty five years that I haven't held a cricket ball.
- Shoot hoops or kick a soccer ball around in the yard with your children as often as you can.
- As a child, I studied a little, did a bit of mischief and played a lot of cricket with a tennis ball.
- I could throw a cricket ball a mile, so that's how I got into it at school.
- He tried to dribble the ball, soccer style, around the goalie.
- Jess would rather spend her time kicking a soccer ball round the park with the boys.
- He threw the ball wide to leave their number 12 free to score under the post.
- Coaches end up teaching the teens how to kick a soccer ball, leap hurdles or swing a bat.
- He encourages time-wasting and has even thrown balls on the pitch to hinder games.
- Forcing his opponent to drop the ball, he flashed in to kick the ball over the line and dive onto it to score a great try.
Synonyms sphere, globe, orb, globule, spherule, spheroid, ovoid - 1.1 A spherical object or mass of material.
一团羊毛。 he crushed the card into a ball 他把卡片捏成一团。 Example sentencesExamples - Suddenly there was a ball of flame and the flash lit up the kitchen area.
- Little boys cluster around stopped cars, offering bags of almonds and popcorn balls.
- It's not a developing human being but just a microscopic ball of cells that we can use.
- It's a kind of chocolate bomb, a ball of crisp chocolate that crackles and splits to reveal delicious chocolate ice cream inside.
- Remove from heat and quickly beat in all the flour, stirring with a wooden spoon until it forms a solid ball.
- Turn the ball of dough onto a floured surface and knead gently until smooth.
- Suddenly the boat exploded into a great ball of flame, sending pieces of it skyward.
- She hurriedly retrieved the ball of paper and slowly flattening it out.
- These fizzing bath oil balls are solid drops that can be added to bath water.
- A ball of plutonium is surrounded with explosives, all of which detonate at precisely the same moment and with exactly the same power.
- Scrape the ball off the spoon onto a well-floured worksurface and knead it.
- It exploded in an orange ball of flame sending sand and metal fragments flying.
- Susan watched in horror through her kitchen window as a ball of flame came screaming out of the night sky and scored a direct hit on the garden shed.
- The big ball of black smoke rising into the sky are pretty definite signs something has gone wrong.
- The car looked like a crumpled ball of metal.
- Then they chew the fibrous fruit into a ball of pulp and spend ages sucking out the goodness.
- Remove the dough and knead two or three times to form a ball of light dough.
- In that moment, my cousin's image began to unravel all at once, like an unclenched ball of yarn.
- It burst and there was a grey ball of smoke high up above the plaza.
- Armed with a long ash sapling, a ball of cord, a baited hook, a box of worms and a cork I arrived on schedule.
Synonyms sphere, globe, orb, globule, spherule, spheroid, ovoid - 1.2historical A solid non-explosive missile for a firearm.
〈史〉（炮）弹丸 Example sentencesExamples - Eight of the lead musket balls have been flattened from impact, while others show mold lines, indicating that they had never been used.
- But history books fail to impart the human toll, whereas this series forces the reader to see the bodies run through with bayonets or lead balls.
- As the barrage of musket balls continued to cascade down, the sailors hurried to tie the ropes, and scramble up after the two containers.
- Also uncovered were musket balls, cannonballs, a grenade and tools.
- Michael Taylor says lead musket balls were made on the site and the team has found spills of molten lead that have formed small hollows in the ground.
Synonyms bullet, projectile, shot, pellet, slug, lead - 1.3mass noun A game played with a ball.
球类运动 he comes across a group of kids playing ball 他遇见一群打球的小孩子。 - 1.4North American mass noun Baseball.
〈北美〉棒球 kids have been playing ball in that lot for almost a hundred years young men would graduate from college and enter pro ball 年轻人将从大学毕业并开始职业棒球生涯。 Example sentencesExamples - He has played only two full years of pro ball but probably will be ready for the majors within two years.
- They told him to forsake his usual practice of pitching in winter ball and rest.
- He challenged his brother to a game of ball.
- He is not playing high school ball and is working on completing his high school requirements.
- Once I was old enough to play organized ball, there was lots of baseball, no football.
- I really thought my days of pro ball would end and I'd be on the first train back East the next morning.
- So if your priority is to teach your players the game, then club ball may be for you.
- In fact, disputes among tribes in the region were sometimes settled by a game of ball.
- Every year pro ball bears less and less resemblance to the game collegians and kids play.
- All the guys who played high school ball wore ankle weights, so I started wearing them, too.
- Most of the kids went on to play varsity high school ball and a couple played in college.
- The cramps possibly were a side effect of a pulled muscle suffered in winter ball last year.
- To the surprise of even his own countrymen, he preferred to play winter ball.
- Though Williams never played high school or college ball, basketball was his thing.
- He fully realizes how rare it is to play high school, college, and pro ball in the same city.
- Detroit makes the most of its limited roster by playing some of the best team ball in the League.
- If they keep playing this entertaining ball, the network will be back.
- They just came out and played real good team ball and they played well and they flat-out beat us.
- Speaking of college ball though, did you see how many games ended on last second shots yesterday?
- They also see vast potential in a back who played only one season of college ball.
2(in cricket) a delivery of the ball by the bowler to the batsman. 〔板球〕投球 his half century came off only forty balls - 2.1 (in soccer) a pass of the ball in a specified direction or manner.
〔英足〕传球 Whelan sent a long ball to Goddard 惠兰将球长传给戈达德。 - 2.2 (in baseball) a pitch delivered outside the strike zone which the batter does not attempt to hit.
〔棒球〕（投手投出的）坏球 he ignored it completely, and the umpire called it a ball
3The rounded protuberant part of the foot at the base of the big toe. 大脚趾球 Example sentencesExamples - The skin over the ball of the foot was callused and thickened, and in the middle was a pale area that was 5 mm in diameter.
- The kicking surface can be the ball of the foot, the flat underside of the foot, or as demonstrated here, using the toes.
- After cleansing, massage feet in small circular motions concentrating on the ball of the foot and joints of each toe.
- High-heeled shoes force women to continually walk around on tiptoe, placing all the body weight on the ball of the foot and pushing the foot toward the toe of the shoe.
- Loop one end of the tubing around the ball of the foot with the injured ankle.
- Softer materials are useful for conditions related to shock, such as shin splints, heel bruising and pain beneath the ball of the foot.
- Alternatively, if you're put off by the needle or the expense, £5.99 will get you a pair of small, gel-filled cushions to pop into your shoes right under the ball of the foot.
- Neuromas often cause a sharp tingling or burning sensation radiating to the toes as well as pain in the ball of the foot and between the toes.
- Demi-pointe, or half point, means balancing on the ball of the foot.
- According to experts, as we age we lose fat under the ball of the foot.
- Spinning on ball of the foot she swept her leg around, kicking him in the head.
- Both heel pain and heel spurs are frequently associated with inflammation of the band of tissue running along the bottom of the foot, from the heel to the ball of the foot.
- Jay ensures that each rep is done using a full range of motion, from deep extension to absolute contraction high up on the ball of the foot.
- In cycling, it's known as ‘hot foot’ - a burning pain in the ball of the foot, perhaps radiating toward the toes.
- Your back foot can be up on the ball of the foot or flat on the ground.
- Padding on the heel, ball of the foot, and instep provides extra cushioning and blister protection, and eases pressure from laces and boot folds.
- You put your knee over the ball of the foot, and that creates a cushion, then the plie puts the heel down as you finish landing.
- There should be lots of fast footwork and each step should be performed on the ball of the foot.
- Lengthening the tendon or an attached calf muscle reduces the pressure on the ball of the foot to help prevent and treat diabetic foot ulcers.
- On the ball of the foot, a lump or callus may form because of too much pressure.
- 3.1 The rounded protuberant part of the hand at the base of the thumb.
大脚趾球 Example sentencesExamples - To do this, combine the thumb with the first finger, striking down with the ball of the thumb and the nail of the first finger and coming up with the fleshy part of the tip of the first finger alone.
- Playing with the hand involves a rocking motion between the thumb or ball of the thumb and the fingers or outside edge of the palm.
- Observation has shown that pinches are taken either with the tips of thumb and two fingers or between the ball of the thumb and top knuckle of the forefinger.
- Therefore, the ball of the thumb is often severely strained, especially when snowboarding.
- When the trigger releases the ball of the thumb presses forward and in that instant the gun is pushed to the right.
- Some archers wear a thumb ring to protect the ball of the thumb from the string when it is released.
- The tip of the second finger curls in toward the ball of the thumb until it is under the mouth of the thimble.
- Take one ball and flatten it on the board with the ball of the thumb, to the thickness of about 3/4 inch.
- The right hand is first put in action, firm pressure being made with the ball of the thumb and the heel of the hand until the median line is reached.
- As a quick check the texture should be similar to that of the ball of the thumb of a closed fist.
- With the ball of the thumb lift the rear ends of the two top cards and slip the tip of the left little finger under them.
- Another method for testing sharpness involves moving the ball of the thumb lightly over the blade edge, while the amateur usually tests the knife by shaving the hair of the forearm.
verb bɔːlbɔl [with object]1Squeeze or form (something) into a rounded shape. 把…捏（揉）成团 Robert balled up his napkin and threw it on to his plate 罗伯特把餐巾揉成一团扔到盘子里。 Example sentencesExamples - A moment later, I catch the dishrag she'd balled up and thrown at me.
- He grinned, balling the cloth napkin on the table and throwing it my way.
- Unclasping the cloak, he caught it before it flew away and balled it untidily to tuck under his arm.
- A whisper that had her, again, balling up the paper and setting it next to its brothers and sisters on the sill.
- She sighed heavily, while balling up the blue rubber glue stuff that stuck her poster to the wall.
- ‘Yeah your mail,’ Sheldon said dryly as she balled up the paper in her hands and flung it at him.
- ‘Ash Stevens, I should have known,’ she muttered before balling up the paper and tossing it to the side.
- I snatched it between thumb and forefinger, balled it into a tight dot, threw it to the. floor.
- Daisy fisted the front of my shirt for a moment, balling it in anger.
- Jessie balled up a napkin and tossed it at Mitch.
- Kevin balled his shirt up and tossed it on the floor.
- ‘Let's get rid of this,’ Marcy said, and balled up the bloody rags and hurled them as far as she could.
- ‘You reminded me of Dieter,’ I choked, balling the pillow in my fists.
- Jackson shrugged, balling up the leftover scraps of his sandwich and stuffing them into his bag.
- Watts balled up the ticket, stuffed it between the officer's badge and chin and told him to ‘take care of it.’
- ‘It worked,’ I said admiringly, balling the socks up again, and throwing them back to him.
- Annabelle nodded, her hands balling her napkin in her lap.
- I turn around and see Eric Chase laughing and balling up another piece of paper.
- Moisten the bread bit by bit, shredding and balling it until consistency is mushy yet firm.
- TJ balled up the card and tossed it into the waste basket.
- ‘I'm coming with you,’ she informed us, balling up her tie and shoving it roughly into her blazer pocket as she got nearer.
- 1.1 Clench (one's fist) tightly.
攥紧（拳头） she balled her fist so that the nails dug into her palms 她攥紧拳头，指甲戳进手掌里。 Example sentencesExamples - Her hands were sweating, but she balled them to contain her shivering.
- She walked out of the room and closed the door, balling her fists.
- I met his angry gaze head on, balling my hands into fists.
- Her hands were balled into fists, and strands of golden hair fell in her eyes and around her face.
- He balled his hands into fists, gritting his teeth tightly.
- He yawned and stretched his arms out, balling his hands into fists.
- The girl balled her tiny, fragile hands into fists, growling ferociously.
- I balled my fists at my sides, shouting, ‘Well, it's not like you would have cared!’
- Even though his arms were crossed I saw that his hands were balled into fists.
- I screamed with rage, balling my fists and practically flying across the table.
- She quietly turned to look at the fountain, balling her fists at her sides.
- Steve balled his hands into fists and crossed his arms over his chest.
- Alex winced with every dab and squeezed her eyes shut, balling her hands into tight fists.
- He balled his fists, squeezing them tightly in anger.
- Her hands were balled into fists and she slumped a little.
- She threw her arms up in frustration, balling her hands into fists.
- As they entered the dining room, everyone looked up to see who it was, and Claire looked at the floor, balling her hands into fists.
- Then I balled my fist and rammed it into his stomach.
- She balled her hands into fists at her sides and clenched her teeth with rage.
- She balled her fist and gently tapped his forehead.
- 1.2no object Form a round shape.
成球（团）状 the fishing nets eventually ball up and sink 渔网最终成团沉下。 Example sentencesExamples - He ducked his head, balling up as the bike spun at a crazy angle and exploded by the forest; he impacted the men, crushing their necks and spines.
- The flex between the plates allows for a better fit and helps prevent snow from balling up underneath (which will cork the points and cause you to slip).
- Tiny mussels balled around the oysters, keeping them small and making them unfit for market.
- The man gave a scream of agony, balling up to clutch at his injury.
- Closer and closer, the lightning force that was balling up in between the two was slowly moving its way towards Maddy.
- I shut my eyes and balled up, but felt nothing at all.
- 1.3 Wrap the root ball of (a tree or shrub) to protect it during transportation.
（移植树木时）将根与泥用麻布包捆成团（以防受伤） Example sentencesExamples - For container or balled & burlapped trees, carefully push a shovel under the root-ball and pry it upward while lifting up on the lower trunk.
- Spring is best for planting, but you can put balled and burlapped or container grown hollies in the ground in early spring or fall.
- Harvesting of balled, live trees may begin after completion of growth in late August or early September if soil moisture conditions are favorable.
- Nursery-bought trees will be either in containers or balled and burlapped.
- Plant balled and burlapped magnolias when they're dormant, or in late spring after growth has started.
- Some people buy live trees that are balled in burlap instead of a cut tree.
2North American vulgar slang Have sexual intercourse with. 〈北美，粗俚〉与（某人）性交 3British no object (of a flower) fail to open properly, decaying in the half-open bud. 〈英〉（花）未开先败
Phrasesthe ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next move. 下一步就看你的了 the ball is firmly in the court of the EC Commission Example sentencesExamples - Rebecca is really energetic, she's a ball of fire.
- If you know in your heart that you're a ball of fire, but just can't get off the couch in the evenings, you might want to look into your diet and exercise programs.
A person full of energy and enthusiasm. 生龙活虎的人
Maintain the momentum of an activity. 使活动继续，保持活动势头 Example sentencesExamples - To keep the ball rolling, I thought I'd share five key themes that resonated for everyone who attended the conference.
- You have to set certain goals on a short term basis to keep the ball rolling.
- Her duty was to breezily keep the ball rolling, maintaining the appearance of a freewheeling, open dialogue while steering the topic in positive directions.
- However the economic decision was made years ago and it has been political will that has kept the ball rolling.
- ‘We're getting better, and we just hope we can keep the ball rolling in the right direction,’ said Edwards.
- A bingo session on Wednesday and a quiz night on Thursday kept the ball rolling ahead of tomorrow's showcase event.
- We've got to keep the ball rolling, otherwise the whole thing could collapse.
- However, we still need to make a constant and vigilant effort to keep the ball rolling.
- Mr Knight told the Evening Press today: ‘I hope I can keep the ball rolling on this.’
- The €150,000 I am allocating today will keep the ball rolling.
keep one's eye on (or take one's eye off) the ball Keep (or fail to keep) one's attention focused on the matter in hand. 集中（或未能集中）注意力 Example sentencesExamples - And pensions wasn't the only occasion when he took his eye off the ball.
- He took his eye off the ball and did not really appreciate that the client was manipulating him.
- I think it's important that it's used as a reality check for everyone so that they don't take their eye off the ball.
- And our worry about this, as your interview suggested earlier, is that we're taking our eye off the ball.
- But we have to stay fully focused and not take our eye off the ball.
- But I can't look too far ahead because the minute you do that you take your eye off the ball.
- We know from experience that dabbling in areas outside your area of expertise takes your eye off the ball of your core business.
- This takes my eye off the ball but fortunately I work with an experienced team so things don't go wrong.
- They can't afford to take their eye off the ball.
- We mustn't take our eye off the ball if we are to continue to improve services in emergency care.
1Alert to new ideas, methods, and trends. 敏锐的，机警的 maintaining contact with customers keeps me on the ball Example sentencesExamples - As it happens his second email indicated that he was on the ball and I needn't have been so concerned.
- She told me I was on the ball, and I gleefully admitted to having counted down the days!
- Luckily he was more on the ball and able to sort me out a disk.
- He warned that the players who step in will have to be on the ball.
- It seems that Jim is really on the ball these days.
- If you are a solicitor, for example, you need to sound on the ball.
- If the fault in this case lies with officials who weren't on the ball, let's see someone deal with them.
- There was also a commentator who seemed rather on the ball.
- I wish we'd been on the ball enough just to get a copy of the swimming pool skit which was the only one that got edited, but we had more on our mind at the time.
- When a customer complains, you need to be on the ball and get things done for them.
- 1.1Indicating competence, alertness, or intelligence.
a woman like that, with so much on the ball Example sentencesExamples - He's also pushing eighty five, and while totally on the ball, surely not as sharp as he was in 1957.
- I was even more amazed to find him personable, intelligent and on the ball.
Synonyms alert, quick-witted, sharp, bright, quick, keen, perceptive, wide awake, responsive, agile, acute, astute
1Work willingly with others; cooperate. 〈非正式〉合作 if his lawyers won't play ball, there's nothing we can do 如果他的律师不合作，我们就没办法了。 Example sentencesExamples - If the tourism board wants to refuse to play ball, then the government will intervene.
- The council must know the hazards and risks but they are not playing ball.
- I catch an early train to the Lake District in the morning, and the camera gets the full test, as long as the weather plays ball.
- Yet profits are likely to suffer over time as additional pension contributions mount up, especially if the employees don't play ball.
- Even Government departments are playing ball.
- It was clear that it had to be done under conditions of confidentiality or Craig wouldn't be willing to play ball.
- But his officials believe the vice-chancellors are willing to play ball.
- We imagine they won't be willing to play ball on this front.
- And what I give him credit for is playing ball with congressional Republicans and having mildly conservative economic policies on trade, on taxes, on regulation.
- If the contractor is willing to play ball, then you can launch the project immediately.
2Baseball
The umpire's command to begin or resume play. Example sentencesExamples - The batter must take her position in the batter's box within 10 seconds after the umpire has declared, "Play Ball."
- Shouts of "play ball" ringing from the home plate umpire are only about a month away at Amgen Field in Thousand Oaks.
start (or get or set) the ball rolling Set an activity in motion; make a start. 开始活动 to start the ball rolling, the government was asked to contribute a million dollars to the fund Example sentencesExamples - The out-going General Manager has started the ball rolling!
- She said: ‘We are delighted students at the University of York are getting behind the Trust and are really grateful for the efforts of Tom, Richard and James for starting the ball rolling.’
- Warren started the ball rolling with a couple of pages that introduced us to the main characters.
- I wanted to get the ball rolling before something happened to change his mind.
- Using his own money and living in his parent's basement, he got the ball rolling on the organisation.
- Sunday's event was such a runaway success that organisers are keen to get the ball rolling on the next one.
- My recommendation is that we get general elections out of the way now and start the ball rolling.
- We have started the ball rolling, now others can take our lead.
- This first closure order has started the ball rolling now and we expect there to be many more.
- I want our meeting in Waterford to set the ball rolling on the next generation of waste management policies - to find a better way of using our natural resources and managing our waste.
informal Everything. 〈北美，非正式〉全部；所有 Example sentencesExamples - However, his nominees suggest that he's going to go straight out and try to go for the whole ball of wax at first.
- They had the perseverance to keep enlarging their vocabulary, their accuracy, their present, past and future verb tenses, the whole ball of wax.
- Alpinism is the whole ball of wax, not just one aspect of climbing.
- That includes a consultation, an exam, and your first adjustment, the whole ball of wax.
- Are we all part of a shrinking world where we can count on our commonalities to keep the whole ball of wax in one piece?
- ‘The quintessential entrepreneur is someone who wants to put his hands around the whole ball of wax,’ says Kriss.
- They still are playing for the whole ball of wax.
- It ties the whole ball of wax together, from studio to director to actors to grips.
- The point of the book is nobody has to take over the whole ball of wax.
- I've said before that a restaurant isn't just about the food but about the whole ball of wax - decor, vibe and service thrown in.
Phrasal VerbsBungle or mismanage something. Example sentencesExamples - I well and truly went over board and completely balled it up.
- Of course, there is also the possibility that you could write a truly outstanding speech, only to then completely balls it up when the time comes to deliver it!
OriginMiddle English: from Old Norse bǫllr, of Germanic origin. The spherical ball dates from the early Middle Ages, and comes from an old Scandinavian word that was the ultimate root of Italian ballotta, from which English took ballot in the mid 16th century, and also of French ballon and Italian ballone ‘large ball’, one of which was the source of balloon. The ball at which people dance is unrelated. It came, in the early 17th century, from French, and goes back to Latin ballare ‘to dance’. This was also the source of ballad (Late Middle English) and ballet (mid 17th century). In America a ball game is a baseball match and a ballpark a baseball stadium. These have entered even British English in phrases such as a whole new ball game, ‘a completely new set of circumstances’, in the (right) ballpark, ‘a particular area or range’, and a ballpark figure (an approximate figure). The dancing sense has notably given us have a ball, meaning ‘enjoy yourself a lot’. This was originally an American expression of the 1930s, but is now used nearly everywhere that English is spoken. Testicles have been balls since the Middle Ages, but the slang sense ‘nonsense’ is Victorian. The meaning ‘courage, determination’ is more recent still, dating only from the 1950s. People often claim that the phrase cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey comes from a former naval custom of storing cannonballs on a brass rack or ‘monkey’. When the weather was very cold the rack could contract and eject the cannonballs. There are some severe problems with this explanation, though. First, cannonballs were stored on a wooden rack, not a brass one. Second, it would have to be extremely cold to cause sufficient contraction in the metal for this to happen. And third, the earliest recorded versions of the phrase (dating from the 19th century) feature noses and tails rather than balls, suggesting that the reference is to a brass statue of a monkey, and that the ‘balls’ are testicles rather than cannonballs. See also bollock, cob, evil
Rhymesall, appal (US appall), awl, Bacall, bawl, befall, Bengal, brawl, call, caul, crawl, Donegal, drawl, drywall, enthral (US enthrall), fall, forestall, gall, Galle, Gaul, hall, haul, maul, miaul, miscall, Montreal, Naipaul, Nepal, orle, pall, Paul, pawl, Saul, schorl, scrawl, seawall, Senegal, shawl, small, sprawl, squall, stall, stonewall, tall, thrall, trawl, wall, waul, wherewithal, withal, yawl noun bɔːlbɔl A formal social gathering for dancing. （正式）舞会 Anne danced with the captain at a fancy-dress ball Example sentencesExamples - That evening at the ball she watched the formal introductions patiently waiting so that she could go and greet Natalie.
- You're probably swanning around the place up there right now in a ball gown and heels…
- However, most did boast a formal music room, where recitals and smaller dances and balls could be held.
- It was long and gauzy; it felt like something that should be worn to a masquerade ball, or a prom.
- It will match any outfit and is perfect for any occasion, from out for the day to a formal ball.
- Built in the 1870s it was the first hall in Auckland for musical activities, balls, social events and even ladies' roller skating.
- I also liked dancing at the palace balls and playing the flute.
- Which was the reason why I still went to balls and the social functions of the season.
- An invitation to a formal dance or ball is the perfect excuse to indulge in your fairytale fantasies.
- The only time she ever puts her hair up is during a ball or formal affair.
- The girls planned their ball gowns for weeks ahead and the talk was about boys from a nearby Catholic school.
- It was the morning of the debutante ball and I was giving Ryan last minute dance lessons.
- I just wanted to tell you that you'll be having a debutante ball on your birthday!
- Banquets, balls, dinner dances, bazaars and fetes, exhibitions and civic receptions were held there in its proud heyday.
- She thought wistfully of the elegant ball gown that had been made just for tonight.
- They were in great demand for hunt balls, ballroom dancing, weddings and other social gatherings.
- He watched as his mother emerged from her room, dressed in her ball gown and sparkling in rubies.
- I had many offers to balls and social gatherings but I had never accepted.
- Social balls and charity have morphed into PR events and openings.
- After all, you don't miss your debutante ball, especially when your family is hosting it.
Synonyms dance, dinner dance, masked ball, masquerade, tea dance North American hoedown, prom French thé dansant informal hop, disco, bop
Phrasesinformal Enjoy oneself greatly. 〈非正式〉狂欢，玩个痛快 I was miserable but he was having a ball Example sentencesExamples - We are having a ball and the weather has just crowned it all.
- Normally I don't enjoy it that much but this year I really had a ball.
- But just before he disappears, he switches off the tape recorder and confides: ‘I'm having a ball!’
- I suppose that some day Jamie and Craig will outgrow all this pretend play, but, for now, they are having a ball, enjoying each other's company and stretching their imaginations.
- The band were loving it and having a ball, the vibe was just amazing.
- Despite the poor weather conditions on the day everyone enjoyed themselves and had a ball.
- The many young Spanish students who are in town over the past few weeks are having a ball and really enjoyed ‘Music Week’.
- If you're the one who's stuck at home, it's easy to imagine your other half having a ball in foreign climes, free from the dreary chores of going to the market and cleaning the house.
- Dave said: ‘I'm having a ball, although part of me obviously misses Thailand.’
- We enjoyed our time at school; we had a ball and it's great to get together and remember those days.
Synonyms have a good time, have a great time, have fun, have the time of one's life enjoy oneself informal let one's hair down, whoop it up, have a fling, make whoopee, push the boat out, paint the town red, live it up
OriginEarly 17th century: from French bal 'a dance', from late Latin ballare 'to dance'; related to Greek ballizein 'to dance' (also ballein 'to throw'). nounbôlbɔl 1A solid or hollow spherical or egg-shaped object that is kicked, thrown, or hit in a game. 球 Example sentencesExamples - He encourages time-wasting and has even thrown balls on the pitch to hinder games.
- Not every child gets a cricket bat, rugby ball, pair of football boots or spikes as a Christmas or birthday present.
- If you see one having fun with a soccer ball then you should immediately kick the ball into the river or ocean.
- On Sunday it rang to the sounds of snooker balls being shot across the snooker tables, playing host to a snooker competition.
- Can you imagine… it must be about twenty five years that I haven't held a cricket ball.
- Coaches end up teaching the teens how to kick a soccer ball, leap hurdles or swing a bat.
- Heather darted for the ball as it came back to her left side and hit it with a backhand.
- Forcing his opponent to drop the ball, he flashed in to kick the ball over the line and dive onto it to score a great try.
- Jess would rather spend her time kicking a soccer ball round the park with the boys.
- I could throw a cricket ball a mile, so that's how I got into it at school.
- As a child, I studied a little, did a bit of mischief and played a lot of cricket with a tennis ball.
- The ball cannoned off the keeper on to the post before spinning agonisingly over the line.
- We're playing street soccer, and the ball is kicked way over the fence onto the road behind the court.
- Shoot hoops or kick a soccer ball around in the yard with your children as often as you can.
- It was a little dangerous as we were worried that our oldest son might kick the soccer ball over the wire and set off the alarms.
- I had enough of pebbles being kicked up at my car, of balls purposely thrown at my windshield, of gargantuan sized twelve year olds banging on my trunk.
- In those days we were just a bunch of street kids playing cricket with a tennis ball and practising drop kicks over the telephone wires.
- He threw the ball wide to leave their number 12 free to score under the post.
- He tried to dribble the ball, soccer style, around the goalie.
- When we returned to Bristol they'd want to throw a baseball with the big gloves and everything rather than a cricket ball.
Synonyms sphere, globe, orb, globule, spherule, spheroid, ovoid - 1.1 A spherical object or mass of material.
一团羊毛。 he crushed the card into a ball 他把卡片捏成一团。 Example sentencesExamples - The big ball of black smoke rising into the sky are pretty definite signs something has gone wrong.
- She hurriedly retrieved the ball of paper and slowly flattening it out.
- Remove from heat and quickly beat in all the flour, stirring with a wooden spoon until it forms a solid ball.
- The car looked like a crumpled ball of metal.
- Little boys cluster around stopped cars, offering bags of almonds and popcorn balls.
- Suddenly the boat exploded into a great ball of flame, sending pieces of it skyward.
- Remove the dough and knead two or three times to form a ball of light dough.
- Scrape the ball off the spoon onto a well-floured worksurface and knead it.
- These fizzing bath oil balls are solid drops that can be added to bath water.
- Then they chew the fibrous fruit into a ball of pulp and spend ages sucking out the goodness.
- It's not a developing human being but just a microscopic ball of cells that we can use.
- Armed with a long ash sapling, a ball of cord, a baited hook, a box of worms and a cork I arrived on schedule.
- Turn the ball of dough onto a floured surface and knead gently until smooth.
- It's a kind of chocolate bomb, a ball of crisp chocolate that crackles and splits to reveal delicious chocolate ice cream inside.
- A ball of plutonium is surrounded with explosives, all of which detonate at precisely the same moment and with exactly the same power.
- It exploded in an orange ball of flame sending sand and metal fragments flying.
- In that moment, my cousin's image began to unravel all at once, like an unclenched ball of yarn.
- Susan watched in horror through her kitchen window as a ball of flame came screaming out of the night sky and scored a direct hit on the garden shed.
- Suddenly there was a ball of flame and the flash lit up the kitchen area.
- It burst and there was a grey ball of smoke high up above the plaza.
Synonyms sphere, globe, orb, globule, spherule, spheroid, ovoid - 1.2historical A solid nonexplosive missile for a firearm.
Example sentencesExamples - As the barrage of musket balls continued to cascade down, the sailors hurried to tie the ropes, and scramble up after the two containers.
- But history books fail to impart the human toll, whereas this series forces the reader to see the bodies run through with bayonets or lead balls.
- Also uncovered were musket balls, cannonballs, a grenade and tools.
- Michael Taylor says lead musket balls were made on the site and the team has found spills of molten lead that have formed small hollows in the ground.
- Eight of the lead musket balls have been flattened from impact, while others show mold lines, indicating that they had never been used.
Synonyms bullet, projectile, shot, pellet, slug, lead - 1.3 A game played with a ball.
球类运动 he comes across a group of kids playing ball 他遇见一群打球的小孩子。 - 1.4North American Baseball.
〈北美〉棒球 kids have been playing ball in that lot for almost a hundred years young men would graduate from college and enter pro ball 年轻人将从大学毕业并开始职业棒球生涯。 Example sentencesExamples - So if your priority is to teach your players the game, then club ball may be for you.
- Once I was old enough to play organized ball, there was lots of baseball, no football.
- They also see vast potential in a back who played only one season of college ball.
- Most of the kids went on to play varsity high school ball and a couple played in college.
- They just came out and played real good team ball and they played well and they flat-out beat us.
- He fully realizes how rare it is to play high school, college, and pro ball in the same city.
- Detroit makes the most of its limited roster by playing some of the best team ball in the League.
- They told him to forsake his usual practice of pitching in winter ball and rest.
- If they keep playing this entertaining ball, the network will be back.
- In fact, disputes among tribes in the region were sometimes settled by a game of ball.
- He has played only two full years of pro ball but probably will be ready for the majors within two years.
- All the guys who played high school ball wore ankle weights, so I started wearing them, too.
- He challenged his brother to a game of ball.
- Every year pro ball bears less and less resemblance to the game collegians and kids play.
- The cramps possibly were a side effect of a pulled muscle suffered in winter ball last year.
- He is not playing high school ball and is working on completing his high school requirements.
- I really thought my days of pro ball would end and I'd be on the first train back East the next morning.
- To the surprise of even his own countrymen, he preferred to play winter ball.
- Though Williams never played high school or college ball, basketball was his thing.
- Speaking of college ball though, did you see how many games ended on last second shots yesterday?
2(in baseball) a pitch delivered outside the strike zone that the batter does not attempt to hit. 〔棒球〕（投手投出的）坏球 the umpire called it a ball Example sentencesExamples - Eight of the next nine pitches were balls and bases were loaded.
- He lacks discipline at the plate and can often look bad swinging at balls outside the strike zone.
- Jimmy threw the next two pitches outside for balls.
- A lefthanded hitter, he has shown good power, aggressively attacking balls in the strike zone.
- Jimmy threw the first three pitches for balls, then two strikes.
- 2.1 (in soccer) a pass of the ball in a specified direction or manner.
〔英足〕传球 Whelan sent a long ball to Goddard 惠兰将球长传给戈达德。 Example sentencesExamples - He is inspirational in the heart of midfield, slipping intelligent balls through to the strikers, and possess a fearsome shot.
- It could be frustrating for Rooney to go from Beckham dropping accurate balls over his shoulder to Everton players delivering wayward passes.
- Van Nistelrooy had been involved in the opening 20 minutes, but a careless ball of his set up the home side's first goal.
- Expecting a cross, they were static as his inswinging ball flew through the box and into the net off the inside of the far post.
- He pounced on a loose ball to and passed to Duff who fed it through to Hasselbaink inside the penalty area.
3The rounded protuberant part of the foot at the base of the big toe. 大脚趾球 Example sentencesExamples - Loop one end of the tubing around the ball of the foot with the injured ankle.
- According to experts, as we age we lose fat under the ball of the foot.
- The skin over the ball of the foot was callused and thickened, and in the middle was a pale area that was 5 mm in diameter.
- Demi-pointe, or half point, means balancing on the ball of the foot.
- Padding on the heel, ball of the foot, and instep provides extra cushioning and blister protection, and eases pressure from laces and boot folds.
- Alternatively, if you're put off by the needle or the expense, £5.99 will get you a pair of small, gel-filled cushions to pop into your shoes right under the ball of the foot.
- Lengthening the tendon or an attached calf muscle reduces the pressure on the ball of the foot to help prevent and treat diabetic foot ulcers.
- Softer materials are useful for conditions related to shock, such as shin splints, heel bruising and pain beneath the ball of the foot.
- High-heeled shoes force women to continually walk around on tiptoe, placing all the body weight on the ball of the foot and pushing the foot toward the toe of the shoe.
- Both heel pain and heel spurs are frequently associated with inflammation of the band of tissue running along the bottom of the foot, from the heel to the ball of the foot.
- Neuromas often cause a sharp tingling or burning sensation radiating to the toes as well as pain in the ball of the foot and between the toes.
- Jay ensures that each rep is done using a full range of motion, from deep extension to absolute contraction high up on the ball of the foot.
- Spinning on ball of the foot she swept her leg around, kicking him in the head.
- You put your knee over the ball of the foot, and that creates a cushion, then the plie puts the heel down as you finish landing.
- The kicking surface can be the ball of the foot, the flat underside of the foot, or as demonstrated here, using the toes.
- Your back foot can be up on the ball of the foot or flat on the ground.
- In cycling, it's known as ‘hot foot’ - a burning pain in the ball of the foot, perhaps radiating toward the toes.
- After cleansing, massage feet in small circular motions concentrating on the ball of the foot and joints of each toe.
- On the ball of the foot, a lump or callus may form because of too much pressure.
- There should be lots of fast footwork and each step should be performed on the ball of the foot.
- 3.1 The rounded protuberant part of the hand at the base of the thumb.
大脚趾球 Example sentencesExamples - As a quick check the texture should be similar to that of the ball of the thumb of a closed fist.
- Take one ball and flatten it on the board with the ball of the thumb, to the thickness of about 3/4 inch.
- The tip of the second finger curls in toward the ball of the thumb until it is under the mouth of the thimble.
- Another method for testing sharpness involves moving the ball of the thumb lightly over the blade edge, while the amateur usually tests the knife by shaving the hair of the forearm.
- The right hand is first put in action, firm pressure being made with the ball of the thumb and the heel of the hand until the median line is reached.
- Therefore, the ball of the thumb is often severely strained, especially when snowboarding.
- With the ball of the thumb lift the rear ends of the two top cards and slip the tip of the left little finger under them.
- Some archers wear a thumb ring to protect the ball of the thumb from the string when it is released.
- Playing with the hand involves a rocking motion between the thumb or ball of the thumb and the fingers or outside edge of the palm.
- When the trigger releases the ball of the thumb presses forward and in that instant the gun is pushed to the right.
- To do this, combine the thumb with the first finger, striking down with the ball of the thumb and the nail of the first finger and coming up with the fleshy part of the tip of the first finger alone.
- Observation has shown that pinches are taken either with the tips of thumb and two fingers or between the ball of the thumb and top knuckle of the forefinger.
verbbôlbɔl [with object]1Squeeze or form (something) into a rounded shape. 把…捏（揉）成团 Robert balled up his napkin and threw it onto his plate 罗伯特把餐巾揉成一团扔到盘子里。 Example sentencesExamples - She sighed heavily, while balling up the blue rubber glue stuff that stuck her poster to the wall.
- ‘Let's get rid of this,’ Marcy said, and balled up the bloody rags and hurled them as far as she could.
- ‘I'm coming with you,’ she informed us, balling up her tie and shoving it roughly into her blazer pocket as she got nearer.
- I turn around and see Eric Chase laughing and balling up another piece of paper.
- Jessie balled up a napkin and tossed it at Mitch.
- Annabelle nodded, her hands balling her napkin in her lap.
- ‘Ash Stevens, I should have known,’ she muttered before balling up the paper and tossing it to the side.
- I snatched it between thumb and forefinger, balled it into a tight dot, threw it to the. floor.
- ‘Yeah your mail,’ Sheldon said dryly as she balled up the paper in her hands and flung it at him.
- Kevin balled his shirt up and tossed it on the floor.
- ‘It worked,’ I said admiringly, balling the socks up again, and throwing them back to him.
- Moisten the bread bit by bit, shredding and balling it until consistency is mushy yet firm.
- Jackson shrugged, balling up the leftover scraps of his sandwich and stuffing them into his bag.
- TJ balled up the card and tossed it into the waste basket.
- A moment later, I catch the dishrag she'd balled up and thrown at me.
- Daisy fisted the front of my shirt for a moment, balling it in anger.
- Watts balled up the ticket, stuffed it between the officer's badge and chin and told him to ‘take care of it.’
- He grinned, balling the cloth napkin on the table and throwing it my way.
- ‘You reminded me of Dieter,’ I choked, balling the pillow in my fists.
- A whisper that had her, again, balling up the paper and setting it next to its brothers and sisters on the sill.
- Unclasping the cloak, he caught it before it flew away and balled it untidily to tuck under his arm.
- 1.1 Clench (one's fist) tightly.
攥紧（拳头） she balled her fist so that the nails dug into her palms 她攥紧拳头，指甲戳进手掌里。 Example sentencesExamples - Her hands were balled into fists, and strands of golden hair fell in her eyes and around her face.
- She balled her fist and gently tapped his forehead.
- Alex winced with every dab and squeezed her eyes shut, balling her hands into tight fists.
- I balled my fists at my sides, shouting, ‘Well, it's not like you would have cared!’
- The girl balled her tiny, fragile hands into fists, growling ferociously.
- She quietly turned to look at the fountain, balling her fists at her sides.
- He balled his hands into fists, gritting his teeth tightly.
- As they entered the dining room, everyone looked up to see who it was, and Claire looked at the floor, balling her hands into fists.
- I met his angry gaze head on, balling my hands into fists.
- I screamed with rage, balling my fists and practically flying across the table.
- Even though his arms were crossed I saw that his hands were balled into fists.
- He yawned and stretched his arms out, balling his hands into fists.
- She walked out of the room and closed the door, balling her fists.
- Her hands were sweating, but she balled them to contain her shivering.
- Then I balled my fist and rammed it into his stomach.
- Steve balled his hands into fists and crossed his arms over his chest.
- Her hands were balled into fists and she slumped a little.
- He balled his fists, squeezing them tightly in anger.
- She balled her hands into fists at her sides and clenched her teeth with rage.
- She threw her arms up in frustration, balling her hands into fists.
- 1.2no object Form a round shape.
成球（团）状 the fishing nets eventually ball up and sink 渔网最终成团沉下。 Example sentencesExamples - I shut my eyes and balled up, but felt nothing at all.
- He ducked his head, balling up as the bike spun at a crazy angle and exploded by the forest; he impacted the men, crushing their necks and spines.
- The flex between the plates allows for a better fit and helps prevent snow from balling up underneath (which will cork the points and cause you to slip).
- The man gave a scream of agony, balling up to clutch at his injury.
- Closer and closer, the lightning force that was balling up in between the two was slowly moving its way towards Maddy.
- Tiny mussels balled around the oysters, keeping them small and making them unfit for market.
- 1.3 Wrap the rootball of (a tree or shrub) to protect it during transportation.
（移植树木时）将根与泥用麻布包捆成团（以防受伤） Example sentencesExamples - Plant balled and burlapped magnolias when they're dormant, or in late spring after growth has started.
- For container or balled & burlapped trees, carefully push a shovel under the root-ball and pry it upward while lifting up on the lower trunk.
- Harvesting of balled, live trees may begin after completion of growth in late August or early September if soil moisture conditions are favorable.
- Some people buy live trees that are balled in burlap instead of a cut tree.
- Spring is best for planting, but you can put balled and burlapped or container grown hollies in the ground in early spring or fall.
- Nursery-bought trees will be either in containers or balled and burlapped.
2North American vulgar slang Have sexual intercourse with. 〈北美，粗俚〉与（某人）性交
Phrasesthe ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next move. 下一步就看你的了 the ball is firmly in the court of the EC Commission Example sentencesExamples - Rebecca is really energetic, she's a ball of fire.
- If you know in your heart that you're a ball of fire, but just can't get off the couch in the evenings, you might want to look into your diet and exercise programs.
A person full of energy and enthusiasm. 生龙活虎的人
Maintain the momentum of an activity. 使活动继续，保持活动势头 Example sentencesExamples - A bingo session on Wednesday and a quiz night on Thursday kept the ball rolling ahead of tomorrow's showcase event.
- We've got to keep the ball rolling, otherwise the whole thing could collapse.
- Mr Knight told the Evening Press today: ‘I hope I can keep the ball rolling on this.’
- Her duty was to breezily keep the ball rolling, maintaining the appearance of a freewheeling, open dialogue while steering the topic in positive directions.
- The €150,000 I am allocating today will keep the ball rolling.
- To keep the ball rolling, I thought I'd share five key themes that resonated for everyone who attended the conference.
- However, we still need to make a constant and vigilant effort to keep the ball rolling.
- You have to set certain goals on a short term basis to keep the ball rolling.
- However the economic decision was made years ago and it has been political will that has kept the ball rolling.
- ‘We're getting better, and we just hope we can keep the ball rolling in the right direction,’ said Edwards.
keep one's eye on (or take one's eye off) the ball Keep (or fail to keep) one's attention focused on the matter in hand. 集中（或未能集中）注意力 Example sentencesExamples - We know from experience that dabbling in areas outside your area of expertise takes your eye off the ball of your core business.
- I think it's important that it's used as a reality check for everyone so that they don't take their eye off the ball.
- We mustn't take our eye off the ball if we are to continue to improve services in emergency care.
- And pensions wasn't the only occasion when he took his eye off the ball.
- They can't afford to take their eye off the ball.
- But I can't look too far ahead because the minute you do that you take your eye off the ball.
- He took his eye off the ball and did not really appreciate that the client was manipulating him.
- But we have to stay fully focused and not take our eye off the ball.
- And our worry about this, as your interview suggested earlier, is that we're taking our eye off the ball.
- This takes my eye off the ball but fortunately I work with an experienced team so things don't go wrong.
1Alert to new ideas, methods, and trends. 敏锐的，机警的 maintaining contact with customers keeps me on the ball Example sentencesExamples - When a customer complains, you need to be on the ball and get things done for them.
- There was also a commentator who seemed rather on the ball.
- It seems that Jim is really on the ball these days.
- If you are a solicitor, for example, you need to sound on the ball.
- As it happens his second email indicated that he was on the ball and I needn't have been so concerned.
- Luckily he was more on the ball and able to sort me out a disk.
- She told me I was on the ball, and I gleefully admitted to having counted down the days!
- He warned that the players who step in will have to be on the ball.
- I wish we'd been on the ball enough just to get a copy of the swimming pool skit which was the only one that got edited, but we had more on our mind at the time.
- If the fault in this case lies with officials who weren't on the ball, let's see someone deal with them.
- 1.1Indicating competence, alertness, or intelligence.
a woman like that, with so much on the ball Example sentencesExamples - He's also pushing eighty five, and while totally on the ball, surely not as sharp as he was in 1957.
- I was even more amazed to find him personable, intelligent and on the ball.
Synonyms alert, quick-witted, sharp, bright, quick, keen, perceptive, wide awake, responsive, agile, acute, astute
1Work willingly with others; cooperate. 〈非正式〉合作 if his lawyers won't play ball, there's nothing we can do 如果他的律师不合作，我们就没办法了。 Example sentencesExamples - We imagine they won't be willing to play ball on this front.
- And what I give him credit for is playing ball with congressional Republicans and having mildly conservative economic policies on trade, on taxes, on regulation.
- But his officials believe the vice-chancellors are willing to play ball.
- If the contractor is willing to play ball, then you can launch the project immediately.
- I catch an early train to the Lake District in the morning, and the camera gets the full test, as long as the weather plays ball.
- Yet profits are likely to suffer over time as additional pension contributions mount up, especially if the employees don't play ball.
- It was clear that it had to be done under conditions of confidentiality or Craig wouldn't be willing to play ball.
- Even Government departments are playing ball.
- If the tourism board wants to refuse to play ball, then the government will intervene.
- The council must know the hazards and risks but they are not playing ball.
2Baseball
The umpire's command to begin or resume play. Example sentencesExamples - Shouts of "play ball" ringing from the home plate umpire are only about a month away at Amgen Field in Thousand Oaks.
- The batter must take her position in the batter's box within 10 seconds after the umpire has declared, "Play Ball."
start (or get or set) the ball rolling Set an activity in motion; make a start. 开始活动 to start the ball rolling, the government was asked to contribute a million dollars to the fund Example sentencesExamples - Sunday's event was such a runaway success that organisers are keen to get the ball rolling on the next one.
- My recommendation is that we get general elections out of the way now and start the ball rolling.
- We have started the ball rolling, now others can take our lead.
- The out-going General Manager has started the ball rolling!
- Using his own money and living in his parent's basement, he got the ball rolling on the organisation.
- This first closure order has started the ball rolling now and we expect there to be many more.
- I wanted to get the ball rolling before something happened to change his mind.
- I want our meeting in Waterford to set the ball rolling on the next generation of waste management policies - to find a better way of using our natural resources and managing our waste.
- She said: ‘We are delighted students at the University of York are getting behind the Trust and are really grateful for the efforts of Tom, Richard and James for starting the ball rolling.’
- Warren started the ball rolling with a couple of pages that introduced us to the main characters.
informal Everything. 〈北美，非正式〉全部；所有 Example sentencesExamples - Alpinism is the whole ball of wax, not just one aspect of climbing.
- The point of the book is nobody has to take over the whole ball of wax.
- Are we all part of a shrinking world where we can count on our commonalities to keep the whole ball of wax in one piece?
- However, his nominees suggest that he's going to go straight out and try to go for the whole ball of wax at first.
- ‘The quintessential entrepreneur is someone who wants to put his hands around the whole ball of wax,’ says Kriss.
- I've said before that a restaurant isn't just about the food but about the whole ball of wax - decor, vibe and service thrown in.
- They had the perseverance to keep enlarging their vocabulary, their accuracy, their present, past and future verb tenses, the whole ball of wax.
- That includes a consultation, an exam, and your first adjustment, the whole ball of wax.
- They still are playing for the whole ball of wax.
- It ties the whole ball of wax together, from studio to director to actors to grips.
Phrasal VerbsBungle or mismanage something. Example sentencesExamples - I well and truly went over board and completely balled it up.
- Of course, there is also the possibility that you could write a truly outstanding speech, only to then completely balls it up when the time comes to deliver it!
OriginMiddle English: from Old Norse bǫllr, of Germanic origin. nounbôlbɔl A formal social gathering for dancing. （正式）舞会 the social season was highlighted by debutante balls Example sentencesExamples - It was long and gauzy; it felt like something that should be worn to a masquerade ball, or a prom.
- Built in the 1870s it was the first hall in Auckland for musical activities, balls, social events and even ladies' roller skating.
- Banquets, balls, dinner dances, bazaars and fetes, exhibitions and civic receptions were held there in its proud heyday.
- It will match any outfit and is perfect for any occasion, from out for the day to a formal ball.
- You're probably swanning around the place up there right now in a ball gown and heels…
- He watched as his mother emerged from her room, dressed in her ball gown and sparkling in rubies.
- Social balls and charity have morphed into PR events and openings.
- That evening at the ball she watched the formal introductions patiently waiting so that she could go and greet Natalie.
- She thought wistfully of the elegant ball gown that had been made just for tonight.
- The only time she ever puts her hair up is during a ball or formal affair.
- I had many offers to balls and social gatherings but I had never accepted.
- Which was the reason why I still went to balls and the social functions of the season.
- I also liked dancing at the palace balls and playing the flute.
- The girls planned their ball gowns for weeks ahead and the talk was about boys from a nearby Catholic school.
- An invitation to a formal dance or ball is the perfect excuse to indulge in your fairytale fantasies.
- They were in great demand for hunt balls, ballroom dancing, weddings and other social gatherings.
- However, most did boast a formal music room, where recitals and smaller dances and balls could be held.
- I just wanted to tell you that you'll be having a debutante ball on your birthday!
- After all, you don't miss your debutante ball, especially when your family is hosting it.
- It was the morning of the debutante ball and I was giving Ryan last minute dance lessons.
Synonyms dance, dinner dance, masked ball, masquerade, tea dance
Phrasesinformal Enjoy oneself greatly; have a lot of fun. 〈非正式〉狂欢，玩个痛快 I had a ball on my fortieth birthday Example sentencesExamples - The band were loving it and having a ball, the vibe was just amazing.
- We enjoyed our time at school; we had a ball and it's great to get together and remember those days.
- The many young Spanish students who are in town over the past few weeks are having a ball and really enjoyed ‘Music Week’.
- Dave said: ‘I'm having a ball, although part of me obviously misses Thailand.’
- Normally I don't enjoy it that much but this year I really had a ball.
- But just before he disappears, he switches off the tape recorder and confides: ‘I'm having a ball!’
- If you're the one who's stuck at home, it's easy to imagine your other half having a ball in foreign climes, free from the dreary chores of going to the market and cleaning the house.
- We are having a ball and the weather has just crowned it all.
- Despite the poor weather conditions on the day everyone enjoyed themselves and had a ball.
- I suppose that some day Jamie and Craig will outgrow all this pretend play, but, for now, they are having a ball, enjoying each other's company and stretching their imaginations.
Synonyms have a good time, have a great time, have fun, have the time of one's life
OriginEarly 17th century: from French bal ‘a dance’, from late Latin ballare ‘to dance’; related to Greek ballizein ‘to dance’ (also ballein ‘to throw’). |