bootlegging

/ˈbuːtleɡɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈutlˌɛɡɪŋ] /ˈbuːtleɡɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈutlˌɛɡɪŋ] /ˈbüt-ˌleg How to pronounce bootleg (audio) -ˌlāg/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbuːt.leɡ/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈutlˌɛɡɪŋ] /ˈbuːt.leɡ/ (ame, ipa)

bootlegging — noun

1. the secret and illegal business of producing, copying, selling, or moving goods

1.名詞C1
釋義

the secret and illegal business of producing, copying, selling, or moving goods such as liquor, cigarettes, films, or music without permission or the proper tax being paid.

例句

Federal agents tied the warehouse fire to cigarette bootlegging along the state line.

cigarette bootlegging + route in a crime report

Padma's grandfather spent two years in prison for bootlegging whiskey during Prohibition.

bootlegging whiskey in a historical alcohol context

同義詞
  • smuggling

    focuses more on secret transport across a border or checkpoint

  • piracy

    used mainly for unauthorized copying or sharing of media

  • trafficking

    suggests a larger organized criminal trade

反義詞
  • legal trade

    sale and movement of goods through authorized channels

文法句型

bootlegging of + noun

be involved in bootlegging

bootlegging + liquor/cigarettes/recordings

用法筆記

Often appears with a noun naming the goods, as in cigarette bootlegging or bootlegging whiskey. In legal and news writing, it commonly occurs near words such as ring, route, operation, and charge.

常見錯誤

He was arrested for bootlegging migrants across the border.
He was arrested for smuggling migrants across the border.
💡bootlegging is used for illegal trade in goods, especially alcohol, cigarettes, or copied products, not for moving people.

2. a tactic used in American football where the quarterback seems to hand the ball

2.名詞C2
釋義

a tactic used in American football where the quarterback seems to hand the ball to a runner, keeps it, and then breaks outside instead.

例句

Near the goal line, bootlegging pulled the linebackers inside and left the edge open.

bootlegging as a goal-line tactic

On film study, Omar saw how bootlegging gave the quarterback room behind the tackle.

bootlegging creates outside space for the quarterback

同義詞
反義詞
  • straight handoff

    a normal running play where the quarterback actually gives the ball away

文法句型

use bootlegging near the goal line

turn to bootlegging

bootlegging off a fake handoff

用法筆記

Used in American football talk, often after verbs like use, teach, stop, or turn to. It refers to the play design itself, not to illegal copying or sales.

常見錯誤

The team used bootlegging in a soccer match.
The team used bootlegging in an American football game.
💡this sense belongs only to American football.

bootlegging — verb