cards
cards — noun
1. the separate stiff pieces people hold, deal, and put down when they play games s
the separate stiff pieces people hold, deal, and put down when they play games such as poker or bridge.
Two children spread the cards across the kitchen table before dinner.
spread the cards across the table
The dealer counted the cards twice after one slid under a chair.
Rain ruined the cards that Leo had left beside the open window.
Henrik wiped the cards with a dry cloth after juice spilled.
- playing cards
full term when you want to distinguish them from bank cards or greeting cards
文法句型
deal the cards
shuffle the cards
pick up the cards
用法筆記
This sense names the physical pieces themselves. If you mean the whole pack, say 'the deck'.
常見錯誤
2. card games in general, or the activity of playing with a pack of cards under sha
card games in general, or the activity of playing with a pack of cards under shared rules.
After lunch, Meera's grandparents played cards in the shade behind the house.
play cards - activity use
The campers taught Yan a new game of cards during the storm.
On Friday nights, the neighbors gather downstairs for cards and tea.
Femi stayed late at the club because the cards had not ended.
- card games
names the general type of game rather than one specific game
文法句型
play cards
a game of cards
stay for cards
用法筆記
This meaning is naturally plural. English speakers usually say 'play cards' rather than 'play a card' when they mean the activity.
常見錯誤
3. useful advantages, arguments, or emotional points that someone brings in to stre
useful advantages, arguments, or emotional points that someone brings in to strengthen their position.
The mayor played the jobs card during the debate about the factory closure.
play the [issue] card
Keeping quiet was our best card while the other side argued in public.
The campaign used the safety card to win support from worried parents.
When prices rose again, the union finally had a strong card to use.
- trump card
stronger metaphor for the advantage that can decide the result
- leverage
more formal and less image-based
文法句型
play the [issue] card
have a strong card
keep a card in reserve
用法筆記
Very often used in the expression 'play the ... card', especially in politics or arguments. The word refers to leverage, not to a literal object.
4. decorated cards people send or give to mark birthdays, holidays, sympathy, thank
decorated cards people send or give to mark birthdays, holidays, sympathy, thanks, or other important moments.
Niran taped the thank-you cards to the gifts before the wedding dinner.
thank-you cards
The class made birthday cards for the nurse who visits every Tuesday.
Our aunt keeps old Christmas cards in a blue box by the sofa.
Beatrix bought sympathy cards after hearing about her neighbor's loss.
- greeting cards
full term and the most explicit name for this sense
文法句型
send cards
make cards
buy cards
用法筆記
This short form usually refers to greeting cards, not business cards or bank cards. The occasion is often stated before 'cards': birthday cards, Christmas cards, sympathy cards.
5. cards that carry a short note and can be posted without putting them inside an e
cards that carry a short note and can be posted without putting them inside an envelope.
Rafael mailed three cards from Lisbon on the last day of his trip.
mail cards from + place
The museum shop sold cards showing old maps of the harbor.
Matthew pinned the cards from his cousins onto the bedroom wall.
We wrote short cards home because the hotel internet kept failing.
- postcards
the common full name in everyday use
文法句型
send cards home
mail cards from [place]
buy cards at a shop
用法筆記
In modern English, 'postcards' is usually the fuller word. This shorter form appears when the travel or holiday context already makes the meaning clear.
6. bank or credit cards that people use to pay for things or get money from a machi
bank or credit cards that people use to pay for things or get money from a machine.
The bakery now accepts cards, so nobody needs coins for morning coffee.
accept cards - payment method
I left my cards at home and had to borrow bus fare.
The clerk asked whether the damaged cards still worked in the machine.
Tourists should tell their bank before using cards overseas.
- bank cards
broad term for cards linked to a bank account or payment system
- credit cards
specific type used for borrowing and payment
- cash
payment by physical money rather than by card
文法句型
accept cards
pay by card
use cards overseas
用法筆記
Most common in shops and travel talk. If you need the specific type, say 'credit cards', 'debit cards', or 'bank cards'.
常見錯誤
7. small cards that show personal details, business contact information, or another
small cards that show personal details, business contact information, or another identifying message.
The leader collected the cards with each volunteer's phone number before the hike.
cards with contact details
The interns clipped name cards to their jackets for the welcome event.
A nurse checked the emergency cards inside each child's school bag.
The artist handed out business cards after the small gallery talk.
- ID cards
specific when the card proves identity
- business cards
specific when the card gives work contact details
文法句型
hand out cards
collect cards
write details on cards
用法筆記
This sense covers several practical kinds of card. The exact noun before 'card' often shows the function: business card, ID card, name card, emergency card.
8. picture cards that people swap, keep in albums, or buy and sell as a hobby.
picture cards that people swap, keep in albums, or buy and sell as a hobby.
Emre traded baseball cards with a classmate during the lunch break.
trade baseball cards
The shop keeps rare cards in locked glass cases near the counter.
Meera sorted her football cards by year and team color.
An online buyer paid hundreds of dollars for the signed cards.
- trading cards
the usual full name for these hobby items
文法句型
trade cards
collect cards
sort cards by team
用法筆記
Often appears with the sport, film, or series named before 'cards'. The focus is on collecting and trading, not on playing a game.
9. electronic boards that fit inside a computer or device so it can handle graphics
electronic boards that fit inside a computer or device so it can handle graphics, sound, networking, or another task.
The repair shop ordered new graphics cards for the office computers.
graphics cards - computer hardware
Old desktop machines often need extra cards for faster network connections.
The engineer removed the cards carefully before moving the server rack.
Dust had covered the sound cards inside the music studio computer.
- expansion cards
more technical full term for boards added to a computer
文法句型
graphics cards
sound cards
network cards
用法筆記
Commonly modified by the function they control: graphics cards, sound cards, network cards, memory cards. The sense belongs to computing, not to games with cards.
10. the scheduled set of matches or contests at a boxing show or another sports even
the scheduled set of matches or contests at a boxing show or another sports event.
Fans downloaded the fight cards before choosing which match to watch.
fight cards - scheduled bouts
The promoter changed the cards after two boxers pulled out.
Local radio announced the festival cards for the weekend races.
- line-up
less metaphorical word for the scheduled set of events
文法句型
fight cards
change the cards
announce the cards
用法筆記
Most often heard in combat sports such as boxing or mixed martial arts. It refers to the line-up of contests, not to tickets or printed menus.
11. printed cards on a table or bar that show what food or drinks can be ordered.
printed cards on a table or bar that show what food or drinks can be ordered.
Small dessert cards stood beside every plate at the hotel banquet.
dessert cards on tables
The waiter replaced the cards when the chef added a new soup.
Each table had wine cards in both English and Japanese.
- menu
broader everyday word that is not always printed on a card
文法句型
wine cards
dessert cards
replace the cards
用法筆記
This is a fairly formal restaurant or banquet use. In ordinary conversation, speakers more often say 'menu' or 'wine list'.
cards — verb
1. to ask someone to show identification, usually to check age before entry, alcoho
to ask someone to show identification, usually to check age before entry, alcohol sales, or another restricted service.
The bartender carded Leo before serving the first beer of the night.
card + person - ask for identification
Security carded everyone entering the concert after the evening show started.
The cashier carded Christopher because the cough medicine was age-restricted.
Nobody carded the tourists at the quiet beach bar.
- ID
informal verb with a similar meaning, especially in passive-style use
文法句型
card + person
get carded
用法筆記
The object is the person, not the ID card itself. Most common in bars, shops, concerts, and other places with age checks.
常見錯誤
2. to attach a card label to something, or to record details on a card so the item
to attach a card label to something, or to record details on a card so the item can be filed or tracked.
Warehouse staff carded every sample before loading the boxes onto the truck.
card + object - attach a label card
The librarian carded the new maps so students could find them later.
A volunteer carded each coat with the owner's number at the theater.
Before computers arrived, clerks carded customer records by hand.
文法句型
card + object
card records by hand
card each sample
用法筆記
This sense belongs to filing, cataloging, stock control, or labeling. It sounds formal and is often linked to older paper-based systems.