checkmate
checkmate — noun
1. In the game of chess, a situation where a player's king is under attack and cann
In the game of chess, a situation where a player's king is under attack and cannot move to any safe square or have the attack blocked, ending the game as a win for the attacker.
The crowd gasped as the grandmaster announced checkmate with her queen.
announce checkmate
After only twelve moves, the computer delivered a quick checkmate against the world champion.
deliver + checkmate
Xiu studied the board carefully, searching for any way to avoid checkmate.
In a speed chess game, Rosa missed checkmate as her clock showed three seconds left.
The final match ended with a rook-and-knight checkmate that amazed the tournament audience.
- stalemate
A draw where the king cannot move but is not under attack
- resignation
When a player gives up before being checkmated
文法句型
be in checkmate
declare checkmate
用法筆記
Often used with verbs like 'announce', 'deliver', or 'force'. When saying a game ends by checkmate, use the preposition 'by' or 'in': 'win by checkmate' or 'end in checkmate.'
常見錯誤
2. A point in a competition, argument, or plan where one side is completely blocked
A point in a competition, argument, or plan where one side is completely blocked and has no way to succeed or recover.
For the struggling technology company, the new government regulations meant financial checkmate.
financial checkmate
The senator quietly admitted checkmate when the hidden evidence was shown to the jury.
admit checkmate
UN and rebel negotiators knew they had reached checkmate after three weeks of talks.
Detective Ayana's careful questions led the suspect into checkmate during the interview.
When the university cancelled the grant, the climate research project faced checkmate.
- victory
The winning outcome that checkmate denies
- breakthrough
A sudden success that ends a difficult situation
文法句型
be checkmate for [someone]
face checkmate
用法筆記
Used figuratively in contexts involving competition, negotiation, politics, or strategy. The metaphor comes from the final position in chess where a king cannot escape.
常見錯誤
checkmate — verb
- checkmate,,present simple I / you / we / they
- checkmatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- checkmates,,he / she / it
- checkmateshe / she / it
- checkmated,,past simple
- checkmatedpast simple
- checkmating,,-ing form
- checkmating-ing form
1. To win at chess by creating a situation where the king of your rival is trapped
To win at chess by creating a situation where the king of your rival is trapped — it stands under attack with no safe square to move to, no piece that can block the attack, and no way to capture the threatening piece.
The young player checkmated her opponent in just fifteen moves.
checkmate + opponent
Caio checkmated the computer program after a long and difficult game.
To win the tournament, Romi needed to checkmate her final opponent within thirty minutes.
Grandmaster So checkmated three opponents in a simultaneous exhibition match last weekend.
During the regional finals, the reigning champion was checkmated with a pawn in a shocking upset.
- resign
When a player gives up before the opponent checkmates them
文法句型
checkmate + opponent
checkmate + king
用法筆記
Transitive — always takes an object (the opponent or the opponent's king). Common in passive voice: 'was checkmated in twelve moves.' Distinguish from verb sense 2, which is figurative.
常見錯誤
2. To completely defeat someone in an argument, competition, or negotiation by leav
To completely defeat someone in an argument, competition, or negotiation by leaving them with no possible countermove or response.
The prosecutor checkmated the witness with a single unexpected question.
checkmate + person + with [tactic]
In the final debate, Manuela checkmated her rival by pointing out the logical error.
The new DNA evidence checkmated the defence lawyer's entire argument in court.
The rival firm's stronger technology checkmated every move the smaller company tried to make.
The clever amendment checkmated the opposition's plan to delay the vote.
- thwart
Means to prevent someone from doing something, not necessarily defeat them completely
- overwhelm
Stronger connotation of force or numbers; checkmate implies clever strategy
- outmanoeuvre
Closer in meaning; suggests strategic skill rather than brute force
- surrender
What the checkmated side does; giving up
- capitulate
Formal; to stop resisting after being defeated
文法句型
checkmate + opponent/plan/argument
用法筆記
Common in informal or journalistic writing about politics, business, and legal battles. The object can be a person, argument, plan, or strategy. Distinguish from verb sense 1, which is strictly about chess.