dolly
/ˈdɒli/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈɑli] /ˈdɑːli/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈɑli] /ˈdä-lē ˈdȯ-lē/ (ame, mw)
dolly — noun
- dollysingular
- dolliesplural
1. the name very young children often use for a doll, especially one they treat lik
the name very young children often use for a doll, especially one they treat like a small baby or person in play.
Imani tucked her dolly under the blanket before going to sleep.
child's word: tuck a dolly into bed
The toddler wheeled a pink dolly around the room in a toy pram.
At nursery, a little boy showed Kabir the missing shoe on his dolly.
Grandma knitted a tiny yellow hat for Élise's favourite dolly.
文法句型
a dolly
play with a dolly
put a dolly to bed
用法筆記
Mostly used by young children, or by adults when talking to them. In neutral adult speech, doll is much more common.
2. a low wheeled platform, often with a handle, that helps one person move large or
a low wheeled platform, often with a handle, that helps one person move large or heavy items such as boxes, fridges, or machines.
The movers slid the washing machine onto a dolly before lifting again.
slide + object + onto a dolly
Mateo pulled the loaded dolly through the narrow storeroom door.
We could move the printer alone once it was strapped to a dolly.
A metal dolly saved the crew from carrying the safe by hand.
- cart
a broader term for many wheeled carriers, often larger or less flat
- hand truck
usually a taller two-wheeled frame, not a low platform under the load
文法句型
move + object + on a dolly
slide + object + onto a dolly
push/pull a dolly
用法筆記
This sense is for equipment used to shift heavy things across the floor. It differs from the film sense, where the dolly carries a camera, and from the mechanic's board that a person lies on.
常見錯誤
3. a wheeled support that a film or television crew places a large camera on so it
a wheeled support that a film or television crew places a large camera on so it can glide smoothly during a shot.
Haruto checked the dolly track before the first camera move.
film set collocation: dolly track
The camera operator rode on the dolly as the actors entered the hall.
A grip locked the dolly beside the stairs while the director changed lenses.
For the wedding scene, the team pushed the dolly slowly past the guests.
- camera platform
a general description, but less fixed as a film-industry term
- camera cart
can mean a transport cart for gear, not specifically the moving shooting base
文法句型
ride on the dolly
lock the dolly
push the dolly
用法筆記
Used in film production for the wheeled base that carries the camera. It refers to the equipment itself, not to the camera movement verb.
常見錯誤
4. a flat wheeled board that a mechanic lies on to slide underneath a car or truck
a flat wheeled board that a mechanic lies on to slide underneath a car or truck while checking or repairing it.
The mechanic lay on a dolly and rolled under the truck.
lie on a dolly / roll under a vehicle
Grease covered the shop dolly after an afternoon of brake repairs.
Ari pushed the dolly back to the wall when the inspection ended.
Without the dolly, the apprentice could not reach the leak under the van.
- creeper
the usual garage term for this wheeled board
- mechanic's creeper
a fuller technical name that avoids confusion with other dolly senses
文法句型
lie on a dolly
roll under + vehicle on a dolly
用法筆記
This is the board the worker lies on, not the platform that carries a fridge or machine. Garages also call it a creeper.
常見錯誤
5. in cricket, a ball hit so gently or so directly to a fielder that the catch shou
in cricket, a ball hit so gently or so directly to a fielder that the catch should be routine.
The captain groaned when the fielder dropped a dolly at mid-off.
cricket collocation: drop a dolly
Even school players usually hold a dolly hit straight to them.
The crowd laughed because the opener looped a dolly to cover.
Nadia called it a dolly the moment the ball climbed into the evening sky.
- sitter
another informal cricket term for a catch that should never be missed
- easy catch
a plain description rather than the sporting slang term
文法句型
drop a dolly
hold a dolly
give + fielder + a dolly
用法筆記
Used informally by cricket players and commentators for a catch that should be extremely easy. A dropped dolly is therefore especially embarrassing.
dolly — verb
- dollypresent simple I / you / we / they
- dollies3rd person singular
- dollying-ing form
- dolliedpast simple
1. to move something by putting it on a wheeled platform and pushing or pulling it
to move something by putting it on a wheeled platform and pushing or pulling it to another place.
The crew dollied the fridge into the lift before the tenants arrived.
dolly + object + into [place]
Two stagehands dollied the speaker cabinets across the arena floor.
We dollied the stone sink through the garden on plywood sheets.
After packing the machine, the team dollied it to the loading bay.
- carry
to lift and move something without using a wheeled platform
文法句型
dolly + object + into/out of/across + place
dolly + object + to + destination
用法筆記
The object is usually a heavy or awkward thing such as furniture, equipment, or machinery. The verb focuses on wheeled movement, not lifting.
常見錯誤
2. in film-making, to move a camera smoothly on its wheeled support while a scene i
in film-making, to move a camera smoothly on its wheeled support while a scene is being filmed.
The cinematographer asked the crew to dolly the camera closer to the door.
dolly + camera + closer to [subject]
During the final shot, the camera dollied past the candles and stopped.
intransitive film use: camera dollied past
The crew dollied slowly towards Mina as she opened the letter.
For the hallway take, a grip dollied out to reveal the whole room.
文法句型
dolly + camera + towards/past/out
camera + dollies + in/out/past
用法筆記
Common with in, out, past, and towards. It describes the camera's smooth wheeled movement, not a zoom made by changing the lens.