first-string
/ˌfɜːst ˈstrɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfɜːrst ˈstrɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌfɝːst ˈstrɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfərs(t)-ˈstriŋ/ (ame, mw)
first-string — noun
1. the group a coach picks as the strongest set of players, who normally take the f
the group a coach picks as the strongest set of players, who normally take the field at kickoff and run most of the game
Paloma broke her ankle, so the first-string lost their starting goalkeeper.
the first-string = the regular starting group
After a strong week of practice, Harper finally made the first-string.
make the first-string = earn a place among the starters
Half of the first-string had the flu before the championship game.
Coach Iris rested the first-string during the final preseason match.
Without their two best forwards, Vikram's first-string looked slow on Saturday.
- starting lineup
more common in everyday American sports talk; refers to the exact group on the field at kickoff
- starters
shorter and more informal; usually plural and used the same way
- varsity
mostly American school sports; the top team itself rather than the picked group within it
- second-string
the backup or reserve players who come in when a starter is rested or injured
- bench
informal; the substitute players who wait to be called on
文法句型
the first-string
be on the first-string
make the first-string
用法筆記
Subject is usually a coach, manager, or commentator talking about a sports lineup. Often appears with the definite article. Distinguish from sense 3, which uses the same word figuratively for the top people in any group, not only sports.
常見錯誤
2. the fastest or most successful horse from a stable that owns or trains several r
the fastest or most successful horse from a stable that owns or trains several racehorses together
Putri Stables sent its first-string to the Kentucky Derby last May.
sent its first-string = entered its best horse
Amani believes the first-string of the Spanish stable will win again.
the first-string of [stable]
Trainer Élise rested her first-string until the autumn racing season.
The first-string from the Newmarket yard struggled on the muddy track.
- lead horse
more general; can mean the front-runner in any race rather than the stable's chosen best
- top runner
informal; emphasises speed in current form rather than long-term stable status
文法句型
the first-string of [stable]
be the first-string
用法筆記
Narrow horse-racing use. Subject is usually a stable, trainer, or racing journalist. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 always picks out an individual top horse, not a group of starters.
3. the people that others in an organization see as the strongest or most trusted —
the people that others in an organization see as the strongest or most trusted — for example a law firm's top partners, a newspaper's leading writers, or a band's best musicians
Layla joined the magazine's first-string of feature writers last spring.
first-string of feature writers = the top group
For the merger talks, the law firm sent its first-string to Tokyo.
sent its first-string to [place]
Sivan plays drums for the orchestra's first-string of touring musicians.
The hospital's first-string of surgeons handled every complicated case that night.
- top tier
more formal; talks about a level of quality rather than a specific group of people
- A-team
more informal and idiomatic; same idea but used in everyday speech
- inner circle
stresses being trusted and close to the leader, not just being the strongest
- second-string
the people called on when the top ones are not available
文法句型
the first-string of [group]
[group]'s first-string
用法筆記
Figurative extension of the sports sense. Subject is usually an organization (firm, paper, hospital, band). Use this sense, not sense 1, when no sport or game is involved.
first-string — adjective
1. describing a player or unit that a coach picks as a regular starter on a sports
describing a player or unit that a coach picks as a regular starter on a sports team, rather than a substitute
Jin took over as the first-string quarterback after the season opener.
first-string quarterback = the regular starting player
Three first-string defenders were out injured before the championship match.
Coach Tara named her first-string goalkeeper at Friday's team meeting.
The first-string offense practiced together every morning before the bowl game.
- starting
more common in everyday talk; same job in front of a position noun
- first-team
British equivalent; mainly used in football and rugby
- varsity
American school sports; describes the top team itself, not the individual starter
- second-string
describes a backup or reserve player on the same team
- reserve
more general; covers any substitute kept ready off the field
文法句型
first-string + [player/team noun]
用法筆記
Attributive only — sits in front of a player or unit noun (quarterback, defender, line, offense). Cannot follow 'be': don't say 'she is first-string' on its own; say 'she is a first-string player'.
常見錯誤
2. describing the best player, team, or trained racehorse that a club or stable wil
describing the best player, team, or trained racehorse that a club or stable will put forward when winning matters most
Christopher's stable entered its first-string colt in the autumn cup race.
first-string colt = the stable's top horse
The first-string squad from Madrid faced the toughest draw of the tournament.
Coach Nala saved her first-string runner for the final relay leg.
Both clubs sent their first-string lineup to the charity exhibition match.
- second-string
the backup choice the stable or club uses when the best is unavailable
文法句型
first-string + [player/team/horse noun]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 just says someone is a regular starter; sense 2 emphasises 'the very best one we have' and is the only sense that also covers racehorses. Subject is usually a club, stable, or coach.