jalopy

/dʒəˈlɒpi/ (bre, ipa) · /dʒəˈlɑːpi/ (ame, ipa) · /jə-ˈlä-pē/ (ame, mw)

jalopy — noun

  • jalopysingular
  • jalopiesplural

1. a rough-looking old car that often stops working properly

1.名詞C2
釋義

a rough-looking old car that often stops working properly

例句

Reuben keeps a rusty jalopy behind the barn for fishing trips.

collocation: rusty jalopy

The film opens with Adina racing a jalopy through crowded market streets.

pattern: drive or race a jalopy

同義詞
  • clunker

    another informal word for an old car that works badly

  • beater

    informal, often used for a cheap old car driven without much care

反義詞
  • new car

    a recently bought or recently made vehicle

  • luxury car

    a comfortable, expensive car in good condition

用法筆記

Used in informal American English, often with a humorous or critical tone for a car that looks shabby or cannot be trusted to run well.

常見錯誤

❌My father keeps his jalopy in perfect condition.
✅My father keeps his vintage car in perfect condition.
💡Jalopy suggests a shabby or unreliable car, not a carefully maintained one.
❌She drove the jalopy out of the new-car showroom.
✅She drove the new car out of the showroom.
💡Jalopy is not used for something new or polished.