pocket edition
pocket edition — noun
1. a small, light version of a book, printed so that it fits easily into a coat or
a small, light version of a book, printed so that it fits easily into a coat or jacket and is simple to carry around.
Hugo slipped the pocket edition of the dictionary into his jacket before the train left.
pocket edition of [book] for the small printed version
The bookshop near the station sells pocket editions of every famous novel.
plural: pocket editions of [titles]
Antonia preferred the pocket edition because it weighed almost nothing in her bag.
A pocket edition of the poems was printed for soldiers to read in the trenches.
Imran gave his daughter a pocket edition of the atlas for her birthday.
- paperback
any soft-cover book; not necessarily small enough for a pocket
- compact edition
more formal; stresses reduced size over portability
- hardback
stiff-covered and usually larger and heavier
用法筆記
Almost always paired with 'of' plus a book title or text type ('a pocket edition of the Bible'). The point of contrast is size and portability, not content — the words inside are the same as the full version.
常見錯誤
2. a much smaller version of a person or thing, which keeps the main qualities of t
a much smaller version of a person or thing, which keeps the main qualities of the larger original.
Everyone called the toddler a pocket edition of his grandfather, right down to the slow smile.
pocket edition of [person] for a smaller copy
The new café is a pocket edition of the grand hotel restaurant across the river.
Tamar built a pocket edition of the old castle out of grey cardboard.
The island felt like a pocket edition of the whole country, with hills, farms, and a tiny port.
- miniature
neutral; works as a noun or modifier for a tiny copy
- scaled-down version
plainer; stresses the reduction in size
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is figurative and applies to people, buildings, or places rather than to actual books. The shared idea is 'the same thing, only much smaller'.