racket
/ˈrækɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈrækɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈra-kət/ (ame, mw)
racket — noun
- racketsingular
- racketsplural
1. An object with a long handle and an oval frame that has strings stretched tightl
An object with a long handle and an oval frame that has strings stretched tightly across it, used in sports like tennis, badminton, and squash to strike a ball or shuttlecock.
Mei swung her racket and hit the tennis ball hard over the net.
tennis racket — common collocation with the sport name
The strings on Wei's badminton racket broke after a year of regular play.
Kwame bought a new squash racket with a lighter frame for better control.
Amara's father taught her how to hold a racket properly when she was eight.
用法筆記
Often used together with the name of the sport: a tennis racket, a badminton racket, or a squash racket. The spelling 'racquet' is also used, especially in British English.
常見錯誤
2. A continuous loud and unpleasant sound that disturbs or annoys people.
A continuous loud and unpleasant sound that disturbs or annoys people.
The site next door made such a racket that Finn could not do his homework.
make a racket — common verb + noun pattern
Omar asked the neighbours to stop the racket, but they turned the music louder.
A terrible racket woke Lucia at two in the morning from the karaoke bar downstairs.
The children in the playground made a cheerful racket that echoed across the park.
用法筆記
This sense is always negative or critical, except when used affectionately to describe lively noise from children or celebrations. 'Make a racket' is the most common fixed expression.
常見錯誤
3. A scheme or enterprise, typically involving fraud or intimidation, that generate
A scheme or enterprise, typically involving fraud or intimidation, that generates profit through illegitimate means.
The police uncovered a drug racket operating in the warehouse district for years.
drug racket — specific type of criminal scheme
Detective Chai spent two years investigating the protection racket that controlled local shopkeepers.
protection racket — classic mafia-style crime
Yuki's uncle lost his savings after putting money into an insurance racket.
The corruption racket involved officials taking bribes from construction firms for contracts.
- scam
more general; can be one-time fraud, while racket suggests an ongoing operation
- fraud
emphasizes deception rather than intimidation
- swindle
focuses on cheating someone out of money
- illegal enterprise
formal term for any criminal business
- legitimate business
a legal, honest commercial activity
用法筆記
Often paired with a specific noun before 'racket' to describe the type of crime, such as 'protection racket', 'drug racket', or 'loan-shark racket'. The person running a racket is called a racketeer.
常見錯誤
4. A situation in which someone charges an unfairly high price for something, espec
A situation in which someone charges an unfairly high price for something, especially a basic necessity or service that people cannot avoid paying for.
The taxi driver charged Ruby five times the normal fare — what a racket.
total racket / complete racket — common intensifier pattern
Tourists complained that beach vendors were running a racket with hugely inflated prices for water.
Jack thinks the hotel's resort fee is a racket to squeeze more money from guests.
The parking company charged fifty dollars for two hours — what an absolute racket.
- rip-off
informal, same meaning — something that costs far too much
- daylight robbery
British idiom for blatant overcharging
- bargain
something bought for a good price; good value
用法筆記
Distinguish from the ILLEGAL SCHEME sense: this sense describes overpricing or unfair fees that are not necessarily criminal, while the ILLEGAL SCHEME sense involves genuine criminal activity such as fraud or extortion.
5. A traditional ball game similar to squash, played indoors on a four-walled court
A traditional ball game similar to squash, played indoors on a four-walled court where participants use long-handled rackets to hit a small, dense ball against the walls.
Zola plays rackets every Wednesday evening at her university sports centre with a friend.
play rackets — verb + sport name pattern
Samir learned rackets while studying in England and still plays at a London club.
Unlike squash, rackets uses a smaller harder ball and solid plaster walls.
The rackets championship was held at the historic Queen's Club in London this year.
- racquets
alternative spelling; same sport
用法筆記
This sense is uncommon and largely restricted to the UK. The sport is different from squash — the ball is harder and smaller, and the court is larger. Many English speakers are only vaguely aware of this meaning.
racket — verb
- racketpresent simple I / you / we / they
- rackets3rd person singular
- racketing-ing form
- racketedpast simple
1. To make a loud, harsh, continuous noise, typically from machinery, vehicles, or
To make a loud, harsh, continuous noise, typically from machinery, vehicles, or a crowd of people moving noisily.
The old generator racketed all night, keeping everyone in the Wong family awake.
machine as subject + racket as verb of sound production
Fans racketed through the streets after the football match, singing and honking car horns.
The printing press racketed loudly in the basement of the newspaper office every morning.
Delivery trucks racketed past Sofia's apartment before sunrise, shaking the windows.
- hush
to become quiet or silent
用法筆記
Less common than the noun sense 'make a racket'. Typically describes mechanical or crowd noise. Not used for a single loud sound — the verb implies sustained or repeated noise.
2. To go out and enjoy oneself in a lively, noisy way, often involving drinking, da
To go out and enjoy oneself in a lively, noisy way, often involving drinking, dancing, and moving from one social spot to another.
The team racketed around the hotel after the championship win until the manager stopped them.
racket around — phrasal movement pattern with 'around'
Deepa's neighbours were racketing again on Saturday with loud singing and laughter in the garden.
The students racketed from one bar to the next, celebrating the end of exams.
Vikram smiled remembering how he and his cousins racketed about during summer holidays as teenagers.
- settle down
to become calm and quiet after excitement
文法句型
often followed by 'about' or 'around'
用法筆記
This verb is now rare and somewhat old-fashioned. Most modern speakers would use 'party', 'carouse', or 'go out' instead. Often used with 'about' or 'around' to suggest movement through different places.