roly-poly
roly-poly — adjective
1. having a small body that looks pleasantly plump and almost like a ball
having a small body that looks pleasantly plump and almost like a ball
The roly-poly toddler laughed while chasing bubbles across the yard.
roly-poly + noun for a small child
Pedro carried the roly-poly baby upstairs after bath time.
Our roly-poly uncle danced first when the wedding band began.
The roly-poly baker bowed to the children after the puppet show.
文法句型
a roly-poly + baby/child/person
look roly-poly in + clothes
用法筆記
Usually used in a warm or playful way for babies, children, or other small people. It can sound rude if you use it directly about an adult stranger.
常見錯誤
roly-poly — noun
1. a hot pudding made by spreading jam on pastry, rolling it into a tube, and bakin
a hot pudding made by spreading jam on pastry, rolling it into a tube, and baking or steaming it
After Sunday lunch, Grandma served roly-poly with warm custard in blue bowls.
serve roly-poly with custard
The cafe sells apple roly-poly when the weather turns cold and rainy.
apple roly-poly
Tanvi learned to roll the pastry thin enough for roly-poly at school.
We reheated the leftover roly-poly and shared it beside the fireplace.
- jam roll
close everyday description that stresses the filling
- suet pudding
broader category name for similar steamed British desserts
文法句型
serve + roly-poly + with + custard/cream
apple/jam + roly-poly
用法筆記
Mostly used for an old-fashioned British-style dessert and often appears with fillings such as jam or apple. It is commonly served hot with custard.
2. a tiny animal that lives in damp ground, has a tough shell, and can curl into a
a tiny animal that lives in damp ground, has a tough shell, and can curl into a ball
Yumi lifted the flowerpot and found three roly-polies hiding in the soil.
find roly-polies under + object
After the rain, roly-polies crept along the wet wall behind the shed.
The children watched a roly-poly curl into a tight ball on the path.
Christopher moved the stone carefully so the roly-polies could crawl away.
文法句型
a roly-poly + curls into + a ball
find + roly-polies + under + stones/pots
用法筆記
This is an informal everyday name for the small grey creature children often find in gardens. It is especially natural when talking about the way it curls into a ball.
常見錯誤
3. someone, or sometimes an object, that looks small, fat, and round
someone, or sometimes an object, that looks small, fat, and round
Uncle Pedro called the round puppy a little roly-poly and laughed.
call + something + a roly-poly
The twins teased their snowman for looking like a cheerful roly-poly.
At school, Emre hated being called a roly-poly in gym class.
The toy robot waddled across the table like a bright roly-poly.
- chubby one
similarly playful but less fixed as a single word
- dumpling
can be affectionate for a short round person or pet
- beanpole
informal word for someone very tall and thin
文法句型
call + someone/something + a roly-poly
a little/cheerful + roly-poly
用法筆記
Often sounds playful when used for toys, pets, or cartoon-like things, but it may feel teasing or unkind when used for a real person.