slingshot
/ˈslɪŋʃɒt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈslɪŋʃɑːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsliŋ-ˌshät/ (ame, mw) · /ˈslɪŋ.ʃɒt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈslɪŋ.ʃɑːt/ (ame, ipa)
slingshot — noun
- slingshotsingular
- slingshotsplural
1. a small weapon made from a forked stick and a stretchable band, used to launch p
a small weapon made from a forked stick and a stretchable band, used to launch pebbles or other small objects through the air.
Yuki aimed his slingshot at a tin can on the fence.
The old slingshot hanging in the barn had a worn rubber band.
"old / worn" — typical adjectives for a well-used slingshot
Amina picked up a few pebbles and loaded them into her slingshot.
With a single shot from his slingshot, Diego knocked the apple off the tree branch.
The museum display showed slingshots from different countries and time periods.
文法句型
a slingshot
用法筆記
Countable noun only — the plural form 'slingshots' is common when talking about types or collections. Distinguished from the verb senses, which describe actions rather than a physical object.
常見錯誤
slingshot — verb
- slingshotpresent simple I / you / we / they
- slingshots3rd person singular
- slingshoting-ing form
- slingshotedpast simple
1. in motor sports, to overtake a competitor by closely following their car to redu
in motor sports, to overtake a competitor by closely following their car to reduce wind resistance, then accelerating past them.
Ling slingshotted past the leading car on the final straight of the race.
slingshot past + [competitor] — typical transitive pattern
Marta slingshotted past the leader on the final lap and won the race.
slingshot past + [competitor] — verb intransitive with directional complement
Olu waited for the right moment and slingshotted around the yellow car.
If you time it well, you can slingshot past three cars at once on the back stretch.
- overtake
General term for passing; 'slingshot' adds the specific technique of drafting first.
- draft past
More explicit about the drafting technique; 'slingshot' is more vivid and informal.
文法句型
slingshot past [someone]
slingshot [someone]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the context of car racing (NASCAR, Formula 1). The driver being passed is referred to as the object. Intransitive use ('He slingshotted past') is equally common.
常見錯誤
2. to send someone or something flying through the air or across a space with sudde
to send someone or something flying through the air or across a space with sudden, powerful motion, or to be sent in this way.
The explosion slingshotted pieces of metal across the factory floor.
passive-like transitive: [force] slingshots [object] + direction
Fatima grabbed the rope swing and slingshotted herself over the stream.
reflexive: slingshot + oneself + direction
The roller coaster slingshotted the riders around two tight loops before slowing down.
Theo lost his grip and slingshotted backward off the skateboard ramp.
When the bungee cord snapped, the load slingshotted toward the warehouse wall.
- catch
Opposite direction of motion — catching stops the movement that slingshotting creates.
文法句型
slingshot + object + [direction/preposition]
slingshot + [direction]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by a preposition or adverb indicating direction (across, over, around, toward, backward). Rarely used without a directional complement.
常見錯誤
3. to move someone or something abruptly into a new role, situation, or area of act
to move someone or something abruptly into a new role, situation, or area of activity, especially when the change is sudden and unexpected.
The company's success slingshotted Wei from a small office to a global leadership role.
[success/event] slingshots [person] from [old] to [new]
After the viral video, the singer was slingshotted into the spotlight overnight.
passive: be slingshotted into [situation]
The new technology slingshotted the small hospital ahead of much larger medical centres.
A single lucky investment slingshotted Soren from debt to financial independence.
Elena never expected that her blog would slingshot her into a career as a travel writer.
文法句型
slingshot + object + into + [situation/role]
be slingshotted into + [situation/role]
用法筆記
Used figuratively, not physically. The passive form ('be slingshotted into') is more common than the active. The change is always described as rapid and significant.