stunt
/stʌnt/ (bre, ipa) · /stʌnt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstənt/ (ame, mw)
stunt — noun
- stuntsingular
- stuntsplural
1. A dangerous or exciting action that a trained person performs in a film, televis
A dangerous or exciting action that a trained person performs in a film, television show, or live performance.
The director hired a professional driver to perform the car chase stunt.
collocation: perform + a stunt
Mei-Lin watched in awe as the stunt double leapt from the moving train onto a mattress.
noun modifier: stunt double
Without a safety harness, that jump would be a stunt too dangerous for anyone to attempt.
- feat
More general; can describe any impressive achievement, not necessarily dangerous or for entertainment.
- trick
Often implies deception or skill; 'trick' sounds less physically demanding than 'stunt'.
- daredevil act
More informal; emphasises the risk-taking personality rather than the performance context.
文法句型
stunt + of + noun
perform + a stunt
用法筆記
Countable noun. Collocates strongly with verbs like 'perform', 'carry out', and 'attempt'. The person who performs the action is called a 'stunt performer' or 'stunt double'.
常見錯誤
2. Something that a person or group does deliberately in order to attract public at
Something that a person or group does deliberately in order to attract public attention, especially in a way that seems silly or dishonest.
The politician's public apology was seen as a cheap stunt to win back voters.
collocation: cheap stunt
Jumping into the fountain was a silly stunt that got the students into trouble with the principal.
Omar's publicity stunt involved releasing a hundred balloons into the sky to promote his new shop.
- publicity gimmick
Similar meaning but more specific to marketing contexts; 'gimmick' emphasises the trickery aspect.
- attention grabber
More informal; can be neutral or mildly positive, unlike 'stunt' which is usually critical.
文法句型
publicity stunt
stunt + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Often carries a negative or critical tone. 'Publicity stunt' is the most common fixed phrase. 'Stunt' in this sense typically implies an element of showmanship or dishonesty.
常見錯誤
3. In American football, a defensive tactic where two or more players exchange thei
In American football, a defensive tactic where two or more players exchange their positions on the line of scrimmage immediately before the ball is snapped, aiming to disorient the offensive team.
The linebacker called a stunt to confuse the quarterback right before the snap.
collocation: call a stunt
Coach Rivera's well-timed stunt helped the team stop the running back for a loss of yards.
During the stunt, the defensive end swapped positions with the tackle at the very last second.
- defensive shift
A broader term for any defensive repositioning; 'stunt' is a specific type of shift.
- position swap
More literal explanation of what happens during a stunt, but not the standard football term.
文法句型
call a stunt
run a stunt
用法筆記
American English only; not used in other sports. The term is specific to gridiron football and is uncommon in everyday conversation. Learners may encounter it in sports commentary or video games.
stunt — verb
- stuntpresent simple I / you / we / they
- stunts3rd person singular
- stunting-ing form
- stuntedpast simple
1. To stop something or someone from growing, developing, or improving as much as t
To stop something or someone from growing, developing, or improving as much as they naturally could.
Years of drought have stunted the growth of young trees across the region.
transitive: stunt + noun_phrase (the growth of)
Children who do not get enough nutritious food may have their physical development stunted.
passive: have + noun_phrase + stunted
The lack of funding stunted the research programme before it could produce any useful results.
文法句型
stunt + noun_phrase
be stunted by + noun_phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive form ('be stunted', 'get stunted') when describing the result of a limiting condition. Often used with abstract subjects like poverty, neglect, malnutrition, or lack of resources.
常見錯誤
stunt — adjective
- stuntpositive
- stuntercomparative
- stuntestsuperlative
1. Relating to or used for performing dangerous and exciting actions, especially in
Relating to or used for performing dangerous and exciting actions, especially in films or air shows, typically by a trained professional.
The stunt pilot flew the plane upside down just a few metres above the runway.
adj + noun: stunt pilot
Sophie trained for two years to qualify as a stunt performer in the Hong Kong film industry.
adj + noun: stunt performer
Stunt coordinators plan every dangerous scene very carefully to protect the actors and crew.
- daredevil
Describes a person who enjoys taking risks, but is not a job title; 'daredevil pilot' sounds different from 'stunt pilot'.
文法句型
stunt + noun
用法筆記
This adjective is always used before a noun (attributive only). It has no comparative forms ('more stunt' is incorrect). It combines with job titles like 'stunt pilot', 'stunt driver', 'stunt double', and 'stunt coordinator'.