tailback
/ˈteɪlbæk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈteɪlbæk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtāl-ˌbak How to pronounce tailback (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tailback — noun
- tailbacksingular
- tailbacksplural
1. A situation on a road where many vehicles are moving very slowly or have complet
A situation on a road where many vehicles are moving very slowly or have completely stopped, stretching back over a long distance because a crash, broken-down lorry, or building work is blocking the way ahead.
A crash on the motorway created a tailback stretching almost eight kilometres.
collocation: create a tailback + of length
Drivers sat in the tailback for nearly three hours before the road reopened.
collocation: sit in a tailback
The broken-down lorry on the bridge caused a tailback that reached the city centre.
Local radio warned of a long tailback on the main road due to flooding.
By midday the tailback from the roadworks had grown to over ten miles in length.
- traffic jam
more general term for any traffic congestion, whether moving slowly or stopped
- backup
American English equivalent; also common in everyday US speech
- gridlock
describes a situation where traffic is completely stuck and cannot move at all
- queue
British English for a line of waiting vehicles or people; less specific to road-blockage scenarios
- clear road
a road with no congestion or obstruction
文法句型
a + tailback
tailback + of + length
用法筆記
Commonly used in British English news reports about traffic conditions. American English typically uses 'backup' or 'traffic jam' instead.
常見錯誤
2. An attacking player in American football who starts each play positioned further
An attacking player in American football who starts each play positioned further behind the starting line than the quarterback, with the main job of taking the ball and running forward.
The tailback broke through the defensive line and ran the ball into the end zone.
collocation: tailback + breaks through + defensive line
Coach Andrei told the tailback to stay close behind the quarterback on the next play.
grammar pattern: the + tailback
Sivan has been the team's starting tailback for two seasons and holds the rushing record.
As a tailback, Ryan needs both speed and strength to break tackles from the defenders.
The opposing tailback gained over a hundred and twenty yards in the first half alone.
- running back
a broader term that can include both tailbacks and fullbacks
- halfback
historically interchangeable with tailback; less common in modern US football terminology
- fullback
the offensive back who lines up closer to the line of scrimmage and is primarily a blocker
文法句型
play + tailback
the + team's + tailback
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'fullback', who lines up closer to the line of scrimmage and is usually larger, focused on blocking. The tailback is typically faster and more agile, specialising in running plays.