tailor-made

/ˌteɪlə ˈmeɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌteɪlər ˈmeɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌtā-lər-ˈmād How to pronounce tailor-made (audio)/ (ame, mw)

tailor-made — adjective

1. describes something made or selected so that it matches a specific need, functio

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes something made or selected so that it matches a specific need, function, or user perfectly, as if it had been created just for that use

例句

The new accounting software is tailor-made for small businesses that do not have a finance team.

tailor-made for [noun phrase]

Naoko bought a hiking backpack that seemed tailor-made for mountain trips, with special pockets for maps.

同義詞
  • custom-built

    more common for physical objects like machines or houses; less flexible for abstract purposes

  • purpose-built

    used for buildings or tools designed from the start for one function

  • bespoke

    formal British English, originally for clothing, now extended to services

  • made-to-order

    focuses on the production process rather than the perfect fit, often for manufactured goods

反義詞
  • off-the-shelf

    describes standard products not designed for a specific user

  • generic

    lacking specific design for a particular need

文法句型

tailor-made for [noun phrase]

tailor-made to [infinitive]

用法筆記

Commonly used in advertising and product descriptions. The pattern 'tailor-made for [person/group]' is more frequent than the infinitive pattern.

常見錯誤

❌This chair is tailor-made comfortable.
✅This chair is tailor-made for comfort.
💡'tailor-made' cannot be used like an ordinary adjective before a bare adjective; it needs 'for' or a 'to'-infinitive.
❌I bought a tailor-made phone case on the street.
✅I bought a phone case that was tailor-made for my phone model.
💡'tailor-made' implies something was custom-created for a specific purpose, not just purchased ready-made.

2. describes a person who possesses exactly the right qualities, experience, or per

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a person who possesses exactly the right qualities, experience, or personality to succeed at a specific job, role, or task

例句

With her background in both engineering and art, Chiara is tailor-made for the job of product designer.

tailor-made for [job/role] — describing a person's suitability

Diego's calm voice and patient manner make him tailor-made for working with young children who feel nervous at the dentist.

同義詞
  • perfect for

    less formal and more general; used in everyday conversation

  • ideally suited to

    slightly more formal, emphasises natural compatibility

  • cut out for

    informal; 'I am not cut out for this job' is a common idiom

反義詞
  • unsuited to

    lacking the necessary qualities for a role

  • wrong for

    informal; a poor match for the position

文法句型

tailor-made for [job/role]

tailor-made to [verb]

用法筆記

Applied to people only. Unlike sense 1 (which can apply to objects or systems), this sense always evaluates a person's fit for a role. Subject is typically a person or their qualities (background, personality, skills).

常見錯誤

❌This car is tailor-made for a mechanic.' (when meaning the mechanic is suited to the car).
✅This mechanic is tailor-made for the job of fixing racing cars.
💡This sense describes the person's suitability, not the object's.

3. describes an item of clothing that a professional garment maker cuts and sews to

3.形容詞B1
釋義

describes an item of clothing that a professional garment maker cuts and sews to fit one customer's body measurements, instead of being mass-produced in standard sizes

例句

Greta wore a tailor-made suit to the award ceremony, and every seam fit her perfectly.

tailor-made + suit — attributive use with clothing item

The shop on the corner makes tailor-made shirts and measures each customer by hand before cutting the cloth.

同義詞
  • bespoke

    formal British term; implies high-quality custom clothing made by a skilled tailor

  • custom-made

    common in American English; can apply to clothing and many other items

  • made-to-measure

    a standard pattern adjusted to fit; less exclusive than true tailor-made

反義詞
  • off-the-rack

    American English; ready-made clothing in standard sizes

  • ready-to-wear

    standard sized clothing sold in shops without custom fitting

文法句型

tailor-made + [item of clothing]

tailor-made suit/dress/shirt

用法筆記

This is the original, literal sense of the word. In modern use it is less frequent than the abstract senses 1 and 2. Distinguish from 'made-to-measure', which often implies a standard pattern adjusted to the buyer; a true tailor-made garment is cut from scratch.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a tailor-made shirt on the internet.
✅I ordered a tailor-made shirt from a tailor who took my measurements online.
💡Buying a standard-size shirt online is not the same as having one tailor-made.
❌tailor-made suit' (writing it without a hyphen after 'tailor').
✅tailor-made suit
💡the hyphen is needed in attributive position (before the noun).

tailor-made — noun