unreel

unreel — verb

  • unreelpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • unreels3rd person singular
  • unreeling-ing form
  • unreeledpast simple

1. to pull or release a length of material such as film, thread, or rope from the c

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to pull or release a length of material such as film, thread, or rope from the cylindrical spool that it is wound around

例句

Daniel carefully unreeled the fishing line from the old wooden spool by the dock.

unreel + object (fishing line) from + location

The projectionist unreeled the film and checked each frame for scratches before the screening.

同義詞
  • unwind

    more general; can describe any coiled material coming loose, not only from a reel

  • unroll

    used when material is rolled into a cylinder, not wound on a spool

  • unspool

    specific to film or tape wound on a spool; more technical

反義詞
  • reel

    to wind something onto a spool

  • wind

    general opposite of unwind

文法句型

unreel + object (film, thread, rope, line)

用法筆記

Object is typically a length of flexible material — fishing line, film, thread, rope, cable, or hose. Use 'from' or 'across' to specify source or destination.

常見錯誤

❌He unreeled the knot in the rope.
✅He untangled the knot in the rope.
💡'unreel' means to unwind from a spool, not to undo a knot.
❌She unraveled the film from the spool.
✅She unreeled the film from the spool.
💡'unravel' means threads come apart; 'unreel' means smooth unwinding from a cylinder.

2. to carry out a series of connected actions or events in a smooth, highly effecti

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to carry out a series of connected actions or events in a smooth, highly effective way — for example, a sports team unreeling a string of victories

例句

The Tigers unreeled five straight wins before the championship game in November.

unreel + number + straight + noun (wins/victories)

Salma unreeled an impressive series of sales figures for the final quarter of the year.

同義詞
  • notch up

    less formal; focuses on accumulating wins or points

  • rattle off

    can apply to both performances and speech; slightly more informal

  • accomplish

    more general; does not convey the sense of smooth sequence

文法句型

unreel + noun phrase (a streak, a series, a run)

用法筆記

Object is always a series of successes (a streak, run, series) or a display of skill. Subject is typically a person, team, or organization. Common in sports journalism and business writing.

常見錯誤

❌The team unreeled a single goal.
✅The team unreeled a string of goals.
💡'unreel' suggests a series, not a single event.
❌He unreeled the award.
✅He won the award.
💡'unreel' describes a process or run of successes, not the achievement itself.

3. to say or produce facts, names, or other pieces of information quickly and easil

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to say or produce facts, names, or other pieces of information quickly and easily, as if reading from a list that unwinds in your mind

例句

Grandpa Otis could unreel the names of every American president without pausing for breath.

unreel + noun phrase + without pausing / stopping

Folake unreeled the entire poem from memory at the school talent show.

同義詞
  • reel off

    the more common idiom; interchangeable in most contexts

  • rattle off

    more informal; suggests speed and casualness

  • recite

    more formal; does not suggest effortless speed

文法句型

unreel + noun phrase (list, names, facts, poem)

用法筆記

Object is memorized or well-known information — a list, facts, names, dates, a poem, a speech. The sense overlaps with 'reel off' and is used similarly in informal contexts.

常見錯誤

❌She unreeled a long conversation.
✅She unreeled a long list of excuses.
💡'unreel' in this sense applies to one-way production of information, not dialogue.
❌He unreeled the answer to the question.
✅He gave the answer.
💡Use 'unreel' only when the output is a series, not a single item.

4. to become loosened and come off the spool or cylinder that something was wound a

4.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to become loosened and come off the spool or cylinder that something was wound around, usually by accident or because of its own weight

例句

The film suddenly unreeled and spilled across the editing room floor in a tangled mess.

The blue thread unreeled from the spool and wrapped itself around the sewing machine pedal.

subject + unreels + from + location

同義詞
  • unwind

    more common; can be transitive or intransitive for most materials

  • unspool

    specifically for tape or film; less common overall

反義詞
  • wind

    to wrap around a spool or cylinder

文法句型

subject + unreels

用法筆記

Subject is the material that was wound — film, tape, thread, rope. Often implies accidental or unintended unwinding. Distinguish from sense 1 (transitive, deliberate action) by checking whether the subject does the action or receives it.

常見錯誤

❌The spool unreeled the thread.
✅The thread unreeled from the spool.
💡The material is the subject; the spool is the source.
❌She unreeled accidentally.
✅The film unreeled accidentally.
💡In the intransitive sense, the material unreels, not the person.

5. to be shown, told, or made known in a gradual, step-by-step way — for example, a

5.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to be shown, told, or made known in a gradual, step-by-step way — for example, a story unreeling scene by scene, or a landscape appearing as you travel

例句

The mystery unreeled scene by scene, keeping the audience guessing until the final credits.

subject + unreels + scene by scene / bit by bit / gradually

The family history unreeled before Folake as she read old letters in the attic.

同義詞
  • unfold

    more common; wider range of contexts, both literal and figurative

  • develop

    focuses on progression rather than the revealing aspect

  • emerge

    suggests something coming into view or becoming known

文法句型

subject (story, scene, events) + unreels

用法筆記

Subject is a narrative (story, plot, documentary), a view (landscape, panorama), or a flow of experience (memory, history). Frequently used with phrases like 'before the eyes of', 'scene by scene', or 'in vivid detail'. Literary or film-review register.

常見錯誤

❌The story unreeled quickly and then stopped.
✅The story unreeled gradually over several chapters.
💡'unreel' emphasises step-by-step unfolding, not speed.
❌He unreeled his life story to the stranger.
✅His life story unreeled as he talked about his past.
💡This sense is intransitive; the story unreels, not the person.