whopper

IPA/ˈwɒpə(r)/
KK[wˈɑpɚ]IPA/ˈwɑːpər/

whopper — noun

  • whoppersingular
  • whoppersplural

1. a thing that is surprisingly large compared with what is normal for that type, o

1.名詞B2
釋義

a thing that is surprisingly large compared with what is normal for that type, often big enough to impress or shock the person who sees it

例句

Joon caught a whopper of a fish at the weekend — it weighed nearly fifteen kilograms.

whopper of a + [noun] pattern

The storm dropped a whopper of a hailstone that dented every parked car.

同義詞
  • giant

    slightly more formal; can be used as an adjective or noun

  • monster

    similar register but tends to emphasise strangeness or threat, not just size

  • mammoth

    more formal and less common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • tiny thing

    no single-word antonym; a phrase is needed for contrast

文法句型

a + whopper + of a + [noun phrase]

用法筆記

Most often used in the pattern a whopper of a + noun to describe a single surprisingly large item. Common in informal conversation rather than formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌I saw a whopper dinosaur at the museum.
✅I saw a whopper of a dinosaur skeleton at the museum.
💡the 'whopper of a' pattern is the standard construction.

2. a statement that is clearly false and deliberately exaggerated, told with the in

2.名詞B2
釋義

a statement that is clearly false and deliberately exaggerated, told with the intention of making someone believe something impossible or unlikely

例句

Nikhil told a real whopper about meeting a famous actor at the supermarket.

collocation: tell + a + whopper

The candidate's promise to cut taxes and increase spending was a complete whopper.

同義詞
  • lie

    neutral term; whopper is more informal and suggests the lie is big and obvious

  • fib

    a small, harmless lie — opposite in scale to a whopper

  • tall tale

    an exaggerated story told for entertainment rather than deception

反義詞
  • truth

    the opposite of any lie

文法句型

tell + a + whopper

用法筆記

Describes an obvious, exaggerated lie — not used for small or believable untruths. Very informal; avoid in formal or professional contexts.

常見錯誤

❌She told a whopper about being five minutes late.
✅She told a whopper about winning the lottery twice in one week.
💡whopper is for big, obvious lies, not minor ones.
❌The witness told a whopper under oath in court.
✅The suspect told a whopper about where he was that night.
💡whopper is too informal for legal or solemn settings.