first-string
/ˌfɜːst ˈstrɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfɜːrst ˈstrɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌfɝːst ˈstrɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfərs(t)-ˈstriŋ/ (ame, mw)
first-string — 名詞
1. the group a coach picks as the strongest set of players, who normally take the f
先發陣容
球隊比賽開始時派出的主力球員群
the group a coach picks as the strongest set of players, who normally take the field at kickoff and run most of the game
Paloma broke her ankle, so the first-string lost their starting goalkeeper.
Paloma 腳踝骨折，先發陣容因此失去了首發守門員。
the first-string = the regular starting group
After a strong week of practice, Harper finally made the first-string.
經過一週的努力訓練，Harper 終於擠進先發陣容。
make the first-string = earn a place among the starters
Half of the first-string had the flu before the championship game.
冠軍賽前，先發陣容有一半的人感染流感。
Coach Iris rested the first-string during the final preseason match.
Iris 教練在最後一場熱身賽讓先發陣容輪休。
Without their two best forwards, Vikram's first-string looked slow on Saturday.
少了兩名最佳前鋒，Vikram 的先發陣容週六踢得步調很慢。
- starting lineup
more common in everyday American sports talk; refers to the exact group on the field at kickoff
- starters
shorter and more informal; usually plural and used the same way
- varsity
mostly American school sports; the top team itself rather than the picked group within it
- second-string
the backup or reserve players who come in when a starter is rested or injured
- bench
informal; the substitute players who wait to be called on
文法句型
the first-string
be on the first-string
make the first-string
用法筆記
Subject is usually a coach, manager, or commentator talking about a sports lineup. Often appears with the definite article. Distinguish from sense 3, which uses the same word figuratively for the top people in any group, not only sports.
常見錯誤
2. the fastest or most successful horse from a stable that owns or trains several r
主力賽馬
馬廄中最被看好的那匹競賽用馬
the fastest or most successful horse from a stable that owns or trains several racehorses together
Putri Stables sent its first-string to the Kentucky Derby last May.
Putri 馬廄去年五月派出主力賽馬參加肯塔基大賽。
sent its first-string = entered its best horse
Amani believes the first-string of the Spanish stable will win again.
Amani 認為那家西班牙馬廄的主力賽馬又會奪冠。
the first-string of [stable]
Trainer Élise rested her first-string until the autumn racing season.
訓練師 Élise 讓自己的主力賽馬休養，準備迎接秋季賽季。
The first-string from the Newmarket yard struggled on the muddy track.
Newmarket 馬廄的主力賽馬在泥濘的賽道上跑得相當吃力。
- lead horse
more general; can mean the front-runner in any race rather than the stable's chosen best
- top runner
informal; emphasises speed in current form rather than long-term stable status
文法句型
the first-string of [stable]
be the first-string
用法筆記
Narrow horse-racing use. Subject is usually a stable, trainer, or racing journalist. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 always picks out an individual top horse, not a group of starters.
3. the people that others in an organization see as the strongest or most trusted —
頂尖人馬
組織中最受倚重、最受信賴的那群人
the people that others in an organization see as the strongest or most trusted — for example a law firm's top partners, a newspaper's leading writers, or a band's best musicians
Layla joined the magazine's first-string of feature writers last spring.
Layla 春天加入了這本雜誌的核心特約撰稿團隊。
first-string of feature writers = the top group
For the merger talks, the law firm sent its first-string to Tokyo.
為了併購談判，那家律師事務所派核心成員前往東京。
sent its first-string to [place]
Sivan plays drums for the orchestra's first-string of touring musicians.
Sivan 在管弦樂團頂尖的巡迴樂手陣容中擔任鼓手。
The hospital's first-string of surgeons handled every complicated case that night.
那家醫院的頂尖外科醫師團隊當晚處理了所有複雜的病例。
- top tier
more formal; talks about a level of quality rather than a specific group of people
- A-team
more informal and idiomatic; same idea but used in everyday speech
- inner circle
stresses being trusted and close to the leader, not just being the strongest
- second-string
the people called on when the top ones are not available
文法句型
the first-string of [group]
[group]'s first-string
用法筆記
Figurative extension of the sports sense. Subject is usually an organization (firm, paper, hospital, band). Use this sense, not sense 1, when no sport or game is involved.
first-string — 形容詞
1. describing a player or unit that a coach picks as a regular starter on a sports
先發的
教練固定派上場的主力球員
describing a player or unit that a coach picks as a regular starter on a sports team, rather than a substitute
Jin took over as the first-string quarterback after the season opener.
開季第一場比賽過後，Jin 接下了先發四分衛的位置。
first-string quarterback = the regular starting player
Three first-string defenders were out injured before the championship match.
冠軍賽前，球隊有三名先發後衛因傷缺席。
Coach Tara named her first-string goalkeeper at Friday's team meeting.
Tara 教練在週五的隊內會議上宣布了先發守門員人選。
The first-string offense practiced together every morning before the bowl game.
冠軍盃前夕，先發進攻組每天早上一起練球。
- starting
more common in everyday talk; same job in front of a position noun
- first-team
British equivalent; mainly used in football and rugby
- varsity
American school sports; describes the top team itself, not the individual starter
- second-string
describes a backup or reserve player on the same team
- reserve
more general; covers any substitute kept ready off the field
文法句型
first-string + [player/team noun]
用法筆記
Attributive only — sits in front of a player or unit noun (quarterback, defender, line, offense). Cannot follow 'be': don't say 'she is first-string' on its own; say 'she is a first-string player'.
常見錯誤
2. describing the best player, team, or trained racehorse that a club or stable wil
頂尖主力
俱樂部或馬廄關鍵時刻派出的最佳人選
describing the best player, team, or trained racehorse that a club or stable will put forward when winning matters most
Christopher's stable entered its first-string colt in the autumn cup race.
Christopher 的馬廄派出主力小馬參加秋季盃賽。
first-string colt = the stable's top horse
The first-string squad from Madrid faced the toughest draw of the tournament.
馬德里那支頂尖隊伍在比賽中抽到了最難打的對手。
Coach Nala saved her first-string runner for the final relay leg.
Nala 教練把她最強的跑者留到接力賽的最後一棒。
Both clubs sent their first-string lineup to the charity exhibition match.
兩家俱樂部都派出頂尖陣容參加這場慈善表演賽。
- second-string
the backup choice the stable or club uses when the best is unavailable
文法句型
first-string + [player/team/horse noun]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 just says someone is a regular starter; sense 2 emphasises 'the very best one we have' and is the only sense that also covers racehorses. Subject is usually a club, stable, or coach.