joker
/ˈdʒəʊkə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒəʊkər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjō-kər/ (ame, mw)
joker — 名詞
- jokersingular
- jokersplural
1. an extra card in a deck that can stand for different cards, or count as the stro
鬼牌
牌戲中可代任意牌
an extra card in a deck that can stand for different cards, or count as the strongest card, depending on the game's rules.
Daniel saved the joker for the last round and used it as any card.
Daniel 把鬼牌留到最後一輪，當成任何需要的牌來用。
game use: joker as a wild card
Amira won when the joker became the highest card in that family game.
那場家庭牌局裡，鬼牌被算成最大牌時，Amira 就贏了。
game use: highest card by rule
The children cheered when one joker let their weak hand beat mine.
那張鬼牌讓他們原本很弱的牌組反敗為勝，孩子們都歡呼了起來。
In this game, the joker can replace a missing king or queen.
在這個遊戲裡，鬼牌可以替代缺少的國王或皇后。
- wild card
emphasizes the replace-any-card role; not every game uses joker as the highest card
用法筆記
Used in card games and similar table games. Depending on the rules, it may replace another card or outrank the rest of the pack.
2. a person who keeps fooling around, making playful remarks, and trying to get a l
活寶
老愛說笑逗人的人
a person who keeps fooling around, making playful remarks, and trying to get a laugh from other people.
Christopher is such a joker that even the bus driver laughed at his comment.
Christopher 真是個活寶，連公車司機都被他的話逗笑了。
pattern: be such a joker that ...
At lunch, Sofia played the joker and turned every complaint into a joke.
吃午餐時，Sofia 一副活寶樣，把每句抱怨都變成笑話。
pattern: play the joker
Our youngest coach is a joker who keeps the team relaxed before games.
我們最年輕的教練是個活寶，總能在比賽前讓全隊放鬆下來。
Reema married a joker, so their dinner table is never quiet.
Reema 嫁給了一個活寶，所以他們家的晚餐桌總是很熱鬧。
- prankster
suggests someone who plays tricks, not just someone with a lively sense of humor
- wisecracker
focuses on quick funny remarks and can sound slightly sharper
用法筆記
Usually friendly or playful, often describing someone's general personality. If the speaker is irritated by one act, sense 3 is more likely.
3. an informal name for someone who has just done something foolish or irritating a
討厭鬼
惹人生氣的笨傢伙
an informal name for someone who has just done something foolish or irritating and made you lose patience.
Christopher forgot the tickets again, and his sister called him a joker.
Christopher 又忘了帶票，他姊姊就罵他是個討厭鬼。
pattern: call someone a joker
"You joker, you nearly locked us out of the flat," Amira said.
「你這個討厭鬼，差點把我們鎖在門外，」Amira 說。
spoken use: You joker
When Mert spilled paint on the clean floor, the class groaned, "What a joker."
Mert 把油漆灑在乾淨地板上時，全班都哀號：「真是個討厭鬼。」
After Daniel hid the remote, Grandpa called him a joker and took it back.
Daniel 把遙控器藏起來後，Grandpa 罵他是個討厭鬼，接著把遙控器拿了回去。
用法筆記
Usually informal and spoken when the person has just done something annoying or silly. It can sound mild or affectionate, but the speaker is showing irritation, unlike sense 2.
4. a person, event, or condition that suddenly changes where a situation seemed to
變數
會突然改變結果的因素
a person, event, or condition that suddenly changes where a situation seemed to be heading.
The rain was the joker in our picnic plans and sent everyone indoors.
那場雨成了我們野餐計畫裡的變數，把大家都趕進室內。
pattern: the joker in ...
A late injury became the joker in the final and changed the whole match.
臨時受傷成了決賽裡的變數，整場比賽都因此改觀。
For investors, a sudden tax change is the joker in this deal.
對投資人來說，突然的稅制改變就是這筆交易裡的變數。
No one expected the power cut to be the joker in the debate.
沒有人想到停電會成為那場辯論裡的變數。
用法筆記
Usually used about events, conditions, or people that upset a likely result. Unlike sense 5, it is not about wording inside a document.
5. a small, easily missed word or sentence in a legal or official text that quietly
陷阱條款
暗藏玄機的條文
a small, easily missed word or sentence in a legal or official text that quietly changes what the document really allows or blocks.
The contract had a joker that let the company raise the fee later.
那份合約裡有一條陷阱條款，讓公司之後可以調高費用。
legal use: a joker in a contract
Abigail asked a lawyer to check the bill for any joker before signing it.
Abigail 在簽名前請律師檢查那份法案裡有沒有陷阱條款。
One short sentence was the joker in the lease, so the tenants stayed cautious.
租約裡那一句短短的話就是陷阱條款，所以房客們一直很謹慎。
The committee removed the joker from the proposal after the reporter spotted it.
記者發現那條陷阱條款後，委員會就把它從提案裡刪掉了。
用法筆記
Used mainly in legal, political, or contract contexts about wording inside a text. Unlike sense 4, the joker is the clause itself, not a general outside factor.