kingpin
/ˈkɪŋpɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɪŋpɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkiŋ-ˌpin/ (ame, mw)
kingpin — 名詞
- kingpinsingular
- kingpinsplural
1. the single person who matters most in a group, company, or operation — the one w
首腦；核心
組織中最具影響力的決策者
the single person who matters most in a group, company, or operation — the one whose decisions keep everything else running, often used of someone with hidden or behind-the-scenes power, such as a crime boss or a top business figure.
Faisal was the kingpin of the family bakery, and nothing got baked without his approval.
Faisal 是這間家族麵包店的核心人物，沒有經過他的同意，連麵包都不會出爐。
the kingpin of [organization] — central decision-maker
Police arrested the alleged drug kingpin during a raid on a warehouse near the port.
警方在港口附近的倉庫突擊行動中，逮捕了那位涉嫌的毒品首腦。
collocation: drug kingpin — head of a criminal organization
Without Tendai, the start-up lost its kingpin and struggled to keep customers happy.
少了 Tendai，這家新創公司就失去了核心人物，連顧客服務都做不好。
Reporters described the senator as the political kingpin of the southern coastal counties.
記者形容那位參議員是南部沿海各郡的政治首腦。
Felipe acted humble at meetings, but everyone knew he was the real kingpin.
Felipe 在會議上裝得很謙虛，但大家都知道真正的首腦就是他。
- ringleader
stronger criminal connotation; the leader of a small group doing something wrong
- mastermind
emphasises planning and intelligence behind a scheme, not just authority
- boss
neutral and everyday; lacks the sense of hidden or top-tier influence
- linchpin
more abstract; the thing or person without which a system would fall apart
- underling
someone with no real power, working under a kingpin
文法句型
the kingpin of [organization]
用法筆記
Often carries a connotation of hidden or unofficial power; common in journalism about crime, business, or politics. Subject is usually a specific named person, not a group.
常見錯誤
2. in tenpin bowling, the pin standing at the centre of the triangle of ten pins —
中心瓶
保齡球十瓶陣中間的第五瓶
in tenpin bowling, the pin standing at the centre of the triangle of ten pins — usually the fifth pin, behind the front row — which bowlers often try to hit on strike shots.
Niran rolled a curving ball that clipped the kingpin and sent every pin tumbling.
Niran 投出一顆彎曲的球，擦過中心瓶，把所有的瓶子都打倒了。
Coach Rachid told the children that hitting the kingpin straight on rarely produces a strike.
Rachid 教練告訴孩子們，直接打中中心瓶其實很少能擊出全倒。
Esme watched the kingpin wobble for a second before falling against the back pins.
Esme 看著中心瓶搖晃了一下，才往後排的瓶子倒去。
Liang aimed just left of the kingpin and knocked down eight pins.
Liang 瞄準中心瓶的左側，一次打倒了八支瓶子。
- five pin
the technical bowling term for the same centre pin
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: this is the centre pin (the fifth, hidden inside the triangle), not the front pin. Used mainly by bowling coaches and commentators.
3. in some American bowling usage, the front pin at the tip of the triangle — the o
頭瓶
保齡球三角陣最前方的一號瓶
in some American bowling usage, the front pin at the tip of the triangle — the one closest to the bowler, also called the headpin — which is the main target on a first throw.
Aylin's first ball clipped the kingpin and left only the corner pin standing.
Aylin 的第一顆球擦過頭瓶，只剩下角落那支瓶子站著。
Henry asked the coach whether amateurs should aim straight for the kingpin.
Henry 問教練，業餘玩家是否應該直接瞄準頭瓶。
The bowler took a deep breath, focused on the kingpin, and rolled a perfect strike.
保齡球手深吸一口氣，盯著頭瓶，投出一記漂亮的全倒。
Older American bowling guides call the front pin the kingpin, while modern books prefer headpin.
比較舊的美國保齡球指南把最前方那支瓶子稱為 kingpin，而現代書籍偏好 headpin。
- headpin
the modern and more common term for the same front pin
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names the front pin (also called the headpin), not the centre fifth pin. This usage is mainly older American; modern coaches more often say headpin.