major-league
major-league — 名詞
1. the highest grouping in professional US sports, especially baseball, where the s
大聯盟
美國職業運動最高層級的聯賽
the highest grouping in professional US sports, especially baseball, where the strongest players and teams compete.
Daichi spent years in the minors before finally making it to the major league.
Daichi 在小聯盟打了好幾年，終於晉升到大聯盟。
make it to the major league — achieve entry
The major league expanded by adding two new teams from the South.
大聯盟擴編，新增了兩支來自南方的球隊。
Yasmin grew up watching major league games on TV every weekend with her grandfather.
Yasmin 小時候每個週末都和祖父在電視上看大聯盟的比賽。
A player traded to a major league club often sees a large jump in salary.
被交易到大聯盟球隊的球員，薪水往往大幅增加。
Teams in the major league play a longer season than those in lower divisions.
大聯盟的球隊賽季比低階聯盟的球隊更長。
- top flight
British English equivalent for the highest level in any sport
- big leagues
colloquial alternative, used both literally and figuratively
- premier league
used in UK/Europe for top-tier soccer; not used for US baseball
- minor league
the lower-level development system for US professional sports
文法句型
the + major league(s)
用法筆記
The noun form is often written as two separate words (major league) or as a plural (the major leagues). As a plural it refers to the whole system of top-level teams. This sense is the literal sports meaning; see the idiom 'the big leagues' for the figurative use.
常見錯誤
major-league — 形容詞
1. relating to or playing in the top-level professional sports league in the United
大聯盟的
屬於或關於美國職業頂級聯賽的
relating to or playing in the top-level professional sports league in the United States, especially in baseball.
Asher signed his first major-league contract at the age of twenty-two.
Asher 在二十二歲那年簽下了他的第一份大聯盟合約。
major-league contract — common collocation
The new stadium was built to major-league standards, with seating for forty thousand fans.
這座新球場按照大聯盟標準建造，可容納四萬名觀眾。
Nora collected baseball cards as a child and always dreamed of playing major-league ball.
Nora 小時候收集棒球卡，一直夢想著打大聯盟的球賽。
A major-league pitcher throws faster and with more control than anyone in the minors.
大聯盟投手的球速比小聯盟任何投手都快，控球也更精準。
Major-league scouts watched every game of the college tournament.
大聯盟球探觀看了每場大學錦標賽。
- top-tier
broader — can be used outside sports, but has no hyphenation rule
- big-league
interchangeable, slightly less formal
- premier
more formal; can be used for any top-level competition
- minor-league
lower level, especially in baseball
文法句型
major-league + noun
用法筆記
The adjective is hyphenated (major-league) when used before a noun. The noun form is written as two separate words (major league). Distinguish from sense 2, which is figurative and not limited to sports.
常見錯誤
2. very important, powerful, or influential within a particular field or activity —
頂尖；重大
非常重要、有影響力的
very important, powerful, or influential within a particular field or activity — for example, a major-league problem is a very serious one, and a major-league talent is someone with outstanding ability.
The merger created a major-league competitor in the global software market.
這項合併案在全球軟體市場創造了一個頂尖的競爭者。
major-league competitor — figurative business use
Antonia faced a major-league decision about whether to move her family to Singapore.
Antonia 面臨一個重大抉擇：是否要舉家搬到新加坡。
That actor is a major-league star now, but he started out in low-budget films.
那位演員現在是一線巨星，但他從低成本電影起家。
The city has a major-league traffic problem that only gets worse each year.
這座城市的交通問題非常嚴重，而且每年都在惡化。
Isabela earned a reputation as a major-league negotiator after settling the strike.
Isabela 在調解罷工後，贏得了頂尖談判專家的名聲。
- big-time
very similar in register and meaning; 'a big-time actor'
- heavyweight
used for people or organizations with great power or influence
- top-notch
focuses on quality rather than power or influence
- small-time
opposite — limited in importance or scale
- minor
less important, as in 'a minor problem'
文法句型
major-league + noun (abstract)
用法筆記
This is a figurative extension of the sports sense. Unlike sense 1, it can apply to any domain (business, politics, entertainment). It is informal and often carries a tone of admiration or intensity. Not used in formal writing.