minor-league
/ˈmaɪnə liːɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmaɪnər liːɡ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmaɪ.nəˈliːɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmaɪ.nɚˈliːɡ/ (ame, ipa)
minor-league — 名詞
1. A professional sports league whose teams compete at a level below the most impor
小聯盟
低於最高級別的職業運動聯賽
A professional sports league whose teams compete at a level below the most important league of that sport. In US baseball, this refers to the system of leagues below Major League Baseball where younger players train and gain experience.
Tomás played in the minor leagues for three seasons before joining the Chicago Cubs.
Tomás 在小聯盟打了三個球季，之後才加入芝加哥小熊隊。
prepositional: in the minor leagues
The minor leagues help young baseball players develop their skills through daily games and coaching.
小聯盟系統透過每日比賽和教練指導，幫助年輕棒球選手精進球技。
A new minor league was formed last year for teams in the Pacific Northwest region.
去年成立了一個新的小聯盟，服務太平洋西北地區的球隊。
Rachel signed a contract with a minor league in Florida after graduating from high school.
Rachel 高中畢業後與佛羅里達州的一個小聯盟簽約。
Scouts from every Major League team come to watch the minor-league games for new talent.
各大聯盟球隊的球探都會來看小聯盟的比賽，尋找有潛力的新秀。
- farm system
refers specifically to the development system in baseball, while 'minor league' is the league itself
- developmental league
more generic term used across different sports; less tied to US baseball tradition
- major league
the highest level league in a professional sport
文法句型
play in the minor leagues
minor league + noun
用法筆記
As a noun, the plural form 'minor leagues' is more common when referring to the entire system across a sport. The singular 'minor league' is used for an individual league within that system.
常見錯誤
minor-league — 形容詞
1. Describing the professional sports tier that is one step below the highest-level
小聯盟的
屬於或關於小聯盟的
Describing the professional sports tier that is one step below the highest-level league, especially in US baseball. Used for teams, players, competitions, or facilities at that level.
Yan bought tickets to a minor-league baseball game for his nephew's birthday.
Yan 買了小聯盟棒球賽的門票，作為他姪子的生日禮物。
minor-league + baseball game
The minor-league pitcher threw seven shutout innings in front of the scouts from New York.
那位小聯盟投手在紐約來的球探面前投了七局無失分的好球。
Several minor-league stadiums offer more affordable seats and family-friendly activities than major-league parks.
好幾座小聯盟球場提供比大聯盟球場更實惠的座位和親子活動。
The team hired a new manager from the minor-league system to lead their young players.
球隊從小聯盟體系延攬了一位新總教練來帶領年輕選手。
Omar collects signed balls from minor-league players he meets during road trips across the Midwest.
Omar 收藏了他在中西部各地旅行時遇到的小聯盟球員簽名球。
- farm
used in 'farm team' or 'farm system' specifically for baseball; narrower in scope
- lower-tier
broader — can describe any competitive level, not just sports
- major-league
the highest professional level in a sport
文法句型
minor-league + noun (player, team, game, stadium)
用法筆記
This sense is used only before a noun (attributive position) and does not take comparative forms. 'Minor-league' in this sense is almost always hyphenated when used as an adjective.
常見錯誤
2. Not very important, influential, or impressive when compared to the best or most
二流的
不具重要影響力的
Not very important, influential, or impressive when compared to the best or most respected examples of its kind. Suggests a dismissive judgment about the quality, scale, or seriousness of something.
The local conference felt minor-league compared to the international summit in Geneva.
那場本地會議跟日內瓦的國際高峰會一比，顯得很二流。
pattern: felt minor-league compared to
Théo runs a minor-league website that attracts only a few hundred visitors each month.
Théo 經營一個二流的網站，每個月只有幾百人瀏覽。
Critics described the film as a minor-league attempt at a superhero story with weak acting.
影評人形容那部電影是對超級英雄題材的二流嘗試，演技也很薄弱。
That software company is still minor-league compared to the industry giants in Silicon Valley.
那間軟體公司跟矽谷的業界巨頭比起來，還是很二流。
Saira refused to work for a minor-league operation that could not offer health insurance.
Saira 拒絕為一家連健康保險都無法提供的二流公司工作。
- small-time
more informal, often used for criminals or businesses; 'minor-league' is broader
- second-rate
focuses on quality rather than status; 'minor-league' implies lower standing or influence
- unimportant
more neutral and formal; 'minor-league' has a dismissive, casual tone
- major-league
the metaphorical opposite — important, first-rate, influential
- big-time
informal opposite; suggests high status and success
文法句型
minor-league + noun (effort, operation, attempt, company)
用法筆記
Used informally with a dismissive or slightly contemptuous tone. Often appears in the comparative structure '[something] is minor-league compared to [something else].' Distinguish from sense 1 (SPORTS RANK), which is a neutral description of a sports tier.