strongman

/ˈstrɒŋmæn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstrɔːŋmæn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstrȯŋ-ˌman/ (ame, mw)

strongman — 名詞

  • strongmansingular
  • strongmansplural

1. a man who amazes people with his exceptional physical power, often performing in

1.名詞B1
釋義

大力士

以驚人力氣表演或比賽的男子

a man who amazes people with his exceptional physical power, often performing in a circus or competing in events that test strength, such as lifting heavy objects or pulling large vehicles.

例句

The crowd at the county fair gasped when the strongman bent a thick steel bar with his bare hands.

縣市園遊會上的群眾看到大力士徒手彎曲一根粗鋼條時，都倒抽了一口氣。

strongman + bends / lifts / pulls (verbs of physical feats)

Hiroshi trained for three years before he qualified to compete as a strongman at the national games in Osaka.

Hiroshi 訓練了三年，才取得資格在大阪的全國比賽中以大力士身分出賽。

compete as a strongman

同義詞
  • strength athlete

    broader term that includes both men and women; less common in everyday speech

  • powerlifter

    refers to a specific sport (squat, bench press, deadlift), not strongman events like truck pulling

  • weightlifter

    usually refers to Olympic weightlifting (snatch and clean-and-jerk), not the same as strongman

反義詞
  • weakling

    a person who is physically weak — informal and often insulting

文法句型

strongman + verb (lifts, performs, competes)

strongman + noun (competition, event, act)

用法筆記

The plural is 'strongmen' (/ˈstrɒŋmɛn/). This sense is distinct from 'bodybuilder' (who focuses on muscle appearance) and 'weightlifter' (who follows Olympic lifting rules). A strongman performs feats of raw strength such as lifting stones, pulling trucks, or bending metal.

常見錯誤

❌My aunt is a strongman who lifts weights.
✅My aunt is a strongwoman who lifts weights.
💡strongman is gender-specific; use 'strongwoman' or 'strength athlete' for women.
❌He became a strongman by going to the gym every day.
✅He trained in strongman events like the log lift and atlas stone carry.
💡strongman refers to a specific type of strength competition, not just going to the gym.

2. a political leader who keeps power by using force, intimidation, or military con

2.名詞B2
釋義

強人

用武力統治的獨裁領袖

a political leader who keeps power by using force, intimidation, or military control rather than through fair elections or democratic processes.

例句

After the military seized control, the country was ruled by a strongman who jailed anyone who spoke against him.

軍方奪取控制權後，這個國家由一名強人統治，他將任何膽敢批評他的人都關進監獄。

ruled by a strongman (passive pattern for describing a country's situation)

Dozens of journalists fled the nation when the strongman tightened his grip on all independent news organisations.

這名強人加強了對所有獨立新聞機構的控制，數十名記者因此逃離了該國。

同義詞
  • dictator

    more common term; emphasises absolute rule with no legal limits or opposition allowed

  • autocrat

    more formal; describes a ruler with unlimited personal power, not necessarily military

  • tyrant

    strongly negative; emphasises cruel, unjust, and oppressive rule

  • authoritarian

    adjective or noun; broader term for a leader who demands total obedience to authority

反義詞
  • democrat

    a person who supports and follows democratic principles and elections

  • reformer

    a leader who tries to improve systems through peaceful, lawful change

文法句型

strongman + verb (rules, seizes power, crushes, suppresses)

strongman + noun (regime, government, leader, ruler)

用法筆記

Common in news reporting about authoritarian governments. Carries a strongly negative connotation — it implies the leader relies on force and intimidation rather than democratic consent. Distinguished from sense 1 entirely by context: political discussions vs. sports or entertainment.

常見錯誤

❌The CEO of the company is a strongman who makes all the decisions.
✅The CEO of the company is an autocratic leader who makes all the decisions.
💡the political sense of strongman is not used for business leaders; use 'autocratic' or 'domineering' instead.
❌The strongman lifted the car off the trapped driver.' (mixing senses)
✅A strongman competitor lifted the front of the car so the driver could escape.
💡use 'strongman competitor' or 'strength athlete' for physical feats to avoid confusion with the political meaning.