tall

/tɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · /tɔːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtȯl/ (ame, mw)

tall — 形容詞

  • tallpositive
  • tallercomparative
  • tallestsuperlative

1. having a height that is noticeably greater than what is usual for people or thin

1.形容詞A2
釋義

高的；身高

高於平均或指特定高度

having a height that is noticeably greater than what is usual for people or things of the same type; also used after a number or measurement to state someone's or something's exact height.

例句

Owen is the tallest boy in his class, standing well above the other children.

Owen 是班上最高的男生，明顯比其他同學高出許多。

superlative: tallest in [group]

The new office building is twenty stories tall and blocks our view of the hills.

那棟新的辦公大樓有二十層樓高，遮住了我們看山的視野。

measurement structure: number + unit + tall

同義詞
  • high

    'High' refers to distance above the ground, not the shape of the object itself (a high shelf, a high mountain), whereas 'tall' describes an object whose vertical dimension is greater than its width.

  • lofty

    More formal and literary; suggests impressive height and often thinness (lofty tower, lofty pine). Much less common than 'tall'.

  • big

    More general; can refer to any dimension or size. Less precise than 'tall' when describing vertical height specifically.

反義詞
  • short

    Direct opposite for both people and objects (a short man, a short wall).

文法句型

tall + noun

be + tall

number + unit + tall

用法筆記

Measurements of height always come before 'tall', never after it: 'six feet tall' (not 'tall six feet'). For people, 'tall' contrasts with 'short'; for objects with a clear vertical dimension (buildings, trees, glasses), 'tall' contrasts with 'low' or 'short' depending on the object.

常見錯誤

❌She is tall 170 centimetres.
✅She is 170 centimetres tall.
💡The measurement always goes before 'tall', not after it.
❌He is more tall than his brother.
✅He is taller than his brother.
💡One-syllable adjectives like 'tall' use the -er suffix for the comparative form.

2. used to describe a task or request that is very hard to complete or fulfil becau

2.形容詞B2
釋義

困難的

指艱鉅難達成的任務

used to describe a task or request that is very hard to complete or fulfil because it demands too much effort, time, or money.

例句

Finishing the renovation in just two weeks is a tall order for the small crew.

對這個小小的工程團隊來說，兩週內完成翻修是項艱鉅的任務。

fixed phrase: tall order

The manager called Mayumi's raise request after two months a tall order.

經理說 Mayumi 工作才兩個月就要求加薪，實在是很難辦到的事。

call + [something] + a tall order

同義詞
  • difficult

    More general and neutral in register. 'Tall order' is stronger and more informal — it suggests the task is almost unreasonable.

  • challenging

    More positive in tone; implies the difficulty is interesting rather than unreasonable.

  • formidable

    More formal; suggests the task inspires fear or respect due to its size or difficulty.

反義詞
  • easy

    Direct opposite in terms of difficulty level.

文法句型

it + be + a tall order + to-infinitive

[something] + be + a tall order

用法筆記

This sense only appears in the fixed expression 'a tall order' (or informally 'a tall ask'). You cannot use 'tall' alone to mean 'difficult' with other nouns — 'a tall mission' or 'a tall task' are not natural.

常見錯誤

❌Getting everyone to agree is a tall task.
✅Getting everyone to agree is a tall order.
💡'Tall' in this sense only combines with 'order', not with other nouns like 'task', 'job', or 'mission'.

3. used to describe a story or account that is greatly exaggerated, containing deta

3.形容詞B2
釋義

誇大的

指情節誇張、難以置信的故事

used to describe a story or account that is greatly exaggerated, containing details that are hard to believe, usually told to amuse people rather than to deceive them.

例句

Grandpa told us a tall tale of catching a fish as long as a boat.

爺爺跟我們講了一個誇張的故事，說他抓到了一條跟船一樣長的魚。

fixed phrase: tall tale

Lukas laughed off the rumour as just another tall story someone had made up.

Lukas 把那則謠言當成別人編造的天方夜譚，一笑置之。

fixed phrase: tall story

同義詞
  • exaggerated

    Neutral and factual; 'exaggerated' simply means made to seem larger or more dramatic than reality.

  • fantastic

    Can mean both 'extremely good' and 'hard to believe'; context determines which meaning applies.

  • unbelievable

    Stronger in tone; suggests the story is genuinely hard to accept as true.

反義詞
  • truthful

    Describes an account that stays close to the facts.

文法句型

tall + tale

tall + story

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the fixed phrases 'tall tale' (more common in American English) or 'tall story' (more common in British English). Unlike 'lie', a 'tall tale' is told for entertainment and listeners usually know it is exaggerated.

常見錯誤

❌He told a tall lie about his weekend.
✅He told a tall tale about his weekend.
💡'Tall' combines only with 'tale' or 'story' for this meaning, not with 'lie', 'joke', or 'rumour'.