tall

IPA/tɔːl/
KK[tˈɔl]IPA/tɔːl/

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

常見搭配
  • tall building
  • tall tree
  • tall man
  • tall woman
  • tall glass
  • tall plant
  • feet tall
  • metres tall
  • grow tall
  • stand 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

常見搭配
  • tall order
  • quite a tall order
  • very tall order
  • a tall ask
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

常見搭配
  • tall tale
  • tall story
  • tell a tall tale
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'.
慣用語

be a tall order

idiom

Something that is very hard to achieve or complete.

難以達成的任務

Finishing this project in one day is a tall order.

Do you think winning the championship is a tall order?

great/tall oaks from little acorns grow

idiom

Large successful things often start from very small beginnings.

合抱之木，生於毫末

Her small bakery became a national chain; great oaks from little acorns grow.

Don't ignore small ideas; tall oaks from little acorns grow.

stand tall

idiom

To show confidence and strength, especially in a difficult situation.

昂首挺立

After the defeat, the coach told the team to stand tall.

She stood tall despite the harsh criticism from the audience.

walk tall

idiom

To feel proud and self-assured.

昂首闊步

After winning the award, he walked tall into the room.

You should walk tall knowing you did your best.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

副詞搭配

常用片語

  • as tall as
  • so tall that