topple
topple — 動詞
- topplepresent simple I / you / we / they
- toppleshe / she / it
- toppledpast simple
- toppling-ing form
1. When a person or thing becomes unbalanced and falls over, or when a push, shake,
倒下；倒塌
因失去平衡而跌倒或掉落
When a person or thing becomes unbalanced and falls over, or when a push, shake, or impact makes this happen — for example, a pile of plates toppling off a counter, or a rider toppling from a horse.
Theo stacked the books too high, and the whole pile toppled onto the floor.
Theo 把書疊得太高，整疊書轟然倒塌在地板上。
intransitive: topple + adverb/preposition phrase
A strong gust of wind toppled the garden umbrella, sending it rolling across the lawn.
一陣強風吹倒了花園的遮陽傘，讓它滾過了草坪。
transitive: topple + object
The cyclist hit a loose stone and toppled sideways into a hedge, but was not hurt.
那名自行車騎士撞到一顆鬆動的石頭，向側邊倒進樹籬裡，幸好沒有受傷。
During the earthquake, several tall bookshelves toppled over and blocked the library doorway.
地震期間，好幾個高大的書架倒塌下來，擋住了圖書館的門口。
Tanaka gently nudged the first domino, and the entire row toppled in a perfect wave.
Tanaka 輕輕推倒第一塊骨牌，整排骨牌便以完美的波浪狀接連倒下。
topple + in/into — pattern for chain reactions
- topple over
- topple from
- topple onto
- topple sideways
- topple into
- stand upright
to remain stable on the base
- balance
to stay steady without falling
文法句型
topple + object (transitive)
topple + (adverb/preposition phrase) (intransitive)
用法筆記
With an object (transitive), the subject is the force or action that causes the fall; without an object (intransitive), the subject is what falls. This is the only sense that can be used without an object.
常見錯誤
2. to force a person or group in power — such as a president, prime minister, or go
推翻
迫使領導人或政府下台
to force a person or group in power — such as a president, prime minister, or government — to step down, often through protests, a vote of no confidence, or military action.
The protesters vowed to topple the corrupt regime that had ruled the country for two decades.
抗議者誓言要推翻那個統治國家長達二十年的腐敗政權。
topple + regime — typical political object
A series of scandals finally toppled the prime minister after just six months in office.
一連串的醜聞最終迫使那位總理在上任僅六個月後就下台。
topple + [leader] after + [time]
Carlos wrote an article arguing that foreign powers should not help topple elected governments.
Carlos 寫了一篇文章，主張外國勢力不應協助推翻民選政府。
Economic chaos and widespread strikes toppled the coalition government within a single year.
經濟混亂和大規模罷工在一年內就扳倒了聯合政府。
abstract subject (economic chaos) toppling a government
- topple a government
- topple a regime
- topple a leader
- topple from power
文法句型
topple + government/leader/regime
用法筆記
Subject can be a person (a rebel leader), a group (protesters, the military), or an abstract cause (scandal, economic crisis). Object is always a person or institution in power.
常見錯誤
3. to beat an opponent in a contest, especially when they are the top-ranked or mos
擊敗
在比賽中打敗強勁對手
to beat an opponent in a contest, especially when they are the top-ranked or most likely to win — used in sports, business rankings, and other competitive fields.
The young tennis player toppled the defending champion in three straight sets at Wimbledon.
那位年輕網球選手在溫布頓以直落三盤擊敗了衛冕冠軍。
topple + defending champion
A small tech start-up toppled the industry giant with its innovative new smartphone design.
一家小型科技新創公司憑藉創新的智慧型手機設計，扳倒了業界巨頭。
topple + [company/competitor] — business usage
Leila needed just one more win to topple the current title-holder and claim first place.
Leila 只需要再贏一場就能擊敗現任冠軍，登上第一名。
The underdog team toppled the league leaders in a dramatic final-minute goal on Saturday.
那支不被看好的球隊在星期六比賽的最後一分鐘踢進關鍵一球，擊敗了聯賽榜首隊伍。
underdog topples league leaders — common sports narrative pattern
- topple the champion
- topple the leader
- topple from the top spot
- topple the title-holder
- lose to
to be beaten by an opponent
文法句型
topple + opponent/team/champion
用法筆記
Strongly implies that the opponent was in a superior position (champion, leader, top-ranked). Not used for ordinary wins against equal opponents. Compare sense 2 — the core image is knocking someone off the top position.