tumble
[tˈʌmbəl] /ˈtəm-bəl How to pronounce tumble (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈtʌm.bəl/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈʌmbəl] /ˈtʌm.bəl/ (ame, ipa)
tumble — 名詞
1. an occasion when someone or something falls suddenly, especially from a standing
跌倒；下跌
突然摔倒或價格暴跌
an occasion when someone or something falls suddenly, especially from a standing or upright position.
The toddler took a tumble on the grass but got right back up.
那個學步的小孩在草地上跌了一跤，但馬上就爬起來了。
phrase: take a tumble
Amir had a nasty tumble from his bicycle when he hit a loose stone.
Amir 騎腳踏車時撞到一顆鬆動的石頭，重重摔了一跤。
phrase: have a tumble
AvaCorp shares took a tumble after the company announced a quarterly loss of fourteen million dollars.
AvaCorp 的股價在公司宣布季度虧損一千四百萬美元後應聲大跌。
Sunita slipped on the wet floor and took a tumble, bruising her elbow badly.
Sunita 在濕滑的地板上滑倒重摔，手肘嚴重挫傷。
An elderly cyclist took a tumble when his front wheel hit a deep pothole on the morning commute.
一位年長騎士在早晨通勤途中前輪陷入一個深坑，重重摔了一跤。
文法句型
have a tumble
take a tumble
用法筆記
Often used with 'take' or 'have' as light verbs. Can be literal (a physical fall) or metaphorical (a drop in value, status, or popularity).
2. a large number of things lying on top of each other in a messy, disorganised way
雜亂一堆
雜亂堆放的物品
a large number of things lying on top of each other in a messy, disorganised way — for example, a tumble of clothes on a bedroom floor.
A tumble of old books and papers covered the desk in the study.
書桌上放著亂七八糟的舊書和文件。
collocation: a tumble of [objects]
Mei-Lin pushed through a tumble of weeds and broken branches in the overgrown garden.
Mei-Lin 穿過雜草叢生、枝葉凌亂的花園。
Rosa's long dark hair fell in a tumble of curls over her shoulders as she leaned forward.
Rosa 的長長黑髮向前傾時，在肩頭散落成一團捲髮。
After the storm, a tumble of roof tiles lay scattered across the driveway.
暴風雨過後，一堆屋瓦碎片散落在車道上。
文法句型
a tumble of [objects]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the pattern 'a tumble of + plural noun'. The noun phrase is typically singular even when describing many objects.
3. a situation in which things or people are not organised or controlled, creating
混亂狀態
混亂無序的局面
a situation in which things or people are not organised or controlled, creating confusion.
The wedding planner's schedule was in a tumble after three suppliers cancelled on the same morning.
婚禮策劃人的行程表亂成一團，因為三家供應商在同一個早上臨時取消。
phrase: in a tumble (confused state)
Ming's room was in a tumble, with clothes and books everywhere after the party.
派對過後，Ming 的房間亂成一團，衣服和書本散落各處。
The office fell into a tumble when the manager left without notice.
經理不告而別後，辦公室陷入了混亂。
Olga's notes were in a tumble, none in the right order for the exam review.
Olga 的筆記全亂了，沒有一份是按照考前複習的正確順序。
文法句型
in a tumble
用法筆記
Typically found in the fixed phrases 'in a tumble' or 'fall into a tumble'. Often describes mental or emotional states rather than physical objects.
tumble — 動詞
- tumblepresent simple I / you / we / they
- tumbles3rd person singular
- tumbling-ing form
- tumbledpast simple
1. to drop suddenly in a way you cannot stop, often rolling or hitting things as yo
跌倒；摔倒
突然失控地倒下
to drop suddenly in a way you cannot stop, often rolling or hitting things as you land.
Hideo slipped on the icy path and tumbled down the steps to the sidewalk.
Hideo 在結冰的小路上滑倒，從台階上滾落到人行道上。
intransitive + direction: tumble down [something]
The pile of boxes near the door tumbled over when a customer bumped into them.
門邊那堆紙箱被一位顧客撞到，全部倒了下來。
phrasal: tumble over
Diego lost his balance on the ladder and tumbled backward into the rose bushes.
Diego 在梯子上失去平衡，往後摔進玫瑰花叢裡。
After the earthquake, several old walls in the village tumbled to the ground.
地震過後，村裡幾道老舊的圍牆倒塌在地。
The toddler tumbled off the sofa while reaching for a toy on the coffee table.
那個學步的小孩為了拿茶几上的玩具，從沙發上摔了下來。
文法句型
tumble + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Frequently used with prepositions of direction: 'down', 'off', 'over', 'into'. Unlike 'fall', tumble often suggests a rolling or bouncing motion during the descent.
常見錯誤
2. to decrease suddenly and sharply in price, value, or amount, often because of ba
暴跌
價格或價值急遽下跌
to decrease suddenly and sharply in price, value, or amount, often because of bad news or panic.
Brent crude oil prices tumbled by more than twelve percent after Saudi Arabia announced a surprise increase in production.
沙烏地阿拉伯宣布意外增產後，布蘭特原油價格暴跌超過百分之十二。
tumble by [percentage]
Nordic Steel's shares tumbled to a five-year low following the sudden resignation of the chief financial officer.
Nordic Steel 的股價在財務長突然辭職後跌至五年來的最低點。
tumble to [new level]
Property values in Osaka's industrial district tumbled after the main factory closed and three thousand workers lost their jobs.
大阪工業區的房地產價格暴跌，因為主工廠關閉導致三千名工人失業。
Temperatures in the city tumbled overnight, catching many residents without warm coats.
該市氣溫在一夜之間驟降，許多居民沒來得及準備保暖外套。
The Thai baht tumbled against the dollar after the central bank unexpectedly raised interest rates by half a percentage point.
泰銖兌美元匯率在央行意外升息半個百分點後急遽下跌。
文法句型
tumble by [amount]
tumble to [new value]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a tradeable asset, price index, or measurable quantity. 'Tumble' is stronger than 'drop' — it suggests a sudden, dramatic decrease that surprises people.
常見錯誤
3. to move end over end or side over side in a rolling motion, without staying upri
翻滾；滾動
不受控制地翻轉移動
to move end over end or side over side in a rolling motion, without staying upright or on a steady path.
The empty bottle tumbled along the pavement every time the wind blew hard.
每當風吹得強勁時，空瓶子就沿著人行道滾動。
tumble along [surface]
A loose wheel broke off the cart and tumbled across the field into the stream.
一個鬆動的輪子從馬車上脫落，滾過田野掉進小溪裡。
The socks were tumbling around in the dryer with a loud thumping noise.
烘衣機裡的襪子發出砰砰聲，在機器裡翻滾轉動。
A large boulder broke free from the cliff and tumbled down the slope, crashing through pine trees along the way.
一塊巨石從懸崖上脫落，沿著山坡翻滾而下，沿途撞斷好幾棵松樹。
Fatima watched the dry leaves tumble across the empty parking lot in the autumn wind.
Fatima 看著秋天的乾枯樹葉在風中翻滾掠過空無一人的停車場。
文法句型
tumble + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Describes a rolling, end-over-end movement rather than a simple slide or straight fall. Common with round objects or loose materials moving across surfaces.
4. to perform controlled acrobatic movements such as somersaults, handsprings, and
翻筋斗
表演體操翻滾動作
to perform controlled acrobatic movements such as somersaults, handsprings, and cartwheels, especially on a floor mat.
The gymnasts tumbled across the mat in perfect time with the music during the competition.
體操選手們在比賽中配合音樂，精準地在墊子上翻滾騰躍。
sports context: tumbled across the mat
Ananya practised tumbling on the grass before her school gymnastics tryout next week.
Ananya 在草地上練習翻滾，為下週的學校體操選拔賽做準備。
The coach taught the beginners how to tumble safely by starting with basic forward rolls.
教練從最基本的向前翻滾開始教，讓初學者安全地學會翻滾。
Mateo spent the summer learning how to tumble — he started with forward rolls, then moved on to cartwheels and handsprings.
Mateo 花了一個夏天學習翻滾體操——他從前滾翻開始，接著練習側手翻和手翻。
- somersault
more specific — a particular acrobatic move; tumble covers a range of moves
- do gymnastics
broader; tumble refers specifically to floor acrobatic movements
文法句型
tumble across [surface]
用法筆記
In gymnastics contexts, 'tumble' implies skill and control, unlike other senses where it implies lack of control. Often used as a gerund ('tumbling') for the sport discipline.
5. to lose a position of power, influence, or success suddenly, often because of a
垮台；潰敗
突然失去權力或成功
to lose a position of power, influence, or success suddenly, often because of a scandal, mistake, or external shock.
The prime minister tumbled from power after the corruption scandal broke in the newspapers.
貪腐醜聞見報後，總理迅速從權力寶座上垮台。
phrase: tumble from power
The once-great empire tumbled into ruin after decades of poor leadership and war.
這個曾經強大的帝國在經過數十年的領導無方和戰爭後，最終走向毀滅。
phrase: tumble into ruin
A tech startup that had been worth millions tumbled into bankruptcy within six months.
一家價值數百萬美元的科技新創公司在六個月內就破產倒閉。
The champion team tumbled from first place to last after losing their star player.
衛冕冠軍隊因明星球員受傷，從第一名跌落到最後一名。
文法句型
tumble from power
tumble into ruin
用法筆記
Typically describes institutions, governments, or public figures. Less common for individuals in everyday contexts. The fall is usually from a high position to a low one.
6. to cause someone or something to fall by pushing, hitting, or knocking against t
推倒；撞倒
推撞使倒下
to cause someone or something to fall by pushing, hitting, or knocking against them, often accidentally.
The running dog tumbled the gardener by crashing into his legs from behind.
那隻奔跑的狗從後面撞上園丁的腿，把他撞倒在地。
transitive: tumble [someone] by [doing something]
A strong wave tumbled the surfers off their boards and into the churning water.
一道大浪將衝浪者們從衝浪板上打落，捲入翻騰的海水中。
tumble [someone] off [something]
The wind tumbled the stack of chairs on the patio, clattering across the tiles.
風吹倒了露台上的椅子堆，椅子嘩啦啦地散落在瓷磚地上。
Kwame accidentally tumbled his little sister off the bed while playing too rough indoors.
Kwame 在屋裡玩得太瘋，不小心把妹妹從床上撞了下來。
- knock over
more idiomatic; tumble sounds slightly more formal or literary
- topple
suggests pushing something from an upright position; tumble can include any direction
- push over
more deliberate; tumble often implies accidental force
文法句型
tumble + object + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
The subject is often a physical force (wind, wave, collision) rather than a person acting intentionally. When used with a person as object, it usually describes an accident.
7. to suddenly understand something or become aware of a situation after struggling
恍然大悟
終於明白真相
to suddenly understand something or become aware of a situation after struggling to grasp it — for example, finally tumbling to someone's hidden motive.
After several strange messages, Elena finally tumbled to the fact that her friend was lying.
收到幾則奇怪的訊息後，Elena 終於恍然大悟，發現她的朋友在說謊。
tumble to the fact that...
The detective tumbled to the truth when she saw the dates did not match the report.
警探發現日期與證人陳述不符時，才恍然大悟明白真相。
Henrik never tumbled to his colleagues' joke until they all burst out laughing at lunch.
直到午餐時同事們哄堂大笑，Henrik 才回過神來，發現自己被整了。
The students tumbled to the teacher's trick question only after the test papers were collected.
學生們直到考卷收上去之後，才明白老師問的問題暗藏玄機。
- catch on
more common in American English; slightly more informal
- realise
more general and neutral; 'tumble to' adds a sense of delayed understanding
- figure out
more active and deliberate; 'tumble to' is more passive — the understanding comes to you
文法句型
tumble to [fact/clue]
用法筆記
Always takes the preposition 'to'. Mostly British English; American speakers use 'catch on' or 'figure out'. The understanding comes after a period of confusion or after noticing a clue.
常見錯誤
8. to throw or put things into a container or space without any order, so they end
亂扔；亂堆
雜亂地堆放物品
to throw or put things into a container or space without any order, so they end up mixed and messy.
All the spare parts were tumbled together in a big metal box behind the workshop.
所有備用零件都被亂七八糟地堆在工作室後面的一個大鐵箱裡。
passive: be tumbled together
Paco tumbled the dirty laundry into the washing machine without sorting the colours first.
Paco 沒分類顏色就把髒衣服一股腦兒扔進洗衣機。
The old photographs were tumbled into a cardboard box and forgotten in the attic.
那些舊照片被胡亂塞進一個紙箱，在閣樓裡被遺忘了好多年。
The children tumbled all their toys into the middle of the room to build a castle.
孩子們把所有玩具都扔到房間中央，開始搭建一座城堡。
- jumble
virtually interchangeable; 'tumble' has a stronger implication of dropping or falling into the container
- lump together
suggests grouping carelessly; 'tumble' focuses more on the physical act of throwing
- mess up
more general and informal; tumble is more specific to putting things in a jumbled heap
文法句型
be tumbled together
tumble [objects] into [container]
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice ('be tumbled together'). The focus is on the lack of care or order in how things are placed, not on the speed of the action.