yardstick

/ˈjɑːdstɪk/ (bre, ipa) · [jˈɑrdstˌɪk] /ˈjɑːrdstɪk/ (ame, ipa) · [jˈɑrdstˌɪk] /ˈyärd-ˌstik How to pronounce yardstick (audio)/ (ame, mw)

yardstick — 名詞

  • yardsticksingular
  • yardsticksplural

1. something people compare results with to decide how good, useful, or successful

1.名詞C1
釋義

標準

用來衡量成敗或價值的準則

something people compare results with to decide how good, useful, or successful they are.

例句

The coach used last season's record as a yardstick for this year's team.

教練把去年的戰績當成今年球隊的衡量標準。

use X as a yardstick for Y

Parents often treat exam scores as a yardstick of their child's progress.

家長常把考試成績當成孩子進步與否的標準。

treat something as a yardstick

同義詞
  • benchmark

    often used in business or testing for a point of comparison

  • standard

    broader and more general than 'yardstick'

  • criterion

    more formal and often used for one specific judging point

文法句型

use + yardstick + for + noun

treat + something + as + a yardstick

a yardstick by which + clause

用法筆記

Often appears after 'as a' or before 'for' when someone is comparing results or performance. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is figurative and names a basis for judgment, not a physical measuring tool.

常見錯誤

❌Salary is a yardstick to success.
✅Salary is a yardstick for success.
💡This figurative sense usually takes 'for' when naming what is being judged.

2. a straight stick used for measuring, made to the length of one yard.

2.名詞C1
釋義

碼尺

長度剛好一碼的測量尺

a straight stick used for measuring, made to the length of one yard.

例句

Theo grabbed a yardstick to check whether the shelf was exactly three feet wide.

Theo 拿起一把碼尺，確認那塊層板是否剛好有三英尺寬。

use a yardstick to check length

The art teacher laid a yardstick beside the poster before trimming the edges.

美術老師在修剪海報邊緣前，先把碼尺放在海報旁邊。

lay a yardstick beside + object

同義詞
  • ruler

    more general and can be much shorter than a yard

  • measuring stick

    describes the object without fixing the exact length

文法句型

measure + noun + with + a yardstick

hold + a yardstick + against + noun

用法筆記

Usually refers to a classroom or workshop tool that is physically one yard long. Unlike sense 1, it names the object itself rather than a standard for comparison.

常見錯誤

❌The carpenter measured the board by yardstick.
✅The carpenter measured the board with a yardstick.
💡Use 'with' when naming this tool.