grand slam
grand slam — noun
1. The achievement of winning every major championship competition in a sport, such
The achievement of winning every major championship competition in a sport, such as tennis or golf, within a single year or season.
Maeve completed the Grand Slam by winning the final tournament of the year in Paris.
collocation: complete the Grand Slam
Only a handful of golfers have ever won a Grand Slam in the sport's history.
Sports fans around the world watched as she chased a Grand Slam all season long.
Felix completed a Grand Slam by winning the US Open, his fourth major title of the year.
The newspaper called her Grand Slam victory one of the greatest feats in sports history.
- clean sweep
less formal, used outside sports too (e.g., a clean sweep of awards)
- sweep
shorter, common in sports for winning all games in a series
文法句型
win + Grand Slam
complete + Grand Slam
用法筆記
Often written with initial capitals (the Grand Slam). In tennis, the Grand Slam consists of the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
常見錯誤
2. One of the most important competitions in a sport that belongs to an elite set o
One of the most important competitions in a sport that belongs to an elite set of major tournaments, such as the four tennis Grand Slam events.
The French Open is the second Grand Slam on the tennis calendar each year.
Grand Slam refers to a specific tournament
Imani has travelled to three different Grand Slam events to watch her favourite players.
Players earn ranking points at every Grand Slam they enter during the season.
Wimbledon is the oldest Grand Slam in the world and the only one played on grass.
Ayana trained for months before her first match at the Australian Open, one of four Grand Slam events.
- major
shorter, informal, common in golf (the four majors)
- championship
general term, less specific than Grand Slam
文法句型
play in + Grand Slam
enter + Grand Slam
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (WIN ALL TITLES): this sense refers to one individual tournament ('the US Open is a Grand Slam'), while sense 1 refers to winning every tournament ('she won the Grand Slam').
常見錯誤
3. The act of winning every trick in a single hand of a card game such as bridge, w
The act of winning every trick in a single hand of a card game such as bridge, which is the highest possible score in that hand.
Omar made a grand slam by taking all thirteen tricks with his partner.
collocation: make a grand slam (bridge)
The bridge club celebrated when Anong bid and won a grand slam at the tournament.
Imran counted thirteen sure tricks in his hand and bid a grand slam in hearts.
Ada's grand slam earned their team the highest score of the evening.
The experienced player quietly calculated whether a grand slam was possible from the cards in her hand.
- slam
general term for winning all or most tricks; grand slam is the full version
文法句型
make + grand slam
bid + grand slam
用法筆記
Used mainly in bridge, where it contrasts with 'small slam' (winning all but one trick). The term is followed by 'in' plus the trump suit, e.g., 'a grand slam in hearts.'
常見錯誤
4. A home run in baseball that is hit while there are runners on first, second, and
A home run in baseball that is hit while there are runners on first, second, and third base, scoring four runs and often changing the outcome of the game.
Xiu hit a grand slam in the ninth inning and won the game for the home team.
grand slam = bases-loaded home run
The crowd jumped to their feet as the ball sailed over the fence for a grand slam.
Caio's grand slam brought all three runners home and tied the score at six runs each.
The pitcher watched helplessly as the batter launched a grand slam into the left-field stands.
Mauricio stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and hit a grand slam.
文法句型
hit + grand slam
用法筆記
This baseball sense is the only one where grand slam refers to a single play (one swing of the bat) rather than an overall achievement. Often used dramatically in sports commentary.
常見錯誤
5. A complete and impressive victory or outstanding result in any activity or field
A complete and impressive victory or outstanding result in any activity or field, not limited to sports.
The film won every major award at the festival — a grand slam for its first-time director.
figurative use outside sports
The charity dinner raised three times its goal and was called a grand slam by the organisers.
Brandon's new restaurant was a grand slam, with every table booked for months ahead.
The marketing team described the product launch as a grand slam after sales broke all records.
The small band's first world tour was a grand slam and led to bigger venues.
- clean sweep
similar but emphasises winning every category/prize
- smash hit
used for entertainment successes, less formal
文法句型
be + grand slam
regard as + grand slam
用法筆記
Informal and metaphorical — used in business, entertainment, and everyday conversation to describe any outstanding achievement. Avoid in formal writing.