hail
hail — noun
1. Tiny round lumps of ice produced by thunderstorms that drop from clouds as a for
Tiny round lumps of ice produced by thunderstorms that drop from clouds as a form of solid precipitation.
The hailstorm damaged the farmer's crops and broke several car windows.
collocation: hailstorm (severe hail event)
After the thunderstorm passed, the garden was covered in hail the size of peas.
describing size of hail: the size of [object]
Drivers were told to pull over and wait until the hail stopped falling.
The children ran out to collect the hail before it melted in the afternoon sun.
Forecasters warned that large hail could hit the area during the evening storm.
- hailstones
refers to individual pieces rather than the mass phenomenon
- ice pellets
technical term; describes the physical form without the weather context
用法筆記
Generally used as an uncountable noun. To refer to individual pieces, use 'hailstone' instead.
常見錯誤
2. A large number of similar things, such as questions, criticisms, or objects, tha
A large number of similar things, such as questions, criticisms, or objects, that come at someone quickly and forcefully all at once.
The mayor faced a hail of angry questions from reporters after the announcement.
pattern: a hail of [questions/criticisms]
Stray bullets from the shootout created a dangerous hail of metal fragments.
Amihan received a hail of complaints after the company changed its refund rules.
The goalkeeper faced a hail of shots during the final ten minutes of the match.
文法句型
a hail of + noun
用法筆記
Always followed by 'of' (a hail of something). The image comes from the weather sense — things arrive as thick and fast as falling ice.
常見錯誤
hail — verb
1. To attract the notice of someone by waving or calling, so that a taxi driver sto
To attract the notice of someone by waving or calling, so that a taxi driver stops for you or a person turns to look at you.
Isabela stood on the wet sidewalk and hailed a taxi to take her downtown.
common collocation: hail a taxi
The lifeguard hailed the swimmer who had drifted too far from the shore.
Gabriel hailed his friend across the crowded square but she could not hear him.
Unable to find the bus stop, Daichi hailed a passing car to ask for directions.
The fishing boat captain hailed the nearby ship to warn of the storm.
文法句型
hail + noun (taxi / person)
用法筆記
Commonly used with taxis and buses in everyday English. In formal or maritime contexts, it can mean contacting a ship or person by radio or loudspeaker.
常見錯誤
2. When it hails, frozen pellets drop from storm clouds rather than falling as liqu
When it hails, frozen pellets drop from storm clouds rather than falling as liquid rain.
It hailed so hard last night that the car roof was covered in dents.
pattern: it + hail + adverb of intensity
The picnic was ruined when it suddenly began to hail in the middle of lunch.
Wren checked the weather app and saw that it would hail in the afternoon.
Farmers worry when it hails during spring because young crops are easily destroyed.
It had never hailed in that region before, so the sudden storm surprised everyone.
文法句型
it hails
it is hailing
it hailed
用法筆記
Only used in the third-person singular impersonally with 'it' as the subject, like other weather verbs (it rains, it snows, it thunders).
常見錯誤
3. To praise someone or something publicly and enthusiastically, especially in news
To praise someone or something publicly and enthusiastically, especially in news reports or official statements.
The young scientist was hailed as a genius after her discovery won an international award.
passive: be hailed as [title/quality]
Critics hailed the director's latest film as a masterpiece of modern cinema.
The peace agreement was hailed by world leaders as a historic breakthrough.
Local newspapers hailed the firefighter's brave rescue of the child from the burning house.
Élise hailed the new policy as a major step forward for public schools.
文法句型
hail + noun + as + noun/adjective
be hailed as
用法筆記
Often found in formal or journalistic writing. The passive construction 'be hailed as' is extremely common — the person or thing doing the hailing is often a group (critics, leaders, newspapers) rather than an individual.