ham
ham — noun
1. meat from a pig's upper leg or shoulder that has been preserved with salt, smoke
meat from a pig's upper leg or shoulder that has been preserved with salt, smoke, or both — usually sold cooked and sliced for cold dishes or roasted whole for a meal.
Christopher ordered a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch at the café.
common combination: ham and cheese sandwich
The smell of baked ham filled the kitchen on Christmas morning.
The butcher sliced the smoked ham off the bone for the party platter.
Min put a thick slice of ham between two pieces of fresh bread.
We bought a whole smoked ham from the butcher last weekend.
常見錯誤
2. a stage or screen performer whose delivery feels forced and artificial, marked b
a stage or screen performer whose delivery feels forced and artificial, marked by overly broad emotion and gesture; the term also applies to any person who behaves in a showy, over-the-top manner for attention.
The critic said the lead actor was a terrible ham who ruined every dramatic scene.
collocation: terrible ham
At the school play, Eliska played the villain like a total ham, with huge gestures.
Ramón is such a ham that he rolls his eyes and waves wildly when a camera appears.
The director told Asher to stop being such a ham and deliver the lines naturally.
- show-off
More general; applies to any attention-seeking behaviour, not just acting.
- scene-stealer
More positive connotation; suggests the performer is entertainingly over-the-top rather than simply bad.
用法筆記
Frequently used in theater and film criticism, or informally to describe anyone who seeks attention through over-the-top behavior. Less negative when applied to amateur or comic performers.
3. someone who runs their own radio transmission equipment for personal enjoyment a
someone who runs their own radio transmission equipment for personal enjoyment and non-commercial communication, usually under a government-issued license that allows access to reserved frequencies.
Ada's grandfather has been a licensed ham for over forty years and talks to operators in Brazil every week.
collocation: licensed ham + what they do
During the hurricane, local hams helped coordinate emergency supplies for the shelters.
Sana got her ham license last year and now talks to stations across the globe.
The ham set up an antenna in the backyard to reach other operators in Asia.
- radio amateur
The formal, technical term; 'ham' is the colloquial shortening used within the hobby.
用法筆記
The term originated as mildly derogatory slang but is now used with pride within the amateur radio community. 'Ham radio' and 'ham operator' are the common compounds.
ham — verb
1. to perform dialogue or emotions in an exaggerated way, with louder delivery, bro
to perform dialogue or emotions in an exaggerated way, with louder delivery, broader gestures, or more intense emotion than the scene requires.
Christopher hammed his lines so badly that the audience started laughing.
transitive: ham + lines
The actress hams it up whenever the camera is pointed her way.
phrasal expression: ham it up
Min always hams up the sad scenes during rehearsals — the director told her to be more subtle.
Stop hamming up the death scene — real grief is quiet, not loud.
- overact
The neutral, non-slang equivalent; 'ham' is more vivid and informal.
- oversell
Broader meaning; applies to any exaggerated presentation, not only acting.
- exaggerate
Much broader; covers all kinds of overstatement, not just performance.
- underplay
To perform with deliberate restraint, the opposite of hamming.
文法句型
ham + direct object (lines, emotions, scene)
ham it up (intransitive phrasal)
用法筆記
The phrasal collocation 'ham it up' is more common in everyday speech than the bare transitive use. Both are informal and typical of theater, film, or performance contexts.
2. to treat a theatrical role or character with too much exaggerated emotion or bro
to treat a theatrical role or character with too much exaggerated emotion or broad comic style, often spoiling the intended effect.
Roya hammed the comic relief role until the other actors could barely keep straight faces.
transitive: ham + role/part
The young actor hammed the king's rage scene, shouting far louder than the script required.
James hammed his few lines so theatrically that the director recast him.
Dewi hammed the villain's exit, waving both arms as he staggered offstage.
文法句型
ham + role/part/character/scene
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb sense 1: this sense focuses on a specific role or character being overplayed, rather than one's general delivery style. The object is typically a character type or a marked section of a play.