pitch
pitch — verb
1. to toss something toward a place or mark, or for a person or vehicle to lurch fo
to toss something toward a place or mark, or for a person or vehicle to lurch forward suddenly and lose balance.
Marcus pitched the wet towel into the laundry basket.
transitive: pitch + object + into + place
The fishing boat pitched so hard that plates slid off the shelf.
intransitive: rough forward movement
Rosa pitched three coins onto the paper plate by the door.
At the last step, the runner pitched forward onto the stone path.
After lunch, Dad pitched the broken toy into the trash bin.
文法句型
pitch + [object] into/onto/at + [place/target]
[person/thing] + pitches forward/in the water
用法筆記
Often followed by a direction or place word such as 'into', 'onto', 'at', or 'forward'. In baseball contexts, use sense 2 instead.
常見錯誤
2. in baseball, to send the ball toward home plate so the batter can swing at it.
in baseball, to send the ball toward home plate so the batter can swing at it.
Elena pitched the first ball straight past the waiting batter.
baseball: pitch + ball + to batter
Our best left-hander pitched for Taipei in all nine innings.
intransitive: pitch for a team
Coach Wu told Noah to pitch low and outside today.
Ben pitched three strikes in a row before the rain came.
Mia will pitch against Kaohsiung on Saturday afternoon.
文法句型
pitch + [ball/strike] to + [batter]
[player] + pitches for/against + [team]
用法筆記
Only used for baseball. The subject is usually the pitcher or team player, and the thing pitched is the ball or a strike.
常見錯誤
3. to set a tent in place and secure it for camping or sleeping there.
to set a tent in place and secure it for camping or sleeping there.
We pitched our tent beside the lake before dark.
common collocation: pitch a tent
The scouts pitched two small tents near the pine trees.
Hana pitched a tent while Ken cooked soup by the fire.
By sunset, every family had pitched a tent on the hill.
- take down
to remove the tent after using it
文法句型
pitch + tent
pitch + camp
用法筆記
The object is usually 'tent' or 'camp'. It suggests making temporary shelter, not building something permanent.
常見錯誤
4. to choose how strong, high, difficult, or expensive something should be.
to choose how strong, high, difficult, or expensive something should be.
The teacher pitched the lesson at a level young children understood.
pitch + lesson at + level
The shop pitched the new phone at a lower price.
pitch + product at + price
The bank pitched its loan rates too high for small farms.
Lena pitched her talk at an easy level for visitors.
The paper pitched the story at readers aged twelve to fifteen.
文法句型
pitch + [thing] at + [level/price]
pitch + [talk/lesson/story] at + [audience or level]
用法筆記
Often used with 'at' plus a level, price, or audience. Distinguish this sense from sense 5, where the object is a sound, note, or voice.
常見錯誤
5. to make a voice, musical note, or instrument sound higher or lower.
to make a voice, musical note, or instrument sound higher or lower.
The singer pitched the first note too high for the choir.
pitch + note + high/low
Dad pitched his voice low so the baby stayed asleep.
pitch + voice + low
The band pitched the song higher for Mia's bright voice.
The phone app pitched the guitar a little lower.
文法句型
pitch + [voice/note/song] + high/low/higher/lower
pitch + [instrument] + higher/lower
用法筆記
Usually used with words like 'voice', 'note', 'song', or 'guitar', followed by 'high', 'low', 'higher', or 'lower'. Distinguish it from sense 4, which is about general level rather than sound.
常見錯誤
6. to present an idea, product, or plan in a way that tries to make someone accept,
to present an idea, product, or plan in a way that tries to make someone accept, buy, or support it.
Nina pitched her business idea to three investors after lunch.
pitch + idea to + audience
The salesman pitched the new vacuum cleaner at our front door.
sales context: pitch a product
Leo pitched a cartoon series to a TV producer in Seoul.
During the meeting, Carla pitched hard for a later launch date.
Small firms pitched for the airport shop contract last month.
文法句型
pitch + [idea/product/show] to + [person/group]
pitch for + [support/business/change]
用法筆記
Usually used with the thing being promoted as the object: 'pitch an idea to investors'. The object is often an idea, product, plan, show, or deal, not the person.
常見錯誤
7. to rise or fall at an angle instead of staying flat.
to rise or fall at an angle instead of staying flat.
The barn roof pitches sharply toward the back of the field.
pitch toward + place
Beyond the gate, the garden path pitches down to the river.
pitch down to + place
The old kitchen floor pitches slightly near the sink.
From the church door, the street pitches uphill for two blocks.
At the cliff edge, the ground pitches steeply into the sea.
文法句型
pitch down
pitch uphill
pitch toward/away from + place
用法筆記
Subject is usually a surface or piece of land, such as a roof, road, floor, or field. It commonly appears with words like down, uphill, toward, or away from. Distinguish from verb/1, which is about sudden movement or throwing.
常見錯誤
pitch — noun
1. a marked piece of ground where games such as football, rugby, or cricket are pla
a marked piece of ground where games such as football, rugby, or cricket are played.
Heavy rain left the football pitch muddy before Saturday's match.
football pitch
Parents stood by the fence while the children ran onto the pitch.
run onto the pitch
A worker repainted the white lines across the school pitch.
After the final whistle, fans rushed onto the pitch to celebrate.
The coach moved training to the second pitch behind the gym.
文法句型
on the pitch
run onto the pitch
mark out a pitch
用法筆記
Common with 'on' and 'onto', especially in British sports writing. In many American contexts, 'field' is more usual for the same place.
常見錯誤
2. the strength, amount, or stage of an activity or situation, especially when it b
the strength, amount, or stage of an activity or situation, especially when it becomes very high.
By Friday, paint, posters, and food orders were at fever pitch.
fixed phrase: at fever pitch
The protest reached such a pitch that shops shut early.
reach such a pitch that
By harvest time, activity on the farm was at its highest pitch.
After the mayor's TV interview, online debate rose to a new pitch.
- lull
a quieter or weaker period after strong activity
文法句型
at fever pitch
reach a pitch
rise to a pitch
用法筆記
Often appears in fixed phrases such as 'at fever pitch' or with verbs like 'rise' and 'reach'. Broader than sense 3, which is limited to feelings.
常見錯誤
3. how strong a feeling is at a particular time.
how strong a feeling is at a particular time.
By midnight, Lina's worry was at such a pitch she could not sleep.
reach a pitch
Crowd excitement rose to a high pitch as the singer appeared.
rise to a high pitch
After the rude reply, Dana's anger rose to a dangerous pitch.
Even quiet Ella's fear was at a dangerous pitch.
- calm
the absence of strong emotional pressure
文法句型
a pitch of anger/fear
at a high pitch
用法筆記
Usually follows words for emotions such as fear, anger, excitement, or suspense. Distinguish from sense 2, which can describe activity or public interest as well as feelings.
常見錯誤
4. the place of a voice, sound, or musical note on the scale from low to high.
the place of a voice, sound, or musical note on the scale from low to high.
The violinist checked the pitch of each string before the concert.
the pitch of [sound/note]
A baby's cry has a much higher pitch than a man's voice.
higher pitch
Please sing the first note again at the same pitch.
The alarm's pitch was so sharp that everyone covered their ears.
The app can change the pitch without slowing the song down.
文法句型
high/low pitch
the pitch of [sound/note]
change the pitch
用法筆記
Used for voices, musical notes, alarms, and other sounds. Do not confuse it with volume: pitch is high or low, while volume is loud or quiet.
常見錯誤
5. a planned talk or display meant to make someone buy something or support an idea
a planned talk or display meant to make someone buy something or support an idea.
The agent ended his pitch by offering free tickets for today.
sales pitch
Nora practised her business pitch before meeting the bank manager.
business pitch
Customers walked away when the street seller started his loud pitch.
Our team gave a short pitch for the new phone app.
The charity's pitch asked local shops to sponsor winter coats.
- presentation
broader and more neutral; not always meant to persuade
- appeal
focuses on asking for support rather than selling
- plug
informal; a short enthusiastic recommendation
文法句型
give a pitch
sales pitch
pitch for [idea/product]
用法筆記
Often modified by the goal: 'sales pitch', 'business pitch', or 'funding pitch'. Distinguish from sense 6, where 'pitch' means the physical place for selling or performing.
常見錯誤
6. a fixed outdoor spot used by a trader or street performer.
a fixed outdoor spot used by a trader or street performer.
The flower seller returned to the same pitch outside the station.
a pitch outside [place]
Buskers pay a small fee for a pitch in this square.
pay for a pitch
After lunch, Rosa set up her table on the pitch beside the fountain.
The market gives each fruit seller a numbered pitch.
Tourists stopped when the guitar player sang from his pitch.
文法句型
a pitch outside [place]
rent a pitch
on a pitch
用法筆記
Common with traders, food sellers, and buskers, and often refers to a spot assigned or rented for regular use. Distinguish from sense 5, which is the persuasive talk, not the place.
7. the steepness of a sloping surface, especially a roof.
the steepness of a sloping surface, especially a roof.
The cabin roof has a sharp pitch to shed winter snow.
roof pitch for shedding snow
Builders checked the pitch before adding the new red tiles.
check the pitch of a roof
From the street, the church's steep pitch was clear above nearby shops.
A low pitch gives the porch roof a flatter look.
- flatness
a state with little or no slope
文法句型
the pitch of [roof]
a steep/high/low pitch
用法筆記
Usually used for roofs and similar surfaces, often after of or with adjectives like steep, high, and low. Distinguish from noun/11, which is about throwing rather than angle.
常見錯誤
8. a thick dark sticky material once spread on wood to keep water out.
a thick dark sticky material once spread on wood to keep water out.
Workers brushed hot pitch onto the boat before the autumn rains.
brush pitch onto a boat
The smell of pitch filled the shed near the old dock.
smell of pitch
Black pitch sealed the cracks between the wooden boards.
Museum staff showed children how pitch protected ships from water.
文法句型
coat [wood/ship] with pitch
smell of pitch
用法筆記
Usually uncountable. Most often seen in historical, building, or ship contexts, not in everyday conversation about modern materials.
常見錯誤
9. the ball a pitcher sends to a batter in baseball, or one act of doing this.
the ball a pitcher sends to a batter in baseball, or one act of doing this.
The first pitch sailed past the batter and hit the catcher's glove.
first pitch in baseball
On a full count, Elena threw a slow pitch outside.
throw a pitch outside
The coach told Ben to stop chasing every low pitch.
That pitch clipped the corner for strike three.
文法句型
throw a pitch
first/low/inside pitch
用法筆記
Used only in baseball. Distinguish from noun/11, which can describe a more general throw or throwing style outside baseball.
常見錯誤
10. a set space at a campsite for one tent, caravan, or camper van.
a set space at a campsite for one tent, caravan, or camper van.
We chose a shady pitch beside the river for our tent.
choose a pitch at a campsite
Each pitch has room for one car and a small table.
each pitch has room for
The family paid extra for a pitch with electric power.
Our pitch was near the showers but far from the road.
文法句型
book/pay for a pitch
a pitch with [feature]
用法筆記
Mainly British in camping contexts. American English more often uses campsite or site for this meaning.
常見錯誤
11. a throw, or the particular way someone throws a ball or other object.
a throw, or the particular way someone throws a ball or other object.
Jordan's pitch sent the beanbag straight into the red bucket.
one successful pitch
One hard pitch from Mia knocked over the empty bottle.
one hard pitch
At the fair booth, the judge watched each pitch for aim and style.
Leo used a sidearm pitch to skim the stone across the pond.
文法句型
a hard/soft pitch
a sidearm pitch
用法筆記
Broader than noun/9 because it is not limited to baseball. It often appears when people comment on the force, aim, or style of a throw.