cannonball
cannonball — 名詞
1. a heavy round object made of metal or stone that was shot from a large gun calle
砲彈；鐵球
舊式大砲發射的金屬或石製圓形彈體
a heavy round object made of metal or stone that was shot from a large gun called a cannon, used in battles in past centuries
The museum display showed a rusted iron cannonball from a 17th-century warship.
博物館的展品中有一顆來自十七世紀軍艦的鏽蝕鐵砲彈。
historic sense, used with 'rusted', 'iron' as modifier
Children playing near the old fortress found a small cannonball buried in the grass.
在舊要塞附近玩耍的孩子們，在草叢裡發現了一顆小砲彈。
A single cannonball could tear through the wooden side of a ship in battle.
在海戰中，一顆砲彈就能擊穿船隻的木質側面。
Historians believe the cannonball that struck the tower walls came from a nearby hill.
歷史學家認為，擊中塔牆的那顆砲彈是從附近的山丘射過來的。
- shot
broader term covering any projectile fired from a cannon or gun
- projectile
more technical; covers any object thrown or fired through the air
用法筆記
Typically found in historical or museum contexts. The sense is mostly passive vocabulary for modern learners — you are more likely to read about cannonballs than to use the word in conversation.
2. a very hard and fast stroke in tennis or similar sports, especially a serve that
重砲發球
網球等運動中力道極大、速度極快的擊球
a very hard and fast stroke in tennis or similar sports, especially a serve that gives the opponent little time to react
Nadia won the match with a cannonball serve that her opponent could not reach.
Nadia 以一記對手接不到的砲彈式發球贏得了比賽。
informal sports term; collocation: 'cannonball serve'
The young player practiced her cannonball shot every day until it became unstoppable.
那位年輕選手每天練習她的重砲擊球，直到變得無人能擋。
Coach Park warned the team that a cannonball return could end a rally in seconds.
Park 教練警告隊員，一個重砲回擊就能在幾秒內結束一輪對打。
Fans cheered when the player blasted a cannonball shot past the goalkeeper.
球迷們歡呼起來，因為那名選手踢出一記重砲射門越過了守門員。
- rocket
similar metaphor for a very fast shot; slightly less common
- bullet (serve/shot)
another metaphor for extreme speed; implies precision as well
用法筆記
Used mostly in informal sports commentary or casual conversation about tennis. Not a standard technical term in official tennis rules.
3. a jump into a swimming pool or other body of water in which a person tucks the a
抱膝跳水
將身體蜷成球狀跳入水中的動作
a jump into a swimming pool or other body of water in which a person tucks the arms around the knees and curls the body into a ball shape, usually to make a big splash
Ravi did a huge cannonball off the diving board and splashed everyone by the pool.
Ravi 從跳板上做了一個超大的抱膝跳水，濺得池邊所有人一身水。
collocation: 'do a cannonball'; recreation context
The children screamed with joy as each took turns doing a cannonball into the lake.
孩子們輪流往湖裡做抱膝跳水，興奮得尖叫不止。
Aunt Rosa laughed when Leila's cannonball sent water all over the picnic blankets.
Leila 的抱膝跳水濺起的水花潑到了野餐巾上，Rosa 阿姨笑了出來。
The camp instructor taught kids how to do a safe cannonball without hurting their knees.
夏令營教練教孩子們如何安全地做抱膝跳水，以免傷到膝蓋。
- bomb
British informal term for a similar pool jump; 'bomb' often implies landing flat rather than tucked
用法筆記
Most common in informal poolside or beach contexts. The word can be used for the jump itself ('do a cannonball') or for the body position assumed during the jump.
cannonball — 動詞
1. to jump into a swimming pool, lake, or other water with the body curled into a b
抱膝跳入
以抱膝姿勢跳入水中
to jump into a swimming pool, lake, or other water with the body curled into a ball shape, usually to make a big splash
Tomás cannonballed into the pool and sent a wave over the edge.
Tomás 抱膝跳進游泳池，濺起一道水浪越過池邊。
cannonball + into + [pool]; past tense -ed form
The twins kept cannonballing off the dock until their mother told them to stop.
那對雙胞胎一直從碼頭上抱膝跳水，直到媽媽叫他們停下來。
gerund form; cannonball + off + [surface]
Yara dared her brother to cannonball from the highest rock into the river below.
Yara 激她哥哥從最高的岩石上抱膝跳進下面的河裡。
Every hot afternoon the neighbourhood kids cannonball into the public swimming pool.
每個炎熱的午後，附近的孩子們都會抱膝跳進公共游泳池裡。
文法句型
cannonball + into + [body of water]
用法筆記
This verb is a back-formation from the noun sense 3. In everyday use the noun phrase 'do a cannonball' (sense 3) is still more common than the verb. The verb is informal and commonly occurs with 'into', 'off', or 'from'.
2. to move forward extremely fast and with so much force that it is hard to stop, o
橫衝直撞
以極快速度猛衝，難以停下
to move forward extremely fast and with so much force that it is hard to stop, often bumping into things along the way
The runaway shopping cart cannonballed across the parking lot and hit a fence.
失控的購物車疾速衝過停車場，撞上了圍欄。
intransitive; cannonball + across + [place]
Aiko watched her little dog cannonball through the bushes after a squirrel.
Aiko 看著她的小狗像砲彈一樣衝過灌木叢去追一隻松鼠。
The skateboarder cannonballed down the steep hill, unable to slow down.
滑板少年沿著陡峭的山坡疾速衝下，無法減速。
A loose tire cannonballed off the truck and rolled across three lanes of traffic.
一顆鬆脫的輪胎從卡車上猛烈彈出，滾過了三條車道。
文法句型
cannonball + through/across + [space]
用法筆記
Conveys a sense of uncontrolled or barely controlled momentum. Often describes objects or people moving faster than intended, with a risk of collision.
3. to start taking part in a different situation, activity, or emotional state in a
猛然投入
突然且猛烈地進入新狀態或新領域
to start taking part in a different situation, activity, or emotional state in an abrupt, forceful way, without any gradual transition
After years of doubt, she cannonballed into freelance design without a backup plan.
在多年猶豫之後，她猛然投入自由接案的設計世界，沒有任何備用計劃。
figurative; cannonball + into + [abstract domain]
The shy teenager suddenly cannonballed into a heated argument with the whole class.
那個害羞的青少年突然一頭栽入和全班同學的激烈爭論中。
The company cannonballed into the international market and struggled to keep up.
那家公司猛然投入國際市場，結果難以應付訂單需求。
After her divorce, she cannonballed into a new fitness routine and a new social life.
離婚後，她猛然投入新的健身計畫和新的社交生活。
- plunge
similar meaning but can be transitive or reflexive; slightly more formal
- dive into
less forceful; implies eagerness more than recklessness
- crash into
stronger suggestion of negative consequences or lack of control
文法句型
cannonball + into + [abstract state/condition]
用法筆記
Always figurative. The subject usually had some hesitation or distance before the sudden entry, making the abruptness noteworthy. Common with career changes, emotional states, and competitive situations.