blackball
A negative vote cast against a candidate for admission to a club or organization, which prevents their membership. It also refers more broadly to the act of ostracizing or excluding someone from a social circle or group through a collective decision.
Exemples
3 sur 5He was worried that one old member might cast a blackball against his application to the golf club.
He was worried that one old member might cast a blackball against his application to the golf club.
According to the bylaws, a single blackball is sufficient to reject any prospective member.
According to the bylaws, a single blackball is sufficient to reject any prospective member.
He's been getting the blackball from the local music scene ever since that scandal.
He's been getting the blackball from the local music scene ever since that scandal.
Synonymes
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
Imagine a ballot box where everyone drops a white ball to say 'Yes,' but a single 'Black Ball' is heavy enough to sink the whole application.
Quiz rapide
The candidate was devastated when a single member decided to cast a ______ against her membership, effectively barring her from the society.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : blackball
Exemples
He was worried that one old member might cast a blackball against his application to the golf club.
everydayHe was worried that one old member might cast a blackball against his application to the golf club.
According to the bylaws, a single blackball is sufficient to reject any prospective member.
formalAccording to the bylaws, a single blackball is sufficient to reject any prospective member.
He's been getting the blackball from the local music scene ever since that scandal.
informalHe's been getting the blackball from the local music scene ever since that scandal.
Sociological studies of 19th-century gentlemen's clubs highlight the power of the blackball in maintaining social hierarchies.
academicSociological studies of 19th-century gentlemen's clubs highlight the power of the blackball in maintaining social hierarchies.
The executive's blackball ensured that the controversial proposal never reached the board of directors.
businessThe executive's blackball ensured that the controversial proposal never reached the board of directors.
Synonymes
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
to cast a blackball
to cast a blackball
blackball rule
blackball rule
give someone the blackball
give someone the blackball
Souvent confondu avec
A blacklist is a list of people/entities to be avoided; a blackball is the specific act or vote of rejection from a group.
Blackmail involves demanding money or favors in exchange for keeping secrets, unrelated to voting or exclusion.
Notes d'usage
While originally referring to a physical ball used in secret voting, it is now often used metaphorically for any act of social or professional exclusion. It is most commonly seen in contexts involving elite clubs, professional organizations, or historical fiction.
Erreurs courantes
Learners often use 'blackball' as a synonym for 'bullying.' While they are related, blackballing is a specific form of exclusion from a group membership rather than general harassment.
Astuce mémo
Imagine a ballot box where everyone drops a white ball to say 'Yes,' but a single 'Black Ball' is heavy enough to sink the whole application.
Origine du mot
Derived from the 18th-century practice in private clubs where members voted on applicants using white balls for approval and black balls for rejection.
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
The term is deeply rooted in the history of British and American 'Gentlemen's Clubs' where high social standing was required for entry.
Quiz rapide
The candidate was devastated when a single member decided to cast a ______ against her membership, effectively barring her from the society.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : blackball
Vocabulaire associé
Mots lis
cause
A1To make something happen, especially something bad or unpleasant. It is used to describe the action that results in a specific effect or situation.
effective
A2Something is effective when it successfully produces the intended or desired result. It describes a person, method, or thing that works well and achieves its goal.
epic
A1A long book, poem, or movie that tells a story about heroes and great events. It usually covers a long period of time and many adventures.
robotics
B2The branch of technology and engineering that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots. It is a multidisciplinary field combining computer science, electronics, and mechanical engineering to create autonomous or semi-autonomous machines.
dean
B2A dean is a high-ranking official at a university or college who oversees a specific department, faculty, or administrative area. They are responsible for academic leadership, managing faculty members, and ensuring the general welfare of students within their division.
decade
B2A period of ten years, typically used to measure time or categorize a specific historical era. It is a common unit of time used to track social, economic, or personal changes over a significant duration.
enable
B2To provide someone with the means, authority, or opportunity to do something. It also means to make a process or a system possible or operational.
mature
B2Describing someone who behaves in a sensible, responsible way like an adult, or something that has reached a state of full development. It is often used to describe people, plants, or economic markets that are no longer growing rapidly but are stable.
scheme
B2A systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting an idea into effect. It can also refer to a secretive or devious plot to achieve a goal, often used to describe government programs or organizational systems.
segment
B2Describing something that is divided into separate parts or sections. This term is often used to characterize a whole that consists of distinct, identifiable portions which can be analyzed or treated individually.
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