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.
例句
3 / 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.
词族
记忆技巧
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.
快速测验
The candidate was devastated when a single member decided to cast a ______ against her membership, effectively barring her from the society.
正确！
正确答案是： blackball
例句
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.
词族
常见搭配
常用短语
to cast a blackball
to cast a blackball
blackball rule
blackball rule
give someone the blackball
give someone the blackball
容易混淆的词
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.
使用说明
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.
常见错误
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.
记忆技巧
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.
词源
Derived from the 18th-century practice in private clubs where members voted on applicants using white balls for approval and black balls for rejection.
语法模式
文化背景
The term is deeply rooted in the history of British and American 'Gentlemen's Clubs' where high social standing was required for entry.
快速测验
The candidate was devastated when a single member decided to cast a ______ against her membership, effectively barring her from the society.
正确！
正确答案是： blackball
相关词汇
相关词
complement
A2A thing that completes or brings to perfection something else. In grammar, it refers to a word or phrase that follows a verb and provides more information about the subject or object.
compound
A2Describes something that is made of two or more separate parts or elements joined together. It is often used to talk about words, sentences, or chemical substances that have multiple components.
conceive
A2To form an idea, plan, or concept in the mind. It is also the medical term used to describe when a woman becomes pregnant.
confer
A2To discuss something with other people in order to reach a decision or exchange ideas. It can also mean to officially give an honor, title, or degree to someone.
conform
A2To behave according to rules, standards, or what is expected by a group of people. It means to fit in or act in a way that matches others.
consecutive
A2Following one after another in a continuous series without any breaks. It describes things that happen in a logical order, like numbers (1, 2, 3) or days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday).
consistency
A2Consistency is the quality of always acting or behaving in the same way. it also describes how thick or smooth a liquid or substance is.
disclude
B1Describing a state where someone or something is left out, omitted, or not allowed to participate in a group or activity. It refers to the condition of being kept apart from a whole or a set.
antiformous
B1Describes a shape or structure that is curved or folded upwards like an arch. It is most often used in geology and geometry to describe a convex surface.
interspect
B1Describing a person who is thoughtful and focused on their own internal thoughts and feelings. It refers to the act of looking inward to examine one's own emotions and motives rather than focusing on external things.
评论 (0)
登录后评论免费开始学习语言
免费开始学习