snowball

英 ['snəʊbɔːl] 美['snobɔl]

低频词CET4畅通词汇

复数: snowballs;第三人称单数: snowballs;过去式: snowballed;过去分词: snowballed;现在分词: snowballing;

snowball (n.): c. 1400, from snow (n.) + ball (n.1). Similar formation in West Frisian sniebal, Middle Dutch sneubal, German Schneeball, Danish snebold. Expression snowball's chance (in hell) "no chance" is recorded by 1910.
snowball (v.): "to make snowballs," 1680s, from snowball (n.); sense of "to throw snowballs at" (someone) is from 1850. Meaning "to increase rapidly" is attested from 1929, though the image of a snowball increasing in size as it rolls along had been used since at least 1613, and a noun sense of "a pyramid scheme" is attested from 1892. Related: Snowballed; snowballing.

1. All this publicity has had a snowball effect on the sales of their latest album.: 所有这些宣传对他们最新唱片的销售产生了一种滚雪球效应。

2. Tom turned the other cheek when he was hit with a snowball.: 汤姆被人用雪球击中时,竟还准备再挨一下.