cardboard

/'kɑ:dbɔ:d/

Thân thiện

Cardboard boxes are stacked neatly in the storage room.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A stiff, moderately thick paper material: "cardboard" refers to a heavy-duty paper-based material, typically thicker and more rigid than standard paper, often used for packaging, crafting, or as a structural support.

2. Adjective:

   • Without substance, depth, or authenticity; artificial: When used as an adjective, "cardboard" describes something that is unconvincing, shallow, or lacking in realistic qualities, as if it were two-dimensional or fake.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • We need a large piece of cardboard to make the poster.
  • The box was made of sturdy cardboard.

• Adjective:

  • The villain in the movie was a cardboard character with no real motivation.
  • Her performance felt cardboard and failed to move the audience.

Advanced Usage

• "Cardboard city": A term referring to an area where homeless people construct temporary shelters from cardboard boxes.

  • The documentary showed the harsh reality of life in a cardboard city.

• "Cardboard cutout": Literally, a life-size figure made from cardboard. Figuratively, it describes a person or character who is one-dimensional or lacks personality.

  • He just stood there like a cardboard cutout, not engaging in the conversation at all.

Variants and Related Words

• Cardboardy (adj., informal): Having the qualities of cardboard; often used to describe food that is dry, tasteless, or of poor texture.
  • The pizza had a cardboardy crust.

Synonyms

• Noun: Pasteboard, cardstock, paperboard.
• Adjective: Two-dimensional, flat, wooden, unconvincing, artificial, shallow.

Related Phrases

• To be (as) flat as cardboard: To be very dull, boring, or lacking in excitement or depth.
  • The party was as flat as cardboard; everyone left early.

Idioms

• A cardboard box: Often used to symbolize poverty, homelessness, or minimal possessions.

  • He lost everything and ended up living out of a cardboard box.

• Cardboard testimony: Criticism or praise that is insincere or lacks genuine feeling.

  • The politician's apology was just cardboard testimony.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. without substance
   • cardboard caricatures of historical figures

Noun

1. a stiff moderately thick paper

Từ đồng nghĩa

• unlifelike
• composition board