derby
/'dɑ:bi/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of hard, rounded felt hat with a narrow brim: A man's hat, traditionally made of felt, characterized by its rigid, dome-shaped crown and a small, curved brim. 2. An important annual horse race for three-year-old horses: Specifically, the Epsom Derby in England, one of the classic British horse races. By extension, any major annual sporting contest, especially in North America. 3. A sporting contest between local rivals: A match or game between two teams from the same city or region, characterized by intense local rivalry (e.g., a local derby in football/soccer).
Examples
- Noun (Hat):
- He tipped his derby hat politely as he passed by.
- The old photograph showed men in suits and derbies.
- Noun (Horse Race):
- The horse was favored to win the Kentucky Derby.
- She attended the Epsom Derby for the first time.
- Noun (Local Sports Contest):
- The Manchester derby between United and City is always a fiercely contested match.
- The atmosphere was electric for the city derby.
Advanced Usage
- "Derby Day": The specific day on which a major derby horse race is held, particularly the Epsom Derby, often associated with social events and fashion.
- They dressed in their finest clothes for Derby Day.
- Used attributively (as an adjective) to describe something related to such events.
- derby winner, derby contender, derby fever
Variants and Related Words
- Bowler hat: (British English) A synonym for the hat, more commonly used in the UK.
- Local derby: A more specific term for a sports match between local rivals.
Synonyms
- For the hat: Bowler (UK), Coke hat (historical).
- For the race: Classic, stakes race.
- For the match: Rivalry clash, local rivalry.
Related Phrases
- Roller derby: A contact sport played on roller skates.
- She joined a roller derby league.
- Demolition derby: A motorsport event where drivers compete to be the last vehicle running by deliberately crashing into each other.
- The county fair featured a demolition derby.
Related Idioms
- "All hat and no cattle" (primarily US, often involving a cowboy hat, but conceptually related to the derby as a symbol): Used to describe someone who boasts or presents an image but lacks the substance, skill, or experience to back it up.
- He talks a big game about business, but he's all hat and no cattle.
Noun
- a felt hat that is round and hard with a narrow brim