trolley-car

A trolley-car travels down the city street.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An electric streetcar: "trolley-car" refers to a passenger vehicle that runs on rails along city streets, powered by electricity drawn from an overhead wire (a trolley) or from a third rail. It is a type of public transportation, also known as a tram or streetcar.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The trolley-car clanged its bell as it approached the stop. (The electric streetcar made a ringing sound to warn pedestrians.)
  • Many cities in the early 20th century relied on trolley-cars for daily commutes. (Electric streetcars were a primary mode of urban transport.)

Advanced Usage

• "trolley-car" in historical contexts: Often used to describe a bygone era of public transit, before buses and subways became dominant.

  • The old trolley-car system was dismantled in the 1950s. (The network of electric streetcars was removed.)

• "trolley-car" as a nostalgic term: In modern usage, it may evoke a sense of vintage or heritage transportation.

  • Tourists enjoy riding the restored trolley-car through the historic district. (Visitors appreciate the antique streetcar experience.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trolley (n): a shortened form of "trolley-car," also referring to the overhead wire or a wheeled cart.

  • The trolley sparked as it connected to the wire. (The electrical contact device on the streetcar.)

• Streetcar (n): a synonym for "trolley-car," common in North American English.

  • The streetcar runs along Main Street every ten minutes. (The electric tram operates on a regular schedule.)

• Tram (n): a synonym for "trolley-car," more common in British English.

  • The tram glided silently along the tracks. (The electric passenger vehicle moved smoothly.)

Synonyms

• Electric streetcar: a passenger vehicle powered by electricity and running on rails.
• Tram: a rail vehicle for urban transport, often electric.
• Light rail vehicle: a modern version of a trolley-car, often with dedicated tracks.

Related Idioms

• "Off one's trolley": (informal) to be crazy or irrational; derived from the idea of a trolley-car coming off its overhead wire.

  • He's completely off his trolley if he thinks that plan will work. (He is acting irrationally.)

• "To lose one's trolley": to become mentally unstable or confused.

  • After the long hours of work, she felt she was losing her trolley. (She felt she was becoming disoriented.)