wicket
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Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A small opening (like a window in a door) for transactions: A wicket is a small, often sliding or hinged, opening in a door or wall through which business can be conducted, such as selling tickets or receiving mail.
- A small gate or door, especially within a larger one: A wicket can refer to a small door or gate set within a larger door or gate, often for pedestrian access.
- A small arch used in croquet: In the sport of croquet, a wicket is one of the small wire arches through which the ball must be hit.
- Cricket equipment consisting of three stumps and two bails: In cricket, the wicket is the set of three vertical stumps topped by two horizontal crosspieces (bails), which the batsman defends and the bowler aims to hit.
Usage Examples
As a small opening:
- I purchased my train ticket at the wicket.
- The bank teller spoke to me through the security wicket.
As a small gate:
- He entered the garden through the wicket in the main gate.
- The castle's large door contained a small, iron wicket.
As croquet equipment:
- She skillfully hit the ball through the first wicket.
- The course has nine wickets to pass through.
As cricket equipment:
- The bowler's delivery hit the wicket.
- The batsman was out when the ball dislodged the bails from the wicket.
Advanced Usage
"To be on a good wicket" (idiom, chiefly British): To be in a favorable or advantageous position.
- With his new contract, he's on a good wicket.
"To be on a sticky wicket" (idiom, chiefly British): To be in a difficult, awkward, or disadvantageous situation.
- The politician was on a sticky wicket after the scandal was revealed.
Variants and Related Words
Wicket-keeper (noun): In cricket, the fielder positioned directly behind the wicket to catch the ball.
- The wicket-keeper made a spectacular catch.
Wicket-gate (noun): Another term for a small gate, especially one for pedestrians.
- They met by the old wicket-gate at the edge of the field.
Synonyms
- Hatch: A small opening in a wall or door, similar to a wicket for transactions.
- Turnstile: A gate that allows one person to pass at a time, sometimes related in function.
- Stumps (in cricket): Refers specifically to the three vertical posts of the wicket.
Related Phrases
Take a wicket (cricket): For a bowler to get a batsman out, typically by hitting the wicket.
- The fast bowler took five wickets in the match.
Defend the wicket (cricket): The primary role of the batsman to protect the wicket from being hit by the ball.
- His job was to defend the wicket while the other batsman scored runs.
Related Idioms
- "Keep wicket": To act as the wicket-keeper in cricket.
- He has kept wicket for the national team for a decade.
Noun
- small opening (like a window in a door) through which business can be transacted
- small gate or door (especially one that is part of a larger door)
- a small arch used as croquet equipment
- cricket equipment consisting of a set of three stumps topped by crosspieces; used in playing cricket