cannonball
gb/kˈænənbˌɔl/ us/kˈænənbˌɔl/
B1
English
bombaugrás, ágyúgolyó, száguld, repeszt, bombát ugrik
NOUN
B1
1
bombaugrás
B1
Usage pattern:
do a cannonball (into [water])
The kids took turns doing cannonballs in the deep end.
A gyerekek felváltva ugráltak bombát a medence mély részén.
The lifeguard yelled, 'No cannonballs near the shallow area!'
Az úszómester rájuk szólt: „A sekély résznél tilos bombát ugrani!”
He did a cannonball and soaked everyone sitting by the pool.
Learner examples
I did a cannonball in the pool.
Bombát ugrottam a medencébe.
No cannonballs here, please.
Itt ne ugráljatok bombát, kérlek.
Common mistake:
Often misspelled as two words (*cannon ball*) when referring to the jump.
Meaning
splashy knees-to-chest jump
Collocations
do a cannonball
|a big cannonball
|a perfect cannonball
|a cannonball jump
|a cannonball into the pool
|make a huge splash
|no cannonballs
|kids doing cannonballs
|a messy cannonball
|a quick cannonball
Synonyms
bomb (Common in British English for the same splashy jump.)
Antonyms
dive (A dive is a more streamlined, usually quieter entry into water.)
Themes
sports
|leisure
|swimming
Definition
a jump into water that makes a big splash
A jump into water in which you tuck your knees to your chest and hold your legs to make a big splash.
NOUN
B2
2
ágyúgolyó
B1
Usage pattern:
fire [a cannonball] (at/through [something])
The museum displayed cannonballs recovered from the battlefield.
A múzeumban a csatatérről előkerült ágyúgolyókat állítottak ki.
A cannonball crashed through the wooden gate.
Egy ágyúgolyó áttörte a fakaput.
They found an old iron cannonball buried near the fort.
Learner examples
The cannon fired a cannonball.
Az ágyú ágyúgolyót lőtt ki.
The cannonball was heavy.
Az ágyúgolyó nehéz volt.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse a cannonball (a solid ball) with a modern 'shell' (often explosive and not spherical).
Meaning
iron ball fired from cannon
Collocations
fire a cannonball
|a cannonball hit
|an iron cannonball
|a solid cannonball
|a cannonball tore through
|cannonball damage
|cannonball hole
|cannonball range
|cannonball strike
|load a cannonball
Synonyms
round (General term for ammunition; not limited to spherical shot.)
|
shot (Older artillery term; can refer to different projectile types.)
Themes
history
|military
Definition
a heavy metal ball shot from a cannon
A heavy, solid ball (especially of iron) that is fired from a cannon, particularly in older forms of artillery.
NOUN
B2
3
ágyúgolyó
B1
Usage pattern:
a cannonball of [material]; a cannonball in/on [place]
He rolled the cannonball of wet clay across the table.
Végiggörgette az asztalon a nedves agyagból gyúrt ágyúgolyónyi gömböt.
A cannonball of snow flew past my head as the snowball fight started.
Egy ágyúgolyónyi hógolyó süvített el a fejem mellett, amikor elkezdődött a hógolyócsata.
The diver carried a cannonball-shaped weight for training.
Learner examples
The stone was round like a cannonball.
A kő kerek volt, akár egy ágyúgolyó.
He picked up a cannonball-shaped weight.
Felvett egy ágyúgolyó formájú súlyt.
Common mistake:
This is usually figurative; in literal contexts it more often means the projectile.
Meaning
very heavy round object
Collocations
a cannonball of mud
|a cannonball of snow
|a cannonball-shaped weight
|cannonball-sized
|a cannonball sinker
|a cannonball of clay
|heavy as a cannonball
|round as a cannonball
|a cannonball lump
|a cannonball weight
Synonyms
ball (More general; does not necessarily suggest heaviness.)
Antonyms
feather (Used to contrast with something very heavy.)
Themes
description
|daily_life
Definition
a heavy round thing
Something that is very heavy and round, compared to a cannonball because of its shape and weight.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
cannonball (down/along) [road] (to [place])
We cannonballed down the highway to catch the last ferry.
Végigszáguldottunk az autópályán, hogy elérjük az utolsó kompot.
He cannonballed across town after realizing he’d left his passport at home.
Átszáguldott a városon, miután rájött, hogy otthon hagyta az útlevelét.
They cannonballed out of the parking lot when the storm hit.
Learner examples
We cannonballed to the station.
Elszáguldottunk az állomásra.
He cannonballed down the road.
Végigszáguldott az úton.
Common mistake:
Usually used without an object (you 'cannonball down the road', not 'cannonball the road').
Meaning
travel extremely fast
Collocations
cannonball down the highway
|cannonball along the coast road
|cannonball to the airport
|cannonball home
|cannonball across town
|cannonball through traffic
|cannonball over
|cannonball past
|cannonball straight
|cannonball all the way
Synonyms
barrel (Suggests fast, uncontrolled movement.)
|
tear (Informal; emphasizes speed and energy.)
Antonyms
crawl (Move very slowly, often because of traffic.)
Themes
travel
|informal_speech
Definition
to go very fast
To move or travel very fast, especially in a vehicle.
VERB
B2
5
bombát ugrik
B1
Usage pattern:
cannonball (into [water])
She cannonballed into the pool without checking how cold it was.
Úgy ugrott bombát a medencébe, hogy előtte meg sem nézte, milyen hideg a víz.
Don’t cannonball off the rocks—it’s too shallow here.
Ne ugorj bombát a sziklákról, itt túl sekély a víz.
He cannonballed in and sent water over the edge.
Learner examples
He cannonballed into the water.
Bombát ugrott a vízbe.
I cannonballed and made a splash.
Bombát ugrottam, és nagyot csobbantam.
Common mistake:
Often used with 'into' (cannonball into the pool).
Meaning
jump into water as cannonball
Collocations
cannonball into the pool
|cannonball into the lake
|cannonball off the dock
|cannonball from the diving board
|cannonball in
|cannonball straight in
|cannonball and splash everyone
|cannonball loudly
|cannonball again
|cannonball with friends
Synonyms
bomb (British English verb meaning to jump in and make a splash.)
Antonyms
dive (A dive is a straighter, less splashy entry.)
Themes
sports
|leisure
|swimming
Definition
to jump into water and make a big splash
To jump into water with your body curled into a ball, usually to make a large splash.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cannonball
IPA
GB/kˈænənbˌɔl/
US/kˈænənbˌɔl/
Syllables & stress
can - non - ball (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (can)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cannonball
- Plural: cannonballs
Word family
Expressions
cannonball down the highway
1/kˈænənbˌɔl dˈaʊn ðə hˈaɪwˌeɪ/
fixed phrase
informal
drive extremely fast
drive very fast on a highway
Examples
- We cannonballed down the highway to make the appointment on time.
- He cannonballed down the highway and still missed the exit.
- They cannonballed down the highway in total silence after the bad news.
Learner examples
- We cannonballed down the highway.
- He cannonballed down the highway to the airport.
cannonball into
1/kˈænənbˌɔl ˈɪntu/
fixed phrase
jump in curled up
jump into water in a ball shape
Examples
- He cannonballed into the pool fully clothed.
- The dog cannonballed into the lake after the stick.
- She cannonballed into the ocean and disappeared in the foam.
Learner examples
- He cannonballed into the pool.
- The kids cannonballed into the water.
cannonball run
1/kˈænənbˌɔl ɹˈʌn/
fixed phrase
unofficial high-speed road race
a famous very fast driving challenge
Examples
- He watched a documentary about the Cannonball Run and its record attempts.
- They joked about doing a Cannonball Run, but it would be illegal and dangerous.
- The article discussed the history of the Cannonball Run.
do a cannonball
1/dˈu ə kˈænənbˌɔl/
fixed phrase
perform a splashy pool jump
jump into water and make a big splash
Examples
- Can you do a cannonball from the diving board?
- They told him not to do a cannonball near the toddlers.
- I did a cannonball and splashed my sister.
Learner examples
- I can do a cannonball.
- Don’t do a cannonball here.
like a cannonball
1/lˈaɪk ə kˈænənbˌɔl/
fixed phrase
very fast or forceful
very fast or very strong
Examples
- The idea hit me like a cannonball in the middle of the meeting.
- He came running in like a cannonball and knocked over a chair.
- The ball flew like a cannonball straight into the net.
Learner examples
- He ran like a cannonball.
- The news hit me like a cannonball.