racket
gb/ɹˈækɪt/ us/ɹˈækɪt/
A2
English
lárma, ricsaj, ütő, illegális biznisz, szélhámosság, biznisz, szakma, zajong, csörömpöl, lármázik
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
make a racket (about/with [something])
I couldn’t sleep because of the racket coming from the apartment upstairs.
Nem tudtam aludni a felettem lévő lakásból jövő lárma miatt.
The street was full of traffic and racket during rush hour.
Csúcsidőben nagy volt a forgalom és a zaj az utcán.
Can you keep the racket down while I’m on this call?
Learner examples
The neighbors are making a racket.
A szomszédok nagy lármát csapnak.
There was a lot of racket outside.
Nagy lárma volt odakint.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse this with a sports racket (used to hit a ball).
Meaning
loud unpleasant noise
Collocations
make a racket
|a terrible racket
|a lot of racket
|all that racket
|hear a racket
|the kids' racket
|the racket next door
|create a racket
|cause a racket
|a racket outside
Synonyms
noise (More general and neutral; racket suggests annoying loudness.)
|
din (Emphasizes a continuous, harsh noise.)
|
commotion (Focuses on noisy confusion and activity.)
Antonyms
silence (No sound at all.)
|
quiet (Low level of sound; calm atmosphere.)
Themes
daily_life
|sound
|people
Definition
a lot of loud noise
A loud, disturbing noise, especially made by people talking, shouting, or moving things around.
NOUN
A2
2
ütő
A2
Usage pattern:
[sport] racket
She bought a new tennis racket before the tournament.
A verseny előtt vett egy új teniszütőt.
My racket needs restringing.
Újra kell húroztatni az ütőmet.
He forgot his racket, so he borrowed one from the club.
Learner examples
I have a tennis racket.
Van egy teniszütőm.
He swings his racket fast.
Gyorsan lendíti az ütőjét.
Common mistake:
In some varieties of English, especially in tennis, the spelling “racquet” is also common.
Meaning
sports bat with a net
Collocations
tennis racket
|badminton racket
|squash racket
|string a racket
|grip on a racket
|swing a racket
|a lightweight racket
|a new racket
|borrow a racket
|break a racket
Synonyms
racquet (Alternative spelling (especially for tennis).)
Themes
sports
|games
|equipment
Definition
a tool you hold to hit a ball in tennis, etc.
A piece of sports equipment with a handle and a frame strung with a net, used for hitting a ball or shuttlecock in games such as tennis or badminton.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
a [type] racket; run a racket
Police uncovered a racket that was selling fake concert tickets online.
A rendőrség leleplezett egy interneten hamis koncertjegyeket árusító illegális bizniszt.
He was accused of running a racket that targeted elderly homeowners.
Azzal vádolták, hogy idős háztulajdonosokat célzó illegális bizniszt futtatott.
The investigation linked the racket to organized crime.
Learner examples
They ran a racket to steal money.
Illegális bizniszt futtattak, hogy pénzt csaljanak ki.
Common mistake:
This meaning is not related to the sports equipment; context usually makes it clear.
Meaning
illegal or dishonest business
Collocations
run a racket
|a protection racket
|a drug racket
|a gambling racket
|an extortion racket
|a ticket-scam racket
|expose a racket
|break up a racket
|a criminal racket
|a racket operation
Synonyms
scam (Often smaller-scale; emphasizes tricking victims.)
|
con (Highlights deliberate deception, often by an individual.)
|
shakedown (Focuses on extorting money through threats.)
Antonyms
legitimate business (Lawful, honest commercial activity.)
|
honest work (Earning money in a fair, legal way.)
Themes
crime
|business
|money
|law
Definition
an illegal way to make money
An illegal or dishonest way of making money, often involving fraud, extortion, or organized crime.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
the [industry] racket
After ten years in the advertising racket, she decided to change careers.
A reklámbizniszben eltöltött tíz év után úgy döntött, hogy pályát vált.
It’s hard to break into the film racket without connections.
Kapcsolatok nélkül nehéz bekerülni a filmbizniszbe.
He knew the PR racket well and wasn’t easily impressed.
Learner examples
She works in the fashion racket.
A divatbizniszben dolgozik.
Common mistake:
This sense is broader than crime: it can mean an industry in general, often with a critical tone.
Meaning
line of work or business
Collocations
the restaurant racket
|the real-estate racket
|the music racket
|the media racket
|the fundraising racket
|get into the racket
|leave the racket
|the whole racket
Synonyms
business (Neutral; racket often adds a negative or cynical tone.)
|
trade (Emphasizes a field of work; more neutral than racket.)
|
industry (More formal; focuses on the sector rather than the hustle.)
Antonyms
pastime (Done for enjoyment rather than as a business.)
Themes
work
|business
|society
Definition
a kind of job or business (informal)
A particular line of work or business, especially one seen as competitive, complicated, or somewhat shady.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
racket (around/about) (in/through [place])
Someone was racketting around in the hallway at midnight.
Éjfélkor valaki zajongva mászkált a folyosón.
The dog racketed about the kitchen, knocking over a bowl.
A kutya zajongva rohangált a konyhában, és felborított egy tálat.
The kids were racketting upstairs while we tried to watch a movie.
Learner examples
Please don’t racket around at night.
Kérlek, ne zajongj éjszaka.
Common mistake:
As a verb, this is less common than the noun ‘racket’ meaning ‘noise’.
Meaning
make loud disturbing noise
Collocations
racket around
|racket about
|racket downstairs
|racket through the house
|racket along the hallway
|racket in the kitchen
|racket in the street
Synonyms
clatter (Suggests hard objects hitting each other loudly.)
|
bang (Focuses on a sudden loud impact.)
|
make noise (More general; less expressive than racket.)
Antonyms
be quiet (Make little or no noise.)
|
tiptoe (Move quietly to avoid making noise.)
Themes
daily_life
|sound
Definition
to make a lot of noise
To make a loud, disturbing noise, especially by moving around or by things hitting each other.
Grammar
Dictionary form
racket
IPA
GB/ɹˈækɪt/
US/ɹˈækɪt/
Syllables & stress
rack - et (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (rack)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: racket
- Plural: rackets
Expressions
make a racket
1/mˈeɪk ə ɹˈækɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
make a lot of noise
to be very noisy
Examples
- Try not to make a racket when you come in—everyone’s asleep.
- The construction crew started at 7 a.m. and made a racket all morning.
- You’ll wake the baby if you make that much racket.
Learner examples
- Don’t make a racket.
protection racket
1/pɹətˈɛkʃən ɹˈækɪt/
fixed phrase
extortion for “protection”
an illegal system where criminals demand money for safety
Examples
- The restaurant was targeted by a protection racket.
- Police said the group used threats to enforce a protection racket.
- He reported the protection racket after they demanded weekly payments.
racket around
1/ɹˈækɪt ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
informal
move about noisily
to go around making noise
Examples
- Stop racketting around in the living room and go outside if you want to play.
- He was racketting around the house looking for his keys.
- The cat racketed around at dawn and woke everyone up.
run a racket
1/ɹˈʌn ə ɹˈækɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
operate an illegal scheme
to control an illegal business
Examples
- They were arrested for running a racket that sold stolen phones.
- The gang ran a racket that demanded ‘fees’ from local shop owners.
- She denied running a racket and called the accusations politically motivated.
the whole racket
1/ðə hˈoʊl ɹˈækɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
the whole business or affair
the whole thing; everything about it
Examples
- I’m tired of the whole racket—meetings, deadlines, and constant emails.
- He explained the whole racket, from booking the venue to selling tickets.
- Once you know the whole racket, the industry seems less glamorous.
Learner examples
- I’m sick of the whole racket.