sally
gb/sˈæli/ us/sˈæli/
A2
English
~ 9000
Sally, próbálkozás, kalandozás, szellemes megjegyzés, élc, kitörés, felkerekedik, nekivág, útnak indul
NOUN
A2
1
Sally
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone] named Sally
Sally started a new job in the city last month.
Sally múlt hónapban új állást kezdett a városban.
I’m meeting Sally for coffee after work.
Munka után találkozom Sallyvel egy kávéra.
Sally Johnson will give the closing speech at the conference.
The book is dedicated to the author’s sister, Sally.
Sally was the only one who remembered my birthday.
Learner examples
Sally is my best friend.
Sally a legjobb barátnőm.
I think Sally is in the library.
Szerintem Sally a könyvtárban van.
This is my sister, Sally.
Sally lives in a small town.
The teacher called on Sally to read.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget that English first names like "Sally" are capitalized. Write "Sally" (with a capital S), not "sally" when you use it as a person’s name.
Meaning
female first name Sally
Collocations
Aunt Sally
|Sally and [someone]
|Sally Brown
Themes
people
|identity
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A woman or girl’s first name in English.
A common female given name in English.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
2
próbálkozás
B1
kalandozás
B2
Usage pattern:
a sally into [a field]
Her first sally into stand-up comedy lasted only a few months.
A stand-up comedy műfajában tett első próbálkozása mindössze néhány hónapig tartott.
The article marks the writer’s latest sally into political commentary.
A cikk a szerző legújabb próbálkozása a politikai kommentár műfajában.
His brief sally into restaurant ownership ended after one difficult year.
The company’s sally into virtual reality products attracted a lot of attention.
That film was her only sally into directing; she returned to acting afterward.
Learner examples
This project is my first sally into app design.
Ez a projekt az első próbálkozásom az alkalmazástervezés területén.
His sally into online teaching did not last long.
Az online tanítással tett próbálkozása nem tartott sokáig.
The singer’s sally into acting was not very successful.
Their sally into the fashion market was short but interesting.
Our sally into video making started as a fun idea.
Common mistake:
Learners may treat "sally" as a common everyday word for "try" or "attempt". In modern English it is somewhat formal or literary in this sense. In normal speech and writing, "try", "attempt", or "first foray" are usually better choices.
Meaning
first or brief attempt
Collocations
first sally into
|a bold sally into
|a tentative sally into
|a sally into politics
|a sally into fiction
Synonyms
foray ("Foray" is more common in modern English and slightly less formal; both can describe a brief, initial involvement in a new area.)
|
attempt ("Attempt" is broader and more neutral; "sally" often suggests something short, experimental, or slightly adventurous.)
Antonyms
avoidance (If a sally is an active attempt to enter a new area, avoidance is actively staying away from or not trying it.)
Themes
work
|creativity
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A short, often first try at doing something new.
A brief or first attempt to do something, especially in a new area of activity.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
3
élc
C1
Usage pattern:
a sally of [wit]
The conversation was brightened by her occasional sally of wit.
A beszélgetést időnkénti szellemes megjegyzései élénkítették fel.
He could not resist a quick sally about the politician’s changing opinions.
Nem tudta megállni, hogy ne tegyen egy gyors, szellemes megjegyzést a politikus változó álláspontjára.
One sharp sally from the comedian had the whole audience laughing.
Despite the tense mood, his light sally eased the atmosphere.
Her sally about the weather broke the awkward silence at the table.
Learner examples
The writer is known for each clever sally in his stories.
Az írót a történeteiben szereplő szellemes megjegyzéseiről ismerik.
She made a small sally, and everyone smiled.
Elejtett egy apró szellemes megjegyzést, és mindenki elmosolyodott.
His sally about my old phone was very funny.
The talk was serious, but one sally made us laugh.
He answered the question with a quick sally.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse "sally" with "silly" because they look similar, but "silly" means foolish, while a "sally" is a clever and usually funny remark. Also, this sense is literary; in most conversations, people say "joke", "quip", or "funny comment" instead.
Meaning
short clever witty remark
Collocations
a witty sally
|a sally of wit
|her latest sally
|a sharp sally
|a playful sally
Synonyms
quip ("Quip" is common and neutral; "sally" is more literary and can suggest a slightly showy display of wit.)
|
wisecrack ("Wisecrack" is informal and often sounds more cheeky or rude than "sally".)
Antonyms
solemn statement (A solemn statement is serious and not humorous, the opposite of a light, witty sally.)
Themes
communication
|humor
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A short, smart and funny comment.
A brief, clever remark that is intended to be amusing or witty.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
kitörés
C1
Usage pattern:
a sally from [place]
At dawn the defenders launched a sudden sally from the city gates.
Hajnalban a védők hirtelen kitörést indítottak a városkapukon át.
The general ordered a brief sally to test the enemy’s strength.
A tábornok rövid kitörést rendelt el, hogy felmérje az ellenség erejét.
Their final sally from the fortress was brave but hopeless.
The besieged troops had fuel for only one more sally against the attackers.
A small cavalry sally broke the siege lines for a few hours.
Learner examples
The soldiers made a sally from the castle.
A katonák kitörést hajtottak végre a várból.
In the story, the king plans one last sally.
A történetben a király egy utolsó kitörést tervez.
The sally surprised the enemy outside the walls.
After the sally, the soldiers went back inside.
They tried a quick sally, but it failed.
Common mistake:
Learners might think "sally" in this sense can describe any attack. In strict use, it is an attack made by defenders coming out of a protected place, especially in historical or military writing.
Meaning
sudden attack by defenders
Collocations
make a sally
|a sudden sally
|a sally from the fort
|a sally against the enemy
|a desperate sally
Synonyms
sortie ("Sortie" is the more common modern military term for this kind of attack, especially in technical descriptions.)
|
raid ("Raid" is broader and can be used for many kinds of surprise attacks, not only those made by defenders.)
Antonyms
retreat (A retreat is moving back away from the enemy, the opposite of a sally, which moves out to attack.)
Themes
war
|history
|law
|politics
Definition
A quick attack made by soldiers inside a city, castle, or base against the soldiers outside.
A sudden attack made by the defenders of a place against enemy forces that are surrounding or attacking it.
VERB
B2
LITERARY
5
Usage pattern:
to sally forth [from a place]
After breakfast they sallied forth to explore the old town.
Reggeli után felkerekedtek, hogy felfedezzék az óvárost.
Armed with cameras and sandwiches, we sallied forth into the hills.
Fényképezőgépekkel és szendvicsekkel felszerelkezve nekivágtunk a hegyeknek.
On Saturday morning he sallied forth in search of the perfect coffee.
They sallied forth from the office, determined to enjoy the long weekend.
We shall sally forth and see what adventures the city has for us.
Learner examples
We sallied forth to the market early in the morning.
Kora reggel útnak indultunk a piacra.
After lunch, they sallied forth to visit the museum.
Ebéd után felkerekedtek, hogy ellátogassanak a múzeumba.
He sallied forth from his house with a big smile.
They sallied forth into the city to take photos.
On Sunday, we sallied forth to the beach.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use "sally" as a normal, everyday verb for "go out". In modern English, "sally forth" is mainly humorous or literary. In normal speech, use "go out", "head out", or "set out" instead.
Meaning
set out from a place
Collocations
sally forth
|sally forth into the world
|sally out
|sally forth in search of
|sally forth from [home]
Synonyms
set out ("Set out" is common and neutral; "sally (forth)" sounds humorous, old-fashioned, or literary.)
|
venture out ("Venture out" suggests some risk; "sally forth" adds a playful or slightly grand tone.)
Antonyms
stay in (If you sally forth you go out; if you stay in you remain at home or in the same place.)
Themes
movement
|daily life
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go out from a place, often in a happy or brave way, usually said in a humorous or old-fashioned style.
To leave a place, especially briskly or cheerfully, in order to do something, often used humorously or in the phrase "sally forth".
Grammar
Dictionary form
sally
IPA
GB/sˈæli/
US/sˈæli/
Syllables & stress
sally (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (sally)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sally
- Plural: sallies
Verb
- Base: sally
- 3rd Person Singular: sallies
- Present Participle: sallying
- Past: sallied
Word family
Forms
sallies
noun
sallying
verb
sallied
verb
Expressions
sally forth
1/sˈæli fˈɔɹθ/
phrasal verb
literary
to set out from a place
To go out from a place, often in a happy or brave way, usually used in a humorous or old-fashioned style.
Examples
- After a quick coffee, we sallied forth to explore the city.
- On the first day of summer, the children sallied forth to the park with their kites.
- They sallied forth from the hotel, ready for a long day of sightseeing.
sally out
1/sˈæli ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
literary
to go or rush out
To go out from a place, often suddenly or with energy, sometimes to attack or to do something active.
Examples
- The troops sallied out from the gates at dawn.
- After the rain stopped, the children sallied out to play in the street.
- At the sound of the bell, shoppers sallied out into the mall.
sally port
1/sˈæli pˈɔɹt/
fixed phrase
technical
secure controlled gateway or passage
A very strong, controlled doorway or passage in a wall or building, used so that people can go in or out safely, often in prisons or forts.
Examples
- The guards escorted the prisoners through the sally port into the yard.
- Vehicles must pass slowly through the sally port before entering the base.
- The old fort still has its original stone sally port facing the harbor.