Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
adj
Of or related to priority freight or the trains that carry it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A high-profile high-priority case which draws political or media attention.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, countable, slang, uncountable
Topics: government, law-enforcement
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
First-class cricket, as distinct from limited overs cricket (or "white ball". Mainly used to play tests.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: metonymically, uncountable
Topics: ball-games, cricket, games, hobbies, journalism, lifestyle, media, sports
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see red, ball.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
* ("high-profile high-priority" sense) From a routing system on the Santa Fe Railroad in the early 1900s. Fast freight trains which were to receive priority routing were marked with placards depicting a red disc, and were called "red ball" trains.
