| 单词 | on the defensive |
| 释义 | > as lemmason (also upon) the defensive a. A state or position of defence. Chiefly in on (also upon) the defensive: in an attitude or position of defence; seeking to withstand or counter aggression or attack. Cf. on the offensive at offensive n. 2a. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > defence > [noun] > attitude or state of defence defensive?1585 bracea1616 the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > [noun] > position or attitude of defence defensive?1585 ?1585 E. Aggas tr. E. de L'Allouette Catholicke Apologie ii.f. 35 Still they stand vpon the defensiue [Fr. ils n'ont iamais esté que sur la defensiue]. 1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 116 Onely to stand vpon the defensiue [It. star su le diffese]. 1708 J. Swift Predict. for 1708 7 The French Army Acts now wholly on the Defensive. 1797 E. Burke Corr. IV. 431 In debate, as in war, we confine ourselves to a poor, disgraceful, and ruinous defensive. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth xi, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. III. 309 The two brethren..striking both at once, compelled him to keep the defensive. 1869 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) III. xii. 152 The plan of the Duke was to stand wholly on the defensive. 1927 F. A. Golder in On Trail of Russ. Famine vii. 187 This fortress was in the hands of the Turks, who were on the defensive. 1970 Women Speaking Apr. 4/2 Man keeps her on the defensive by a constant barrage of insulting words. 2010 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 9 Dec. 29/1 Utopian economics is on the defensive, just like it was in the 1930s. on the defensive b. Games and Sport. A strategy or style of play which seeks to deny the opponent or opposing team opportunities to gain or advance. Chiefly in on the defensive. to go (also act, etc.) on the defensive: to adopt such a strategy or style of play. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of batting blocking1637 quilting1822 defence1825 cutting1827 forward play1828 defensive1832 swiping1833 back-cutting1842 straight play1843 back play1844 sticking1873 leg play1877 off-driving1884 gallery-hitting1888 goose game1899 straight driving1904 stroke-play1905 pad play1906 on-driving1948 stroke-making1956 1832 G. Walker New Treat. Chess iii. 8 You will rarely see good players make this move..when they are obliged to act on the defensive. 1851 J. Pycroft Cricket Field iv. 58 The defensive was comparatively unknown: both the bat and the wicket, and the style of bowling too, were all adapted to a short life and a merry one. 1920 Princeton Alumni Weekly 17 Nov. 157/2 Yale was on the defensive throughout the entire game, and was never dangerous. 1964 Times 29 July 5/2 Clifton chose to allow the bowlers to dictate by going entirely on the defensive. 2001 National Post (Canada) 4 Apr. b13/3 The Toronto Raptors treated the Eastern Conference's best team like beer-league benchwarmers. ‘We had them on the defensive even when they were on offence.’ < as lemmas |
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