释义 |
DictionarySeeleapby leaps and bounds
by leaps and boundsBy very large degrees; rapidly or in quick progress forward. Our small company has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past year, thanks in no small part to our aggressive new marketing campaign. What was once a tiny local choir club has expanded by leaps and bounds over the years, becoming one of the state's largest organized choir communities.See also: and, bound, by, leapby leaps and boundsFig. rapidly; by large movements forward. The brush we cut back last fall is growing by leaps and bounds. The profits of my company are increasing by leaps and bounds. He is gaining by leaps and bounds.See also: and, bound, by, leapby leaps and boundsRapidly, or in fast progress, as in The corn is growing by leaps and bounds, or School enrollment is increasing by leaps and bounds. This term is a redundancy, since leap and bound both mean "spring" or "jump," but the two words have been paired since Shakespeare's time and are still so used. See also: and, bound, by, leapby leaps and bounds with startlingly rapid progress.See also: and, bound, by, leapby/in ˌleaps and ˈbounds in large amounts or very quickly: My knowledge of German increased by leaps and bounds when I lived in Germany for a year. ♢ Production is going up in leaps and bounds. OPPOSITE: step by stepSee also: and, bound, by, leap by leaps and bounds Very quickly: growing by leaps and bounds.See also: and, bound, by, leapby leaps and boundsTo make very rapid progress. Since the verb “to bound” means to move by leaps (jumps), the term is tautological. Nevertheless Coleridge (1772–1834) used it in his analysis of poetic meter (Metrical Feet): “With a leap and a bound the swift Anapaests throng.”See also: and, bound, by, leap |