first down

一、意思

“first down” 是一个源自美式橄榄球运动的术语，意思是 “首次进攻机会;首攻”。在美式橄榄球比赛中，进攻方有四次机会向前推进至少10码，获得 “first down” 就意味着进攻方成功推进了至少10码，从而获得新的一组四次进攻机会。此外，在日常生活中，它也可以引申为 “初步进展”“良好开端” 等意思 。

二、读音

英 [ˈfɜːst daʊn];美 [ˈfɜːrst daʊn]

三、词性

名词短语

四、相关短句

get a first down(获得首次进攻机会;取得初步进展)

earn a first down(赢得首次进攻机会)

convert a first down(成功实现首次进攻;达成初步目标)

五、近反义词

近义词：initial progress(初步进展)、good start(良好开端)

反义词：setback(挫折)、failure to advance(未能前进;进展受阻 )

六、造句

The quarterback made a great pass and helped the team get a first down.(四分卫完成了一次精彩的传球，帮助球队获得了首次进攻机会。)

Our project finally got a first down after months of hard work.(经过数月的努力，我们的项目终于取得了初步进展。)

The running back rushed for 12 yards and earned a first down for his team.(跑卫冲刺了12码，为他的球队赢得了首次进攻机会。)

With a strong offensive line, they were able to convert a first down easily.(凭借强大的进攻线，他们轻松地实现了首次进攻。)

The team's failure to get a first down in the crucial moment cost them the game.(球队在关键时刻未能获得首次进攻机会，这使他们输掉了比赛。)

After several attempts, we finally achieved a first down in our marketing campaign.(经过几次尝试，我们在营销活动中终于取得了初步进展。)

Their defense was so strong that our team couldn't even get close to a first down.(他们的防守非常顽强，我们队甚至都无法接近获得首次进攻机会。)

The coach was pleased when the team got a first down on the opening drive.(当球队在开场进攻中获得首次进攻机会时，教练很高兴。)

Making a successful sale was a first down for our new salesperson.(做成第一笔生意对我们新来的销售人员来说是个良好开端。)

We need to focus and get a first down in this negotiation to move forward.(在这次谈判中，我们需要集中精力取得初步进展，以便推进下去。)

七、在日常英语学习中的运用

体育赛事讨论：当和朋友谈论美式橄榄球比赛时，自然地使用 “first down”。例如：“Did you see how the Patriots got their first down in the second quarter? That play was amazing.”(你看到爱国者队在第二节是怎么获得首次进攻机会的吗?那次进攻太棒了。)通过参与这类体育话题讨论，加深对该短语的记忆和理解。

日常交流比喻：在描述非体育场景下的事情进展时，运用其引申义。比如在讨论工作项目、学习任务等情况时说：“We've got our first down on this difficult assignment. Now we just need to keep the momentum going.”(我们在这项艰巨的任务上已经取得了初步进展。现在我们只需保持势头。)这样能让语言表达更加生动形象，同时强化对短语不同含义的运用能力。

写作练习：在写记叙文、议论文等文章时，如果涉及到事情的开端、进展等内容，可以尝试使用 “first down”。例如在一篇关于克服困难的作文中：“Overcoming that initial obstacle was like getting a first down in a long - drawn - out battle. It gave us the confidence to keep going.”(克服最初的那个障碍就如同在一场持久战中获得了首次进攻机会。这给了我们继续前进的信心。 )通过写作练习，熟练掌握该短语在不同语境中的正确用法。