Joyride
Meaning: A reckless or unauthorized drive taken purely for fun, often in someone else's car.
A joyride implies driving for the thrill rather than to get somewhere. It can be innocent — teenagers driving around with no destination — or criminal, as in stealing a car for a spin. The term carries a sense of youthful recklessness and freedom.
Examples
- Some kids took my car for a joyride last night. 昨晚有几个小子偷开了我的车去兜风。Anoche unos chavales se llevaron mi coche a dar una vuelta sin permiso.昨夜、うちの車がガキどもに無断で乗り回された。어젯밤에 어떤 애들이 내 차를 몰래 타고 나갔어.
- We went on a joyride through the desert with the top down. 我们敞着车篷在沙漠里兜了一圈风。Nos fuimos a dar un paseo por el desierto con la capota bajada.オープンカーで砂漠をドライブして回った。지붕 열고 사막을 신나게 드라이브했어.
- He got arrested for joyriding in a stolen vehicle. 他因为开偷来的车兜风被逮捕了。Lo detuvieron por conducir un vehículo robado por diversión.彼は盗難車に乗って走り回って逮捕された。그는 훔친 차를 몰고 다니다 체포됐어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: driving, crime, fun
Tone: playful or disapproving depending on context
✓ Do Say
- Let's take the convertible for a joyride.开敞篷车出去兜个风吧。Vamos a dar una vuelta con el descapotable.オープンカーでドライブに行こうよ。컨버터블 타고 드라이브하러 가자.
- He was caught joyriding.他偷车兜风被抓了。Lo pillaron dando una vuelta en un coche robado.彼は無断ドライブで捕まった。그는 무단 운전하다 잡혔어.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't use casually if the car was actually stolen — that's a felony, not a joyride如果车确实是偷来的,不要随意使用——那是重罪,不是兜风No lo uses a la ligera si el coche fue realmente robado: eso es un delito grave, no un simple paseo実際に車が盗まれた場合に軽々しく使わないこと——それは重罪であり、ジョイライドではない실제로 차를 도난당한 경우에는 가볍게 사용하지 말 것 — 그것은 중범죄이지 조이라이드가 아니다
Origin & History
American English from the early 1900s, coinciding with the rise of automobile culture. Originally referred to any pleasure drive, but by the 1910s it had acquired connotations of reckless or unauthorized driving.
Cultural Context
Era: Early 20th century
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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