bootleg
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.a recording of a concert or a song that was made and sold without the artist's permission.
n.an unauthorized recording of a live performance or a broadcast, often distributed outside official commercial channels.
Simple“He found a rare bootleg of the band's first concert in a small record shop.”
In context“Collectors often prize a high-quality bootleg for its raw energy, even if the audio fidelity pales in comparison to a studio-engineered album.”
Synonymspirate recordingunauthorized copyAntonymsofficial release - 02 C1 Advanced
n.something that is made, moved, or sold against the law, especially alcohol.
n.an illicitly produced, transported, or sold product, historically associated with the illegal trade of liquor.
Simple“The police seized a large shipment of bootleg cigarettes at the border.”
In context“During the Prohibition era, the distribution of bootleg whiskey became a highly organized and violent criminal enterprise.”
Synonymscontrabandsmuggled goodsAntonymslegal goods - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.the part of a boot that covers your ankle and lower leg.
n.the portion of a boot that extends above the instep, covering the ankle and part of the leg.
Simple“The leather on the bootleg was stiff and needed to be softened.”
In context“The cobbler noted that the bootleg required additional reinforcement to prevent the tall silhouette from sagging over time.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
adj.made or sold illegally; also used to describe a cheap or fake version of something.
adj.produced, distributed, or sold illicitly; frequently implies an inferior or counterfeit imitation.
Simple“I accidentally bought a bootleg DVD that had terrible picture quality.”
In context“The market was flooded with bootleg designer handbags that looked convincing from a distance but felt cheap upon closer inspection.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to make, carry, or sell something against the law.
v.to manufacture, transport, or sell goods—especially liquor or recordings—illegally.
Simple“They were caught trying to bootleg software across the border.”
In context“The group managed to bootleg hundreds of copies of the film before the official theatrical release date.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
n.a trick play where the player with the ball hides it and runs to one side.
n.a play in which the quarterback fakes a handoff, conceals the ball against his hip, and rolls out to one side.
Simple“The quarterback ran a perfect bootleg and scored a touchdown.”
In context“The defense was completely fooled by the bootleg, leaving the entire right flank open for the quarterback to sprint toward the end zone.”
From boot + leg. Originally a nickname given to smugglers in King George III's reign, derived from the smugglers' custom of hiding packages of valuables in their large sea-boots when dodging the king's coastguardsmen.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.