c. 1400, from snow (n.) + ball (n.1). Similar formation in West Frisian sniebal, Middle Dutch sneubal, German Schneeball, Danish snebold. Expression snowball's chance (in hell) "no chance" is recorded by 1910.
"to make snowballs," 1680s, from snowball (n.); sense of "to throw snowballs at" (someone) is from 1850. Meaning "to increase rapidly" is attested from 1929, though the image of a snowball increasing in size as it rolls along had been used since at least 1613, and a noun sense of "a pyramid scheme" is attested from 1892. Related: Snowballed; snowballing.
双语例句
1. All this publicity has had a snowball effect on the sales of their latest album.
所有这些宣传对他们最新唱片的销售产生了一种滚雪球效应。
来自《权威词典》
2. Tom turned the other cheek when he was hit with a snowball.
