chivvy

IPA/ˈtʃɪvi/
IPA/ˈtʃɪvi/

chivvy — verb

  • chivvypresent simple I / you / we / they
  • chivvieshe / she / it
  • chivviedpast simple
  • chivvying-ing form

1. to keep telling someone in a slightly impatient way to start or finish a task th

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to keep telling someone in a slightly impatient way to start or finish a task that they are reluctant or slow to do

例句

Tunde had to chivvy the children into the car before the rain started.

chivvy + somebody + into + place (motion goal)

Beatrix kept chivvying her brother to finish his homework before dinner.

chivvy + somebody + to + infinitive

同義詞
  • nag

    stronger and usually negative; suggests repeated nagging that irritates

  • hurry along

    neutral phrasal verb; same meaning without the gentle-pressure nuance

  • prod

    single push rather than repeated reminders

  • badger

    much more persistent and unwelcome than chivvy

反義詞
  • let be

    leave the person alone to act at their own pace

文法句型

chivvy + somebody + into + -ing

chivvy + somebody + along

chivvy + somebody + to do something

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person in a position to push others along (parent, teacher, manager, guide). The tone is mildly impatient rather than angry — the speaker assumes the listener already meant to do the task but is dragging their feet.

常見錯誤

❌My boss chivvied me the report.
✅My boss chivvied me into finishing the report.
💡the thing being prompted goes in an into-clause, not as a direct object.
❌Aoi chivvied for the train.
✅Aoi chivvied her sister for the train.
💡you chivvy a person, not a goal.

2. to bother someone again and again with small complaints, demands, or criticisms

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to bother someone again and again with small complaints, demands, or criticisms in a way that wears them down

例句

Jason felt the reporters chivvied him for weeks after the trial ended.

passive-leaning: the target endures repeated bothering

Amihan refused to be chivvied by the neighbours about her overgrown garden.

passive: be chivvied + about + topic

同義詞
  • harass

    stronger and more hostile; chivvy is petty, harass implies real harm

  • pester

    very close in meaning; pester is more common in everyday speech

  • hound

    more relentless; implies the target cannot escape

反義詞

文法句型

chivvy + somebody

chivvy + somebody + about + something

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here the bothering is about an existing grievance or fault rather than urging the listener to act on a pending task. Often appears in the passive (be chivvied by, be chivvied about), foregrounding the target who feels worn down.

常見錯誤

❌Élise chivvied me how rude I was.
✅Élise chivvied me about how rude I was.
💡the topic of the complaint takes about or over.