cuff
cuff — noun
- cuffsingular
- cuffsplural
1. the band at a sleeve's end where the cloth meets your wrist
the band at a sleeve's end where the cloth meets your wrist
Devika folded back the wet cuff of her raincoat before washing dishes.
collocation: fold back a cuff
Karim buttoned the shirt cuff after checking the time on his watch.
collocation: button a shirt cuff
A loose cuff kept sliding over Min's hand during the school play.
The tailor widened one cuff so Erik could move his wrist easily.
- shirt cuff
- buttoned cuff
- tight cuff
- turned-back cuff
Grammar Patterns
the cuff of a shirt
button a cuff
fold back a cuff
Usage Note
This sense usually refers to the part around the wrist on a shirt, jacket, or coat sleeve. It often appears with verbs like button, fold back, or tighten.
2. the folded band made by turning the bottom of trousers outward
the folded band made by turning the bottom of trousers outward
The tailor pinned the cuff of Lara's trousers before the final fitting.
collocation: cuff of trousers
Rainwater darkened the cuffs of his school trousers on the walk home.
Christopher asked for wider cuffs to match his old jazz suit.
fashion use: wider cuffs
One cuff came undone and brushed the ground near the station stairs.
- trouser cuffs
- wide cuffs
- pressed cuffs
- turn up the cuffs
- turn-up
specifically names the folded part at the bottom of the trouser leg
Grammar Patterns
cuffs on trousers
turn up the cuffs
wide cuffs
Usage Note
This clothing sense is mainly used for trousers rather than shirts. British English uses cuff more naturally here than American English, which often says pant cuff or turn-up.
3. a stiff wide bracelet that fits closely around the wrist
a stiff wide bracelet that fits closely around the wrist
Nikos bought a silver cuff from a market beside the old port.
collocation: silver cuff
The artist wore a wooden cuff that matched her bright red scarf.
Baraka fastened a brass cuff around his wrist before the concert.
pattern: cuff around the wrist
A cracked cuff lay beside the mirror on Sivan's dressing table.
- silver cuff
- gold cuff
- brass cuff
- open cuff bracelet
Grammar Patterns
wear a cuff
silver cuff
cuff around the wrist
Usage Note
This sense belongs to jewellery and often suggests a broad open bracelet rather than a thin chain bracelet.
4. handcuffs, especially when people speak about them informally
handcuffs, especially when people speak about them informally
The detective kept a spare pair of cuffs in the car door pocket.
informal plural: a pair of cuffs
One cuff jammed, so the officer called for another set.
After the arrest, the suspect sat quietly with cuffs on both wrists.
phrase: with cuffs on
The guard removed the cuffs only after Mina entered the holding room.
- a pair of cuffs
- steel cuffs
- put on the cuffs
- in cuffs
- handcuffs
the standard full form in neutral English
- restraints
a broader word that can include other devices besides handcuffs
Grammar Patterns
a pair of cuffs
put on the cuffs
in cuffs
Usage Note
This informal sense is very often plural. People commonly say a pair of cuffs or in cuffs rather than using the singular form on its own.
5. a brief playful blow from the flat of the hand
a brief playful blow from the flat of the hand
Devika gave her brother a cuff on the shoulder after his silly joke.
pattern: give someone a cuff
The coach answered the win with a proud cuff on Karim's back.
A quick cuff from his mother sent the boy laughing into the yard.
Wren dodged Nick's playful cuff and grabbed the last sandwich.
collocation: playful cuff
- a cuff on the shoulder
- playful cuff
- quick cuff
- give someone a cuff
Grammar Patterns
give someone a cuff
a cuff on the shoulder
playful cuff
Usage Note
This noun usually suggests a brief playful blow rather than a serious attack. It often appears with on the shoulder, on the head, or on the back.
cuff — verb
- cuffpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cuffs3rd person singular
- cuffing-ing form
- cuffedpast simple
1. to hit someone lightly with your hand, usually in a playful way
to hit someone lightly with your hand, usually in a playful way
Erik cuffed his cousin on the arm after the winning goal.
pattern: cuff someone on the arm
The older boy cuffed Theo gently and pointed at the broken kite.
Lara laughed when her aunt cuffed her shoulder for teasing Grandpa.
Minh cuffed his friend lightly, then helped him back onto the bench.
contrast: playful hit, then help
- cuff someone on the arm
- cuff someone on the head
- playfully cuff
- gently cuff
Grammar Patterns
cuff someone on the arm
cuff someone on the shoulder
cuff someone playfully
Usage Note
This sense usually appears with a body part after on and often sounds playful or mildly scolding, not violent. It is much less common than slap in everyday modern English.
2. to fasten handcuffs onto someone
to fasten handcuffs onto someone
Two officers cuffed the thief outside the pharmacy before the crowd gathered.
police action: cuff a suspect
The guard cuffed Paolo after he shoved past the museum gate.
Police cuffed the driver and searched the boot for stolen phones.
sequence: cuffed, then searched
At the station, the sergeant cuffed the suspect to stop another escape.
- cuff a suspect
- cuff and arrest
- be cuffed
- cuff someone outside
Grammar Patterns
cuff someone outside a building
be cuffed and taken away
cuff a suspect
Usage Note
This sense belongs to arrest or security situations and is often used in the passive, as in be cuffed and led away. It focuses on putting restraints on someone, not on striking them.