hiccup
/ˈhɪkʌp/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɪkʌp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhi-(ˌ)kəp/ (ame, mw) · /ˈhɪk.ʌp/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɪk.ʌp/ (ame, ipa)
hiccup — noun
- hiccupsingular
- hiccupsplural
1. a short, unintended sound produced in the throat when the diaphragm tightens wit
a short, unintended sound produced in the throat when the diaphragm tightens without warning
Stefan let out a loud hiccup during the quiet library exam.
countable: let out a hiccup
A sudden hiccup caught Adina by surprise as she was drinking water.
Each hiccup made baby Nila's tiny shoulders jump slightly.
Devika tried to hold back a hiccup while giving her presentation.
The hiccup came so quickly that Lauren did not have time to cover her mouth.
2. a period during which a person repeatedly makes hiccup sounds that they cannot c
a period during which a person repeatedly makes hiccup sounds that they cannot control
Daichi had a bad case of hiccups that lasted nearly an hour.
collocation: a case of hiccups
Drinking cold water sometimes helps Hoa get rid of her hiccups.
collocation: get rid of hiccups
The hiccups kept Vinícius awake for most of the night.
Layla's hiccups finally stopped after she held her breath for a while.
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form 'the hiccups' to refer to the condition, e.g. 'I have the hiccups.'
3. a small and short-lived problem that briefly delays or interrupts an activity wi
a small and short-lived problem that briefly delays or interrupts an activity without causing major harm
There was a brief technical hiccup during the live television broadcast.
collocation: technical hiccup
Dahlia's team faced a minor hiccup when the supplier shipped the wrong parts.
Apart from a few early hiccups, the wedding reception went very smoothly.
A scheduling hiccup meant Rachid had to reschedule the afternoon meeting.
The only hiccup on moving day was that the truck arrived two hours late.
- breakthrough
a significant positive development
- smooth sailing
a period without any problems at all
用法筆記
Common in business and technical contexts to describe minor, recoverable setbacks. A hiccup is never a catastrophic failure — if the problem is serious, use 'setback' or 'crisis' instead.
常見錯誤
hiccup — verb
- hiccuppresent simple I / you / we / they
- hiccups3rd person singular
- hiccupping-ing form
- hiccuppedpast simple
1. to produce a short involuntary sound in the throat because the diaphragm tighten
to produce a short involuntary sound in the throat because the diaphragm tightens without warning
The baby hiccupped softly in her sleep after drinking her milk.
intransitive: hiccup + adverb of manner
Sade hiccupped loudly after drinking her fizzy drink too quickly.
Lauren could not stop hiccupping after eating the spicy curry.
Grandpa hiccupped during the family dinner and made everyone chuckle.