hobble

/ˈhɒbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhä-bəl/ (ame, mw)

hobble — verb

  • hobblepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • hobbleshe / she / it
  • hobbledpast simple
  • hobbling-ing form

1. to take short, jerky steps when walking, typically because one leg or foot is pa

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to take short, jerky steps when walking, typically because one leg or foot is painful or damaged

例句

Andre hobbled to the bench after hurting his ankle at football training.

hobbled + to/toward [place]

The old dog hobbled across the kitchen floor to reach its water bowl.

hobbled + across [surface]

同義詞
  • limp

    more general; describes any uneven walk favouring one leg, without the jerky, short-step quality of hobble

  • stumble

    a momentary trip or near-fall, not an ongoing way of walking

  • shuffle

    dragging the feet without lifting them, often from tiredness or old age rather than pain

反義詞
  • stride

    walk with long, confident steps

  • march

    walk briskly and steadily

文法句型

hobble + adverb or preposition of direction

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person or animal with an injured leg or foot. The word emphasises the short, uneven quality of the steps.

常見錯誤

❌She hobbled because her shoelace came undone.
✅She limped because her shoelace came undone.
💡hobble implies real pain or injury, not a minor inconvenience.
❌He hobbled quickly across the street.
✅He hobbled slowly across the street.
💡hobbling is by nature slow and unsteady; it contradicts 'quickly'.

2. to restrict what a person or organisation can do, slowing down their progress or

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to restrict what a person or organisation can do, slowing down their progress or limiting their freedom to act

例句

Strict new visa rules have hobbled the company's plans to hire skilled engineers from abroad.

hobbled + [plans/efforts] — object is abstract

A severe shortage of medical supplies hobbled the rescue effort after the earthquake.

同義詞
  • hamper

    more about creating obstacles and difficulties; less strong than hobble

  • impede

    more formal; focuses on slowing movement or progress down

  • restrict

    more about setting firm limits or rules; broader and more common

  • constrain

    implies bounding or confining possibilities, often used for people's choices

反義詞
  • facilitate

    make a process or action easier

  • enable

    give someone the means or freedom to do something

文法句型

hobble + noun phrase

be hobbled by + noun phrase

用法筆記

Object is typically an abstract concept (plans, efforts, growth, progress) rather than a physical thing. Common in news and formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌The heavy backpack hobbled her on the walk home.
✅The heavy backpack slowed her down on the walk home.
💡hobble in this sense is for abstract restrictions on freedom or progress, not physical weight.

3. to bind an animal's front and back legs with a strap so it stays nearby and cann

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to bind an animal's front and back legs with a strap so it stays nearby and cannot wander off

例句

The farmer hobbled his horse before letting it graze near the riverbank.

hobbled + [horse] — animal as direct object

Boris hobbled the donkey each evening so it would not wander into the neighbour's field.

同義詞
  • fetter

    more formal and literary; can be used for both animals and people in figurative contexts

  • tether

    tie an animal to a fixed point by a rope; does not involve binding the legs together

反義詞

文法句型

hobble + animal

用法筆記

Object must be an animal, typically a horse, donkey, or mule. Rare in everyday English; found mostly in farming, ranching, or historical contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The police hobbled the suspect before putting him in the car.
✅The police shackled the suspect before putting him in the car.
💡hobble in this sense is only for animals; for people use 'shackle' or 'bind'.

hobble — noun