lips
lips — noun
1. one of the two soft, movable parts of flesh that form the upper and lower edges
one of the two soft, movable parts of flesh that form the upper and lower edges of the mouth and are used for speaking, eating, and showing emotions.
Yuki pressed her lips together and said nothing when the teacher asked who had broken the window.
collocation: press one's lips together (to show anger or restraint)
The cold wind made Kwame's lips dry and cracked during his morning run through the park.
collocation: dry / cracked lips
Mateo kissed his grandmother on the cheek, and her lips curved into a warm smile.
The doctor asked Orla to part her lips so he could look at her sore throat.
Nasrin bit her lower lip nervously while waiting for the exam results to be posted online.
文法句型
possessive + lips
lips + verb
adjective + lips
用法筆記
When describing lip shape or expression, use adjectives like full, thin, dry, chapped, or cracked. Frequently used in possessive constructions (his lips, her lips).
常見錯誤
2. the shaped edge or short spout of a container, such as a jug, cup, or teapot, th
the shaped edge or short spout of a container, such as a jug, cup, or teapot, that helps liquid pour out smoothly without spilling.
Hugo carefully poured the hot soup from the lip of the pot into the bowl without spilling a single drop.
pattern: the lip of + [container]
The lip of the old ceramic teapot was chipped, so Zainab had to pour the tea very slowly.
Xiaoming wiped the lip of the milk jug before putting it back into the refrigerator.
Water dripped down the lip of the flower vase and left a ring on the polished wooden table.
文法句型
the lip of + [container noun]
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun/1: this sense is always singular and refers specifically to containers. The object must be a hollow vessel used for holding liquids.
常見錯誤
3. talk that is rude, disrespectful, or argumentative, especially when a younger or
talk that is rude, disrespectful, or argumentative, especially when a younger or less powerful person speaks back to someone in authority.
"I don't want any more of your lip, young man," said the coach after Tamar argued about the training drill.
fixed expression: 'don't want any of your lip'
The manager warned the new employee that he would lose his job if he kept giving lip to customers.
collocation: give lip to someone
Nandini's mother sent her to her room for the lip she gave during dinner when asked to finish her vegetables.
- respect
polite and considerate speech or behaviour toward authority
文法句型
give someone lip
don't give me any lip
用法筆記
Almost always used in fixed expressions like 'give lip' or 'don't give me any lip.' The person receiving the lip is usually a parent, teacher, boss, or other authority figure. Not used in formal writing.
常見錯誤
lips — adjective
1. said or done without genuine feeling, commitment, or belief — used especially wh
said or done without genuine feeling, commitment, or belief — used especially when someone claims to support something but does nothing real to back it up.
The company's lip service to environmental issues did not match its actual spending on reducing pollution.
fixed phrase: lip service (insincere verbal support)
Politicians often pay lip service to education reform during elections but fail to fund new programs afterward.
collocation: pay lip service to [something]
Dariush saw through his colleague's lip service and knew that she did not mean a single word of it.
文法句型
lip + [abstract noun, e.g., service, praise, support]
用法筆記
Almost always appears as part of the fixed expressions 'lip service' or 'pay lip service to [something].' The word 'lip' cannot be used alone as an adjective meaning 'insincere' — it must be followed by a noun like 'service,' 'praise,' or 'support.'
常見錯誤
2. in phonetics, describing a speech sound that is produced by bringing one or both
in phonetics, describing a speech sound that is produced by bringing one or both lips into contact or close proximity with another part of the mouth.
At story time, Hana watched Mr. Adebayo's lips press together for the "b" in "bear" and copied the same lip sound.
domain label: phonetics — lip consonants (bilabial sounds)
The speech therapist asked Kwame to practice the lip sound "m" while holding a small mirror in front of his face.
At a phonetics workshop, Wei-Chieh pressed a finger to his lips and said "baby" to show his classmate the lip sound for "b."
文法句型
lip + [sound/consonant/articulation noun]
用法筆記
This is a technical term used in phonetics and language teaching. In everyday speech, most people say 'labial sound' or 'lip sound' rather than using 'lip' as a standalone adjective. The more common academic term is 'bilabial.'
常見錯誤
lips — verb
1. to touch something gently with the lips as a soft, brief gesture, often before d
to touch something gently with the lips as a soft, brief gesture, often before drinking or as a light sign of affection.
The old man lipped the rim of his wine glass gently before taking the smallest possible sip.
literary register: used in descriptive or narrative writing
Before leaving for work, Yuki lipped her sleeping baby's forehead with the softest touch.
文法句型
lip + [object: glass/forehead/cheek]
用法筆記
A rare literary usage. In everyday English, 'kiss' or 'touch with the lips' is far more common. This sense appears mainly in older novels or poetic descriptions.
常見錯誤
2. to speak or pronounce words in a quiet or barely audible voice, often by moving
to speak or pronounce words in a quiet or barely audible voice, often by moving the lips with little or no sound.
The singer lipped the words silently during the recording to practice the rhythm without disturbing the microphone.
pattern: lip + [word/phrase] — silently mouthing words
From across the crowded party, Orla lipped the words "call me later" to her friend near the door.
文法句型
lip + [words/a phrase]
用法筆記
Used when someone forms words with the lips but produces little or no sound, either because they do not want to be heard or because they cannot produce sound.
常見錯誤
3. to flow gently against a surface — used of waves, water, or other liquids moving
to flow gently against a surface — used of waves, water, or other liquids moving softly along a shoreline, bank, or structure.
The small waves lipped the sandy shore as the sun set over the calm ocean horizon.
literary: waves + lip + shore (gentle water movement)
Water from the rising tide lipped against the wooden posts of the old pier near the harbour.
文法句型
waves/water + lip + [shore/bank/posts]
water lips at/against + [surface]
用法筆記
A poetic or literary alternative to more common verbs like 'lap,' 'wash,' or 'ripple against.' Only used for gentle, soft contact — not for violent waves.
常見錯誤
4. in golf, to hit a putt so that the ball rolls along the edge of the cup but does
in golf, to hit a putt so that the ball rolls along the edge of the cup but does not fall in, staying just outside the hole.
Mateo's putt from twelve feet lipped the cup and rolled two painful inches past the hole.
domain label: golf — lip + the cup (ball hits the edge but does not drop)
The golf ball lipped the edge of the hole and stopped right on the rim, leaving the crowd groaning.
- rim out
a more common alternative phrase meaning the same thing in golf
- burn the edge
idiomatic golf expression for a putt that comes very close to dropping
- sink
to successfully make the ball fall into the hole
文法句型
lip + [the cup/hole]
the ball/the putt + lips + out/around
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in golf commentary and conversation. The ball 'lips out' when it should have gone in by any reasonable guess. Frustration is the typical emotional context.