nip
/nɪp/ (bre, ipa) · [nˈɪp] /nɪp/ (ame, ipa) · [nˈɪp] /ˈnip How to pronounce nip (audio)/ (ame, mw)
nip — verb
- nippresent simple I / you / we / they
- nipshe / she / it
- nippedpast simple
- nipping-ing form
1. to go to a place quickly for a short visit or small task and come back, usually
to go to a place quickly for a short visit or small task and come back, usually as a brief interruption to whatever you are mainly doing
Wen decided to nip into the bakery for a fresh loaf before the meeting started.
nip + into + place
Amara nipped out to the corner shop during the television ad break.
nip + out + to + place
Could you nip upstairs and grab my reading glasses from the bedside table?
Diego nipped across the street to post the letter while the kettle boiled.
I just need to nip to the toilet before we leave for the airport.
文法句型
nip + adverb of direction (in, out, up, across, over, to)
用法筆記
Common in everyday British English. The verb is nearly always followed by a word showing direction: in, out, up, down, across, over, to.
常見錯誤
2. to catch a small area of skin or flesh between two things — like your teeth, or
to catch a small area of skin or flesh between two things — like your teeth, or your thumb and finger — and press quickly, causing a short sharp pain
The pet hamster nipped Fatima's finger when she tried to pick it up too quickly.
subject is an animal — common pattern
Ingrid let out a yelp when the crab nipped her toe at the edge of the water.
Kwame nipped the loose thread from his shirt collar with his front teeth.
Be careful — that drawer can nip your skin if you slide it shut too fast.
The puppy nipped at the children's heels as they ran around the garden.
文法句型
nip + body part
nip + at + person/thing
用法筆記
The subject is often an animal, especially a small one (dog, hamster, crab, parrot). When a person is the subject, the action is usually intentional and precise, like nipping off a thread.
常見錯誤
3. to hurt a part of the body or a plant by exposing it to freezing weather or an i
to hurt a part of the body or a plant by exposing it to freezing weather or an icy wind, making it feel numb, stiff, or damaged
The icy wind nipped at Nasrin's cheeks as she walked home along the canal.
nip + at + body part (of cold/wind)
A late frost in April nipped the young tomato plants and turned their leaves brown.
frost + nip + plant — common gardening context
Patrick's ears were nipped by the bitter cold during the long wait at the bus stop.
Don't leave the seedlings out overnight — the cold will nip them before morning.
After shovelling snow without proper gloves, Keiko's fingers felt nipped and stiff.
文法句型
cold/wind/frost + nip + body part/plant
be nipped + by + cold/frost
用法筆記
Often used in the passive ('was nipped by the cold'). Frequently appears in gardening contexts when frost damages young plants.
4. to stop a problem or bad situation at the very start, before it can grow into so
to stop a problem or bad situation at the very start, before it can grow into something much worse and harder to deal with
Valeria spoke to her son's teacher to nip the bullying problem in the bud.
nip something in the bud — fixed phrase
The software team caught the security flaw early and nipped it in the bud.
Ezra knew that a quick apology would nip the argument before it turned into a full row.
The health inspector's visit nipped the restaurant's hygiene lapses at an early stage.
Managers should learn to spot small staff conflicts and nip them before they spread.
文法句型
nip + something + in the bud
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'nip something in the bud'. The image comes from gardening: cutting off a flower bud before it opens, so the plant cannot bloom or spread.
常見錯誤
5. to cut or pull a small piece away from something by closing a sharp edge or your
to cut or pull a small piece away from something by closing a sharp edge or your fingertips on it and removing it in one quick motion
Mei nipped the dead flower heads off the rose bush with her garden scissors.
nip + off — remove by quick cut
The chef nipped the tips off the green beans before dropping them into the boiling water.
Omar nipped the burnt edge from the toast with his thumb and forefinger.
Lian nipped a stray thread from her new jacket and dropped it in the bin.
The gardener nipped away the side shoots so the main stem would grow stronger.
文法句型
nip + something + off
nip + away + something
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (SQUEEZE SHARPLY): here the purpose is removal, not just causing pain. The focus is on separating a small piece from the whole.
nip — noun
1. a sharp, stinging feeling of cold in the air that makes your skin tingle, especi
a sharp, stinging feeling of cold in the air that makes your skin tingle, especially on autumn or early winter mornings
There was a real nip in the air when Wen stepped outside at six in the morning.
a nip in the air — fixed phrase
Amara wrapped her scarf tighter — the autumn nip was sharper than she had expected.
By late October the morning nip made everyone reach for their warm coats.
Diego enjoyed the crisp nip of the early spring walk through the park.
文法句型
a nip in the air
the nip of + season/time
用法筆記
Most often used in the phrase 'a nip in the air'. Describes a pleasant or bracing cold rather than dangerous freezing conditions.
常見錯誤
2. a single quick, usually painful squeeze or bite delivered by teeth, claws, or fi
a single quick, usually painful squeeze or bite delivered by teeth, claws, or fingers
Fatima felt a sharp nip on her ankle and looked down to see the neighbour's terrier.
feel a nip + on + body part
The parrot gave Ingrid a warning nip when she tried to stroke its feathers.
give + someone + a nip — common pattern
A quick nip from the crab was enough to make Kwame drop the shell back into the rock pool.
The toddler's nip left a small red mark on Nasrin's arm that faded after an hour.
文法句型
give + someone + a nip
feel a nip + on + body part
3. a very small serving of a strong alcoholic drink, like whisky or brandy, usually
a very small serving of a strong alcoholic drink, like whisky or brandy, usually taken in one quick swallow
Patrick poured himself a nip of whisky and sat by the fire to warm up.
a nip of + whisky — typical collocation
After the long walk in the rain, Valeria offered everyone a nip of brandy from her flask.
Ezra took a nip of rum to steady his nerves before stepping onto the stage.
The old sailor kept a flask in his coat pocket and treated himself to a nip at sunset.
Clara only ever drank a nip of sherry at Christmas — nothing stronger.
文法句型
a nip of + whisky/brandy/rum
take a nip
pour a nip
用法筆記
Typically used for spirits (whisky, brandy, rum), not for wine or beer. Suggests a measured, small amount — smaller than a 'shot' or 'dram' in some contexts.
常見錯誤
4. a racist slur directed at Japanese people; it comes from wartime hatred and is n
a racist slur directed at Japanese people; it comes from wartime hatred and is never acceptable
Takuya heard the slur from a passing van and felt his whole body go cold.
offensive racial slur — never acceptable in any context
When the older man used the slur at dinner, Mei froze — the whole room went silent with shock.
Omar heard the offensive term in an old film and explained to his children why it was deeply wrong.
Emiko found the slur scratched into the wall of her grandmother's old primary school.
用法筆記
This word is a racial slur of the most offensive kind. It appears in this dictionary only so that learners can recognise it and understand why it is completely unacceptable. Never use this word to refer to a person under any circumstances.
常見錯誤
5. a sharp, slightly sour or spicy taste that you notice straight away, like the ki
a sharp, slightly sour or spicy taste that you notice straight away, like the kick of fresh ginger, strong cheese, or horseradish
The salad dressing had a pleasant nip from the fresh lemon juice and mustard.
a nip from + ingredient — source of sharp taste
Amara added extra ginger to the stir-fry to give it more of a nip.
This mature cheddar has a real nip to it — children usually prefer the mild version.
Diego tasted the soup and added a splash of vinegar for a sharper nip.
The nip of horseradish hit the back of Nasrin's throat and made her eyes water.
文法句型
a nip of + ingredient
have a nip to it
add a nip
用法筆記
Describes a pleasant sharpness in food, not unpleasant burning or bitterness. Common with ingredients like ginger, mustard, horseradish, strong cheese, lemon, and vinegar.