nipped
nipped — verb
1. to squeeze a small bit of skin, cloth, or other material firmly between two hard
to squeeze a small bit of skin, cloth, or other material firmly between two hard objects like fingers, teeth, or a tool, often quickly and causing a short sharp feeling
Rania nipped her son's cheek gently with her thumb and finger.
nip + object + body part: physical pinch with two surfaces
The metal clip nipped Tunde's thumb when the hinge snapped shut.
inanimate subject: object/tool doing the pinching
Lien nipped the loose thread between her teeth and pulled hard.
The crab nipped Sayaka's finger as she lifted it from the bucket.
Christopher nipped the candle wick between two coins to put it out.
文法句型
nip + object
nip + object + body part
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person, an animal with small jaws or claws, or a tool with two surfaces meeting. The action is brief and sharp, never a long squeeze.
常見錯誤
2. to sew a piece of clothing so that it fits more closely around part of the body,
to sew a piece of clothing so that it fits more closely around part of the body, especially the waist, usually by taking small folds out of the fabric
Antonia asked the tailor to nip the dress in around the waist.
nip + object + in: standard tailoring pattern
Liam had his wedding jacket nipped in across the back.
passive: have + object + nipped in + body region
Noa nipped the shirt sleeves slightly so they hugged her arms.
The seamstress nipped in the trouser legs by two centimetres each side.
- let out
the direct opposite — sew so the garment becomes looser
文法句型
nip in + object
have something nipped in
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'in' plus a body region (waist, back, sleeves). Subject is almost always a person doing sewing work, or the wearer asking for the change.
常見錯誤
3. to remove a small part of a plant, flower, or other thing by squeezing it sharpl
to remove a small part of a plant, flower, or other thing by squeezing it sharply with your fingernails, with scissors, or with a pair of small pliers
Hyun nipped off the dead rose buds before watering the garden.
nip off + plant part: standard gardening pattern
Kian nipped a tiny piece of dough from the loaf to taste it.
Elena nipped the loose threads off her sweater with nail scissors.
The gardener nipped the side shoots off the tomato plant each morning.
Élise nipped a corner of the price tag off so it would lie flat.
文法句型
nip off + object
nip + object + off
用法筆記
The object removed is always small and soft enough to come off with a quick pinch — buds, threads, dough, tags. Not used for cutting hard or large things.
常見錯誤
4. to stop a problem, plan, or trend from growing into something worse while it is
to stop a problem, plan, or trend from growing into something worse while it is still small, usually by acting quickly and firmly at the very start
Emma nipped the office gossip in the bud by speaking to everyone directly.
nip + object + in the bud: the fixed idiom carrying this sense
Nikos nipped his daughter's late-night phone habit in the bud.
The new manager nipped the unsafe shortcut in the bud after one warning.
William wanted to nip the dispute in the bud before lawyers got involved.
- encourage
let something grow rather than stopping it early
文法句型
nip + something + in the bud
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'nip [something] in the bud'. The object is usually a problem, habit, rumour, or trend — never a person.
常見錯誤
5. of frost, wind, or freezing air, to damage a plant or living tissue, or to make
of frost, wind, or freezing air, to damage a plant or living tissue, or to make a part of someone's body feel painfully cold and slightly numb
Frost nipped the young tomato seedlings overnight in Nadia's garden.
frost/cold as subject: classic agricultural use
The cold wind nipped Constanza's ears as she waited for the bus.
cold + body part: ears/nose/fingers commonly affected
Several rose bushes were nipped by the late April frost.
An icy gust nipped at Talia's cheeks as she crossed the bridge.
文法句型
nip + plant/body part
be nipped by the frost/cold
用法筆記
Subject must be cold weather or frost, not a person. Object is either a plant (causes damage) or a body part (causes sharp cold pain). Often used in the passive.
常見錯誤
6. of an animal, to give a quick light bite or pinch with its teeth or beak, often
of an animal, to give a quick light bite or pinch with its teeth or beak, often as a warning or in play rather than to cause serious harm
The puppy nipped Zuri's ankle when she tried to take its toy away.
animal subject + body part: warning bite
The pony nipped Rania's sleeve as she walked past the fence.
Sayaka's parrot sometimes nips at her fingers if she moves too fast.
The kitten nipped at Tunde's toes from under the blanket.
Be careful — that dog nips when strangers reach for its bowl.
文法句型
nip + object
nip at + object
用法筆記
Subject is almost always an animal (dog, horse, parrot, crab). The bite is small and rarely breaks skin. Compare with sense 1 — sense 1 covers a person's pinch with fingers; this sense is about animal teeth.
常見錯誤
7. to take or steal something quickly, often something small and not very valuable,
to take or steal something quickly, often something small and not very valuable, usually before the owner notices it is gone
Someone nipped Christopher's umbrella from the office hallway last Friday.
informal British slang for petty theft
Andrei suspected a colleague had nipped his packed lunch from the fridge.
Lien nipped two biscuits from the meeting room on her way past.
A pickpocket had nipped Hyun's wallet on the crowded train.
- return
give back something that was taken
文法句型
nip + object
用法筆記
Informal British usage. Object is small and low-value (umbrella, sandwich, biscuits). For big or serious thefts, use 'steal' or 'rob'.
常見錯誤
8. to beat another team or player by a very small score, usually in a sports match,
to beat another team or player by a very small score, usually in a sports match, suggesting that the result was very close until the final moment
The home side nipped Kian's club two goals to one in the final minute.
sports reporting register; common in newspaper match summaries
Elena nipped the defending champion by a single point in the chess final.
nip + opponent + by + margin
The visiting runners nipped the local team by half a second.
Antonia's debate squad nipped the favourites in the closing round.
- thrash
win by a huge margin — the opposite of a close win
文法句型
nip + opponent
nip + opponent + by + margin
用法筆記
Almost only used in sports or competition contexts. The winning margin is always very small — one point, one goal, a few seconds. Compare with 'beat', which says nothing about the margin.
常見錯誤
9. to go somewhere fast and only for a short time, usually nearby, to do one small
to go somewhere fast and only for a short time, usually nearby, to do one small errand before coming straight back
Noa nipped out to the corner shop for milk before breakfast.
nip out + for + errand: classic British everyday usage
Tara nipped upstairs to grab her phone charger.
nip + direction adverb: very short trip indoors
Could you nip round to Mrs Singh's flat and check she's alright?
William nipped into the bakery while Anong waited in the car.
Élise nipped down to the basement to fetch a clean towel.
文法句型
nip + adverb of direction
nip + out/in/round/down
用法筆記
Informal British. Always followed by a direction word (out, in, up, down, round, into) and usually a short purpose. The trip is brief — minutes, not hours.
常見錯誤
10. to drink small amounts of strong alcohol slowly and regularly throughout the day
to drink small amounts of strong alcohol slowly and regularly throughout the day, usually as a quiet habit rather than at meals or in company
Old Mr Cohen nipped at his brandy bottle all afternoon.
nip at + spirit bottle: standard dated frame
Zuri's great-uncle used to nip at whisky between lunch and dinner.
Nikos noticed his guest had been quietly nipping at the gin all evening.
The shopkeeper kept a small flask and nipped from it whenever he was alone.
文法句型
nip at + drink
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and slightly disapproving. Used for spirits, not beer or wine. Often suggests the drinker has a problem they keep hidden.
常見錯誤
nipped — noun
1. a short critical or unfriendly comment made about someone, intended to hurt thei
a short critical or unfriendly comment made about someone, intended to hurt their feelings a little or to mock them quietly rather than start an argument
Tunde's speech contained a clever nip at the previous chairman.
a nip at + person: standard frame for this sense
Lien added a small nip about the cost of the new car park.
Sayaka ignored the nip in Christopher's tone and changed the subject.
Élise slipped a quiet nip about her cousin's late arrival into the toast.
- compliment
a friendly remark of praise, not criticism
文法句型
a nip in/at/about + topic
用法筆記
Quite literary and uncommon in everyday English. The remark is short and pointed, not a long attack. Often appears with 'small', 'sharp', or 'clever'.
常見錯誤
2. the feeling that the outside air is unexpectedly cold and slightly sharp on the
the feeling that the outside air is unexpectedly cold and slightly sharp on the skin, especially in early morning or late autumn when colder weather is starting
There was a real nip in the air when Hyun left the house at six.
a nip in the air: the fixed phrase carrying this sense
Kian could feel a nip in the air as autumn arrived.
By late September there is usually a sharp nip in the morning air.
Elena pulled her scarf up against the nip of the November wind.
- warmth
the opposite feeling of comfortable warm air
文法句型
a nip in the air
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'a nip in the air'. The cold is noticeable but not yet harsh — typical of early autumn mornings, not deep winter.
常見錯誤
3. a strong sharp taste in food or drink that bites the tongue slightly, often from
a strong sharp taste in food or drink that bites the tongue slightly, often from spice, vinegar, mustard, ginger, or aged cheese
The mustard had a sharp nip that made Antonia's eyes water.
a nip + that-clause: tongue/eye reaction frame
Liam loves the nip of fresh ginger in his morning tea.
the nip of + ingredient: classic foodie phrasing
This aged cheddar has a real nip that goes well with apple.
Noa added vinegar for a nip on the smoked fish.
文法句型
a nip of + flavour
with a nip
用法筆記
Used in food writing and casual cooking talk. The sensation is on the tongue rather than the throat — compare with sense 6 about alcohol. Subjects: mustard, ginger, vinegar, strong cheese.
常見錯誤
4. a single quick small bite or pinch by an animal's teeth or a person's fingers, s
a single quick small bite or pinch by an animal's teeth or a person's fingers, sharp enough to feel but rarely strong enough to break the skin
Tara got a small nip from the neighbour's parrot when she stroked its head.
get + a nip + from + animal: standard intake frame
The puppy gave Anong's finger a playful nip during the game.
give + person + a nip: playful animal action
William felt a sharp nip on his arm where the crab had grabbed him.
Élise's pet rabbit only ever gave gentle nips when it was hungry.
文法句型
a nip from + animal/person
give + person + a nip
用法筆記
The countable noun form of verb senses 1 and 6. Often used with 'small', 'playful', or 'sharp' to describe the strength of the bite or pinch.
常見錯誤
5. a very small portion or piece of something, taken or given as a sample rather th
a very small portion or piece of something, taken or given as a sample rather than a full serving
Talia tore off a nip of bread for the baby to chew.
a nip of + soft food: snippet-sized sample
Lotte added a nip of butter to the warm rice.
Zuri offered a nip of cake to each of the children.
The chef added just a nip of saffron to colour the broth.
- portion
a full serving rather than a tiny sample
文法句型
a nip of + uncountable noun
用法筆記
Quite uncommon in modern English outside cooking writing. Almost always paired with food. For non-food items, use 'a bit' or 'a small piece' instead.
常見錯誤
6. one mouthful of strong spirits like whisky, brandy, or gin, served in a tiny gla
one mouthful of strong spirits like whisky, brandy, or gin, served in a tiny glass or poured from a flask, much less than a full glass
Andrei poured himself a nip of whisky before bed.
a nip of + spirit: standard alcohol-noun frame
Hyun offered the visitors a nip of brandy to warm them up.
Kian took a quick nip from the silver flask in his coat pocket.
After the cold walk, Elena had a nip of port by the fire.
文法句型
a nip of + spirit
take/have a nip
用法筆記
Always for strong spirits (whisky, brandy, gin, port), never for beer or wine. A 'nip' is much smaller than a regular drink — about one mouthful. Compare with verb sense 10 for the repeated-drinking habit.