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.
animal subject: a quick bite-like pinch
Christopher nipped the candle wick between two coins to put it out.
- nip between fingers
- nip between teeth
- nip someone's cheek
Grammar Patterns
nip + object
nip + object + body part
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
- nip in the waist
- nip in at the back
- have something nipped in
- let out
the direct opposite — sew so the garment becomes looser
Grammar Patterns
nip in + object
have something nipped in
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
common collocation: nip + side shoots/buds off
Élise nipped a corner of the price tag off so it would lie flat.
- nip off buds
- nip off shoots
- nip the end off
Grammar Patterns
nip off + object
nip + object + off
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
- nip in the bud
- nip a problem in the bud
- nip a habit in the bud
- encourage
let something grow rather than stopping it early
Grammar Patterns
nip + something + in the bud
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
passive: be nipped by + cold weather noun
An icy gust nipped at Talia's cheeks as she crossed the bridge.
- frost nipped
- wind nipped
- be nipped by the cold
Grammar Patterns
nip + plant/body part
be nipped by the frost/cold
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
nip at + body part: repeated playful biting
The kitten nipped at Tunde's toes from under the blanket.
Be careful — that dog nips when strangers reach for its bowl.
warning-context usage; common in dog training
- nip at someone's heels
- nip at fingers
- dog nipped
Grammar Patterns
nip + object
nip at + object
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
informal: a quick light-fingered grab, half-joking
A pickpocket had nipped Hyun's wallet on the crowded train.
- nip something from
- nip a snack
- return
give back something that was taken
Grammar Patterns
nip + object
Usage Note
Informal British usage. Object is small and low-value (umbrella, sandwich, biscuits). For big or serious thefts, use 'steal' or 'rob'.
Common Mistakes
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.
- nip by a point
- nip in the final minute
- nip at the line
- thrash
win by a huge margin — the opposite of a close win
Grammar Patterns
nip + opponent
nip + opponent + by + margin
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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?
nip round to + person's place: quick neighbourly visit
William nipped into the bakery while Anong waited in the car.
Élise nipped down to the basement to fetch a clean towel.
- nip out
- nip in
- nip round
- nip down
- nip up
- nip across
Grammar Patterns
nip + adverb of direction
nip + out/in/round/down
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
- nip at the bottle
- nip at brandy/whisky/gin
- nip from a flask
Grammar Patterns
nip at + drink
Usage Note
Old-fashioned and slightly disapproving. Used for spirits, not beer or wine. Often suggests the drinker has a problem they keep hidden.
Common Mistakes
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.
a nip about + topic: tucked into a longer remark
- a sharp nip
- a nip at someone
- a clever nip
- compliment
a friendly remark of praise, not criticism
Grammar Patterns
a nip in/at/about + topic
Usage Note
Quite literary and uncommon in everyday English. The remark is short and pointed, not a long attack. Often appears with 'small', 'sharp', or 'clever'.
Common Mistakes
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.
the nip of + cold wind: less common but natural variation
- a nip in the air
- a sharp nip
- an autumn nip
- the morning nip
- warmth
the opposite feeling of comfortable warm air
Grammar Patterns
a nip in the air
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
- a nip of mustard
- a nip of ginger
- have a nip
- sharp nip
Grammar Patterns
a nip of + flavour
with a nip
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
- a playful nip
- a sharp nip
- give someone a nip
- get a nip from
Grammar Patterns
a nip from + animal/person
give + person + a nip
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
cooking register: a nip of + spice
- a nip of bread
- a nip of butter
- just a nip
- portion
a full serving rather than a tiny sample
Grammar Patterns
a nip of + uncountable noun
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
take + a nip + from + container: flask context
After the cold walk, Elena had a nip of port by the fire.
- a nip of whisky
- a nip of brandy
- take a nip
- a quick nip
Grammar Patterns
a nip of + spirit
take/have a nip
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four verbs describe pressing something between two surfaces, but the size and feeling differ. 'Pinch' is the most general — you can pinch any small thing with fingers, gently or hard, for any reason: testing dough, holding a button, hurting someone. 'Nip' is quicker and sharper than a pinch, often with the hint that it stings; it is also the verb used for small animal bites and for cold weather hurting the skin. 'Tweak' is the lightest of the four, almost playful — you tweak someone's nose or ear, never their whole arm. 'Squeeze' covers much wider areas — you squeeze a lemon, a sponge, or someone's whole hand — and the action lasts longer. A useful pair: Rania gave the dough a gentle pinch to test it; the puppy gave her a sharp nip on the ankle.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'nip' has roots in Middle English 'nippen', probably borrowed from a Low German or Dutch word meaning to pinch or pluck. From the basic pinching sense, the meaning spread in many directions over the centuries: to nip off a small piece, to nip in cloth while sewing, to feel the nip of cold air, to take a quick nip of strong drink. The British informal sense of 'go quickly somewhere' developed later from the idea of a short, sharp movement — like a small bite or pinch in space rather than on the skin.