saw
/sɔː/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈɔ] /sɑː/ (ame, ipa) · [sˈɔ] /sɔː/ (ame, ipa)
saw — verb
- sawpresent simple I / you / we / they
- saws3rd person singular
- sawing-ing form
- sawedpast simple
- sawnpast participle
1. used as the past-tense form of the verb see
used as the past-tense form of the verb see
Hana saw smoke above the station and called the fire brigade.
saw + object in a completed past event
Christopher saw his math teacher at the night market after dinner.
Noor saw two deer beside the road on an early bus ride.
Jude saw the email too late and missed the cheap train tickets.
文法句型
subject + saw + object
用法筆記
Used only as the simple past form of see. After have, has, or had, use seen instead.
常見錯誤
2. to cut something such as wood or metal by moving a toothed blade through it
to cut something such as wood or metal by moving a toothed blade through it
Baraka used a ladder to saw through the wet branch safely.
saw through + object
The carpenter had to saw the board shorter for the kitchen shelf.
Defne wore gloves to saw the pipe without hurting her hands.
At dawn, Sahil began to saw thick ice blocks for the stall.
文法句型
saw + object
saw through + object
saw + object + in half
用法筆記
The object is usually a solid material such as wood, metal, pipe, or ice. Through, off, and in half are common result phrases.
3. to push or pull something in repeated short strokes, like a person working a saw
to push or pull something in repeated short strokes, like a person working a saw
The loose gate sawed against the post all night in the wind.
object + saw against + surface
The rowers sawed their oars through the dark river at sunrise.
Ignacio sawed the violin bow across the strings in comic anger.
The mechanic sawed the file over the metal edge to smooth it.
文法句型
saw + object + across/through
object + saw against + surface
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the repeated back-and-forth motion, not on cutting something apart. It often describes tools, oars, bows, or objects rubbing against a surface.
saw — noun
- sawsingular
- sawsplural
1. a cutting tool with a row of teeth on its edge, used on planks, pipes, and other
a cutting tool with a row of teeth on its edge, used on planks, pipes, and other solid materials
Asher hung the saw above the workbench after cleaning the teeth.
the saw + tool detail: teeth
The old saw slipped off the shelf and landed beside my boot.
William borrowed a small saw to trim the damaged fence board.
The museum displayed a bone saw next to other medical tools.
- handsaw
specifically a saw used by hand, not a power version
文法句型
a saw
use a saw
type of saw
用法筆記
Usually countable. The noun often appears in compounds that name the type, such as hand saw, chain saw, or bone saw.
2. a bent metal blade, or an instrument shaped like one, that makes singing notes w
a bent metal blade, or an instrument shaped like one, that makes singing notes when you draw a bow across it
At the street festival, Alessia played a saw with a violin bow.
play a saw with a bow
The singer added a trembling saw behind the slow final chorus.
Noa bent the saw carefully to make the note rise higher.
A silver saw sang above the piano during the film score.
- musical saw
the fuller and more explicit name for this instrument
文法句型
play a saw
a saw with a bow
用法筆記
Often called a musical saw. This sense belongs to performance or recording contexts, not building or repair work.
3. a brief saying people repeat as general wisdom or practical advice
a brief saying people repeat as general wisdom or practical advice
My grandfather repeated the old saw about honesty at every family meal.
old saw about + topic
The coach laughed at that saw because real matches are messier.
Her speech opened with a familiar saw about time and money.
The article rejects the tired saw that hard work always wins.
文法句型
an old saw
a familiar saw
saw about + topic
用法筆記
Usually appears with words like old, tired, or familiar, often showing that the saying is well known or overused.