snips
snips — verb
1. to make short, fast cuts in paper, cloth, hair, or plants using scissors or anot
to make short, fast cuts in paper, cloth, hair, or plants using scissors or another sharp blade
Gabriela snips the loose thread off her shirt before the school photo.
snip + object off [noun]
The barber snips carefully around Christopher's ears with a tiny pair of scissors.
intransitive: snip around [area]
Please snip the price tag off the new coat before you wear it.
Tara snipped a few stems from the rose bush and put them in a vase.
The gardener snipped away the dead leaves so the plant could grow.
文法句型
snip + object
snip off + object
用法筆記
Often takes 'off' or 'away' to show that a small piece is removed. The cuts are short and repeated, unlike one long cut made with 'cut'.
常見錯誤
snips — noun
1. a single short, fast cut made with scissors, or the small sound that such a cut
a single short, fast cut made with scissors, or the small sound that such a cut makes
With one quick snip, Élise cut the ribbon to open the new library.
with one quick snip
The hairdresser gave the fringe a small snip to make it even.
give [something] a snip
Nala heard the snip of the scissors as the tailor shortened her dress.
A few careful snips turned the plain paper into a paper snowflake.
文法句型
a snip of [noun]
用法筆記
Often counted: 'one snip', 'a few snips'. Frequently paired with 'quick' or 'little' to stress how small and fast the cut is.
2. an informal name for the small operation that stops a man from being able to mak
an informal name for the small operation that stops a man from being able to make a woman pregnant
After their third child, Christopher decided to have the snip.
informal: have the snip
The doctor explained that the snip is a quick and safe operation.
the snip as the operation
Bao booked the snip at the clinic once the couple agreed to stop having children.
Many men feel nervous before the snip, but the recovery is usually fast.
- vasectomy
the formal medical term for the same operation
文法句型
have the snip
用法筆記
Almost always 'the snip', used as a gentle, everyday way to avoid the medical word 'vasectomy'. Common in British speech.
3. something you can buy for much less money than it is really worth
something you can buy for much less money than it is really worth
At twenty pounds, the leather jacket was a real snip.
a snip at [price]
Maeve grabbed the sofa quickly because it was such a snip in the sale.
such a snip
The little house by the river was a snip compared to city flats.
Anong bought four concert tickets online, and at that price they were a snip.
- rip-off
informal; something far too expensive for what it is
文法句型
be a snip
a snip at [price]
用法筆記
Used with 'a' and often the verb 'be': 'it's a snip'. Frequently followed by 'at' plus the low price. Mainly British and informal.
4. a strong hand tool, shaped like large scissors, used mainly for cutting thin she
a strong hand tool, shaped like large scissors, used mainly for cutting thin sheets of metal
Tamar used a pair of snips to cut the metal roofing into neat strips.
a pair of snips
The snips were sharp enough to slice through the thin steel plate.
plural verb: the snips were
Shirin keeps her snips on the top shelf, away from the children.
The builder reached for the snips to trim the loose edge of the gutter.
文法句型
a pair of snips
用法筆記
Plural in form and used with a plural verb, like 'scissors': 'the snips are sharp'. Counted with 'a pair of snips'.