stuff
/stʌf/ (bre, ipa) · /stʌf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstəf/ (ame, mw)
stuff — noun
1. any physical matter that you can see or touch, used for unnamed substances whose
any physical matter that you can see or touch, used for unnamed substances whose precise name is unimportant or has escaped your memory
What is that sticky black stuff on the kitchen floor?
question pattern: 'What is that…stuff?' for unknown substances
The pipe was clogged with some kind of brown, muddy stuff.
uncountable: 'some kind of…stuff'
A creamy white stuff had leaked from the container onto the shelf.
Hui wiped the green stuff off the wall, but it kept coming back.
文法句型
uncountable noun
用法筆記
Uncountable — never 'stuffs'. Use 'a kind of stuff', 'some stuff', 'what's that stuff?' when the precise name is unknown or unimportant.
常見錯誤
2. the various actions, words, or topics that relate to a particular subject or per
the various actions, words, or topics that relate to a particular subject or person — used as a broad term when exact details are not being given
Daichi has been busy with work stuff all week — preparing reports and emails — and could not join us for dinner.
collocation: 'work stuff' for job-related activities
Yumi told me all about her trip and the stuff they did in Tokyo.
The meetings were full of boring stuff about budgets and deadlines.
I do not read those online political opinion pieces — that kind of stuff just makes me angry.
文法句型
uncountable noun
用法筆記
Informal. Commonly used with an adjective or a noun modifier (boring stuff, work stuff, exam stuff). Avoid in formal academic writing — use 'matters', 'activities', or 'topics' instead.
常見錯誤
3. a person's belongings or things they own, carry, or keep with them
a person's belongings or things they own, carry, or keep with them
Christopher packed all his camping stuff into the back of the car.
possessive + stuff: 'his…stuff'
Please take your stuff with you when you leave the hotel room.
The movers loaded everyone's stuff onto the truck before noon.
Amira left some of her stuff at my house after the party.
- belongings
more formal; the standard term for personal property
- things
equally informal and common
文法句型
uncountable noun
用法筆記
Informal. Use 'belongings' or 'possessions' in formal contexts. Unlike 'furniture' or 'luggage', 'stuff' covers any type of personal item — from clothes to electronics to books.
常見錯誤
4. used after mentioning one or two examples to indicate that there are more simila
used after mentioning one or two examples to indicate that there are more similar items you are not naming
We bought bread, cheese, and stuff like that for the picnic.
pattern: '[item], [item], and stuff like that'
The store sells art supplies — paints, brushes, canvas, that kind of stuff.
pattern: 'that kind of stuff' after examples
Renata teaches yoga, meditation, and all that healthy-living stuff.
The class covers grammar, vocabulary, writing — the usual stuff you learn in English.
文法句型
uncountable noun
用法筆記
Always follows a list of examples. The phrase 'and stuff' alone signals that more could be added but the speaker chooses not to. Common after 'like' or 'that kind of'.
常見錯誤
5. a person's natural skill, talent, or expert knowledge in a particular area
a person's natural skill, talent, or expert knowledge in a particular area
Adina will really show her stuff when she competes in the city baking championship tonight.
collocation: 'show your stuff' or 'see someone's stuff'
Hari really knows his stuff when it comes to fixing old cars.
idiom: 'know your stuff'
The young pianist proved she had the stuff to play at the national concert hall.
The coach told the young player to show her stuff during the championship match.
文法句型
uncountable noun
用法筆記
Almost always occurs in fixed expressions: 'know your stuff' (be very knowledgeable), 'show your stuff' (demonstrate your ability), 'have the stuff' (possess the necessary quality). Rarely used alone without one of these patterns.
常見錯誤
6. the most important quality or substance that forms the core of something and giv
the most important quality or substance that forms the core of something and gives it its true character
The story of Darius and Kemi escaping the burning hotel was the stuff of legends.
pattern: 'the stuff of [legends/dreams]'
The diary entries that Kwame's grandmother wrote during the war became the stuff of family legend.
The volunteers who saved books from the library fire showed the stuff that heroes are made of.
João's grandfather taught himself to read at sixty, the stuff of inspiration for their town.
文法句型
uncountable noun
the stuff of [something]
用法筆記
Literary or semi-formal register. Typically appears in the structure 'the stuff of [noun]' (the stuff of dreams, the stuff of nightmares, the stuff of legend). Do not use this sense in everyday conversation about physical objects.
常見錯誤
7. speech, writing, or ideas that are silly, worthless, or untrue
speech, writing, or ideas that are silly, worthless, or untrue
The car salesman said the engine was new, but my uncle called it a load of stuff.
collocation: 'a load of stuff' or 'a bunch of stuff'
The newspaper printed a bunch of stuff about celebrities that nobody believes.
I read Ignacio's essay on climate policy, but honestly it was just stuff — no real data or arguments at all.
Élise told me all that stuff about ghosts, but I do not believe it.
文法句型
uncountable noun
用法筆記
Strong dismissal. 'That's stuff' alone is rare — almost always comes with a dismissive modifier: 'a load of stuff', 'a bunch of stuff', 'all that stuff'. More emphatic than 'nonsense' in British English; similar in force to 'rubbish' (UK) or 'crap' (informal).
常見錯誤
stuff — verb
- stuffpresent simple I / you / we / they
- stuffs3rd person singular
- stuffing-ing form
- stuffedpast simple
1. to put so much material into a container or space that it is completely full and
to put so much material into a container or space that it is completely full and cannot hold any more
Gabriel stuffed the pillow with soft cotton until it was firm and round.
pattern: 'stuff [object] with [material]'
Karim stuffed the suitcase with so many clothes that it would not close.
The children stuffed the piñata with candy and small toys.
Emma stuffed old newspapers into the box to protect the glass cups.
- empty
to remove all contents from a container
文法句型
stuff [container/space] with [material]
stuff [material] into [container]
用法筆記
More forceful than 'fill' — implies packing firmly or to capacity. The object can be either the container (stuff the bag with groceries) or the material being inserted (stuff the groceries into the bag).
常見錯誤
2. to thrust or force an item into a place that has very little room left, usually
to thrust or force an item into a place that has very little room left, usually because you are rushing or being careless
Zayd stuffed his dirty socks into the bottom of the wardrobe.
pattern: 'stuff [object] into [space]'
Noa stuffed the letter into her bag without folding it properly.
The child stuffed a handful of grapes into his mouth all at once.
Ilan stuffed the receipt into his pocket and forgot about it.
文法句型
stuff [object] into/up/down [space]
用法筆記
The focus is on the action being rushed or rough, not on the result of filling completely. The space is usually too small for the object, or the action is done without care. Common adverbs: quickly, carelessly, roughly.
常見錯誤
3. to treat a dead creature's skin so that it keeps its natural shape and appears r
to treat a dead creature's skin so that it keeps its natural shape and appears real, achieved by applying chemicals and putting preserving padding inside the body
The museum has an owl that was stuffed almost a hundred years ago.
passive: 'was stuffed'
Hunters sometimes pay a specialist to stuff the animals they have shot.
The old fisherman kept a stuffed marlin on the wall of his cabin.
The museum collection includes a stuffed tiger brought from India in the 1890s.
- mount
the preferred professional term in taxidermy
文法句型
stuff [animal]
用法筆記
Frequently passive: 'a stuffed bear', 'was stuffed by a professional'. The adjective form 'stuffed' (as in 'a stuffed owl') is very common and appears as a compound noun in 'stuffed animal' (trophy) — do not confuse with 'stuffed animal' meaning a child's soft toy (teddy bear).
常見錯誤
4. to engage in sexual intercourse with someone — an extremely vulgar, rude, and of
to engage in sexual intercourse with someone — an extremely vulgar, rude, and offensive expression that you should never use
Rachid recognised the word from an uncut movie he watched, but he knew better than to use it himself.
recognition-only sense — do not use in production
When the subtitles showed that word in the film, the teacher told the students it was too offensive to repeat.
The online slang guide listed the word as highly offensive and warned learners never to say it.
During the lesson on offensive language, the teacher mentioned the word only so students could recognise it.
文法句型
stuff [someone]
用法筆記
⚠️ EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE. Rated as vulgar slang. Do not use. The purpose of including this sense is recognition only: you may encounter it in uncensored media. There is NO polite or neutral context where this sense is acceptable.
5. to fill a vegetable, piece of meat, or other food with a mixture of chopped ingr
to fill a vegetable, piece of meat, or other food with a mixture of chopped ingredients before cooking it
Asher stuffed the turkey with a mixture of bread, herbs, and onions.
cooking pattern: 'stuff [food] with [filling]'
The recipe says to stuff the peppers with rice and ground beef.
pattern: 'stuff [food] with [ingredients]'
Stuffed mushrooms are a popular appetiser at dinner parties.
You can stuff a chicken with lemon slices and garlic for extra flavour.
- fill
general term — 'stuff' is more specific to food with a cavity to be filled
文法句型
stuff [food] with [filling]
用法筆記
Common as an adjective in dish names: stuffed peppers, stuffed turkey, stuffed mushrooms. The filling (stuffing) is usually a savoury mixture of bread, vegetables, herbs, or meat. Use 'stuff' + 'with' to specify the filling.
常見錯誤
6. to eat a large amount of food, especially quickly and greedily
to eat a large amount of food, especially quickly and greedily
Hoa stuffed herself at the buffet and could barely walk afterwards.
reflexive: 'stuff oneself'
The kids stuffed their faces with birthday cake and ice cream.
collocation: 'stuff your face'
Do not stuff yourself on snacks before the Thanksgiving dinner — save some room for turkey.
Grandma always tries to stuff us with more food than we can eat.
文法句型
stuff yourself
stuff your face
stuff [someone] with food
用法筆記
Almost always reflexive (stuff yourself, stuff your face) or causative with 'with' (stuff someone with food). 'Stuff your face' is very informal but not offensive — common in casual conversation among friends. The simple 'I stuffed' alone is unnatural without a reflexive object.
常見錯誤
7. to leap high and forcefully slam a basketball into the hoop to score, often as a
to leap high and forcefully slam a basketball into the hoop to score, often as an impressive athletic move
Elena leaped high and stuffed the ball through the net with both hands.
action pattern: 'stuff the ball through the net'
The crowd went wild when the forward stuffed a rebound in the final seconds.
sports context: 'stuff a rebound'
João is known for stuffing the ball from almost any angle near the basket.
Mira stole the ball at the free-throw line and stuffed it with a powerful one-handed slam.
- dunk
much more common term in modern basketball; 'stuff' sounds slightly dated
- lay up
a gentle, soft shot from near the basket — the opposite of a forceful dunk
文法句型
stuff [the ball]
用法筆記
Less common than 'dunk' in modern basketball commentary, but still used. 'Stuff' can also be a noun in this context ('He made an incredible stuff'). Mainly American English. The action must be forceful and downward — a gentle lay-up is not a stuff.
常見錯誤
8. to block or clog a passage, pipe, or opening so that air, liquid, or other mater
to block or clog a passage, pipe, or opening so that air, liquid, or other material cannot pass through
The drain in the kitchen sink got stuffed with food scraps and grease.
passive: 'got stuffed with [material]'
Emma's nose was all stuffed up from the cold, and she could not smell anything.
phrasal: 'stuffed up' for nasal congestion
Old leaves had stuffed the gutter, causing water to overflow during the rain.
If you stuff the exhaust pipe, the engine will not start.
- unblock
to remove an obstruction; 'unclog' for drains specifically
文法句型
stuff [passage/pipe/nose] (up)
用法筆記
Common with 'up' as a phrasal verb ('stuffed up') for medical contexts ('stuffed-up nose'). The adjective 'stuffed-up' is hyphenated when used attributively ('a stuffed-up nose'). The blockage can be physical (drains, pipes) or bodily (sinuses, ears).