tippy

IPA/ˈtɪp.i/
KK[tˈɪpi]IPA/ˈtɪp.i/

tippy — 形容詞

  • tippypositive
  • tippiercomparative
  • tippiestsuperlative

1. describes an object that is not properly balanced so it rocks or falls over easi

1.形容詞B2
釋義

不穩的

容易傾倒或翻倒的

describes an object that is not properly balanced so it rocks or falls over easily when you put weight on it or press against it

例句

Wei warned his friends that the old folding chair was tippy and could fall over.

Wei 提醒朋友們，那張舊摺疊椅很不穩，可能會倒下去。

collocation: tippy chair / tippy stool

Sofia's small canoe felt tippy when she stood up to reach for the paddle.

Sofia 的小獨木舟每次她站起來想拿船槳時，就會覺得搖搖晃晃的。

同義詞
  • wobbly

    more common in everyday speech; 'wobbly' focuses on side-to-side movement, while 'tippy' suggests the whole thing may fall over

  • unsteady

    broader term that can describe both objects and people; less specific about the risk of tipping

  • rickety

    suggests old, poorly made, or broken, with the risk of collapsing rather than just tipping

反義詞
  • stable

    unlikely to move or fall at all

  • steady

    firmly balanced and not shaking or leaning

用法筆記

Commonly used of furniture, vehicles, or stacked objects. Not used of people — to describe a person who cannot stand steadily, use unsteady or wobbly instead.

常見錯誤

❌He felt tippy after two glasses of wine.
✅He felt tipsy after two glasses of wine.
💡'tippy' describes an object that falls over easily, not a person who has had too much alcohol.

2. a word used by young children meaning to stand or walk on the front part of the

2.形容詞A2
釋義

踮腳的

兒童用語，指踮起腳尖

a word used by young children meaning to stand or walk on the front part of the feet with the heels lifted up, usually to reach something above them or to move without making noise

例句

The little boy went tippy to see what his mother was cooking on the stove.

那個小男孩踮起腳尖，想看看媽媽在爐子上煮什麼。

pattern: go tippy = walk on tiptoe

Keiko walked tippy past her baby brother's door so she would not wake him up.

Keiko 踮著腳尖走過弟弟的房門口，以免把他吵醒。

同義詞
  • on tiptoe

    standard adult expression; 'tippy' is the childish equivalent

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively by young children or by adults speaking to children. Not appropriate in formal writing or adult conversation. The standard adult equivalent is on tiptoe or on tiptoes.

常見錯誤

❌She walked tippy across the stage to accept her award.
✅She walked on tiptoe across the stage to accept her award.
💡'tippy' is a child's word and sounds odd in a formal or adult situation.