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to chop

to chop

2 4.4
To move or change direction suddenly
  • verb
  • /tʃɑp/
: moverse bruscamente
  • During the performance, the dancers would chop their movements sharply to match the rhythm of the music.

That's how bad it got, like speed camp, two weeks learning how to run properly, like how to use the use you got to chop the air like this, apparently.

Examples

  • We had the opportunity to sit down recently with the talented MC and chop it up.

    Blog text (14)
  • Publisher agreements have been reducing advances, dropping marketing support, and chopping royalties for years.

    Blog text (21)
  • We don't chop each other in this sport.

  • Let's go, chop chop.

  • A$AP Rocky and Schoolboy Q chop it up a bit in this back-and-forth interview.

    Blog text (5)
  • The skateboarder made a sudden chop to the left to avoid the obstacle in his path.

  • As the boat hit the waves, it began to chop through the water, creating foamy splashes.

Synonyms

to cut
vsto chop
  • Informal
209 2.8

To move quickly in a new direction, often to take a shortcut

is a sudden move focused on a quick position change rather than path shortcut
to jerk
vsto chop
98 2.0

To move something suddenly and sharply

is a sudden shift that emphasizes quick direction rather than sharpness
to rip
vsto chop
79 6.0

To move very quickly and with great force

is a sudden change that need not be very forceful or violent
to lurch
vsto chop
40 5.6

To move suddenly and unsteadily, often forward or to one side

is a sudden shift in position rather than an unsteady tilt
to buck
vsto chop
15 6.8

To move suddenly and violently to try to throw someone off

is a sudden shift without the strong violent throwing motion
to zig
vsto chop
9 6.7

To move quickly in a different direction to avoid an obstacle

is a sudden change in position not only a directional turn
to jolt
vsto chop
9 3.7

To move in a sudden, rough way

is a sudden shift that is quicker and less rough
to twitch
vsto chop
3 3.3

To move something quickly so it turns over in the air

is a larger abrupt shift of whole position rather than a tiny movement
to jink
vsto chop
1 8.1

To move quickly to avoid something by changing direction

is a quick abrupt shift not necessarily aimed at avoiding

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To stay in the same place or state and not change

Not move from a place

Idioms

chop-chop
  • Archaic
30 8.1

To tell someone to hurry in a quick way

Phrasal Verbs

94 3.4

To remove something by cutting, often with a sharp blow

66 1.9

To cut something into smaller pieces by sharp blows again and again with a knife or axe

17 2.1

To cut through the trunk of a tree so it falls

To cut wood into pieces for firewood

1 8.6

Lose your job, often suddenly

Compounds

22 2.1

A small cut of lamb meat with a bone, usually cooked and eaten

chop shop
  • NSFW
12 9.3

A garage where thieves take stolen cars to remove parts

5 3.4

A Chinese-style dish of meat or fish and vegetables stir-fried and served with rice

3 8.2

Facial hair where long sideburns run down the face in front of the ears

chop-shop
  • NSFW
1 9.3

An illegal garage that takes stolen cars apart to sell the parts

1 3.5

A flat piece of cooked ground beef served without a bun, often with gravy

1 5.1

A cut of meat from an adult sheep, cooked like a steak

chop-suey greens
  • Philippine
1 6.3

A leafy green vegetable used in Asian cooking like bok choy

chop shot
  • Jargon
1 6.9

A tennis stroke where you hit the ball downwards so it spins backwards

How Sudden

jolt
53 3.8
to chop
2 4.4
to jerk
98 2.0
to lurch
40 5.6
to twitch
79 2.8

Surface Forms

chop infinitive
chopped past
chopped past participle
chopping present participle
chops third person singular

Etymology

Chop meaning a sudden change comes from the same image of a quick, sharp strike. Just as an axe gives a sudden 'chop', a mood or price can 'chop' when it moves quickly and abruptly.