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to pop

100 3.4
To hit someone or something quickly and lightly
  • verb
  • /pɑp/
  • Informal
: dar un golpecito a
  • I'll pop him right now.
  • pop someone once
  • pop someone right

Examples

  • Eddie popped him in the chest with the heel of his hand.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Adam deftly pops him in the mouth again with a short right jab.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • You go up there, pop him in the head.

  • You gonna pop him for me, are you?

  • I want you to pop him for me.

  • Yeah, you give a nice little pop to Job and Hawk.

  • Back when I was in school, Doug used to pop me in the back of the head with fruit cups.

  • Heaves Johnny off and pops him a solid swipe to the jaw.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • "Your knight-in-shining-armor came to the rescue of the entire race." "I popped him one," Jeffrey said.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • He playfully popped the balloon, making a loud sound.

Synonyms

to hit
vsto pop
∞ 1.0

To strike someone or something with force

is gentler and describes a quick light strike rather than forceful impact
to knock
vsto pop
999 1.0

To hit something by accident with a sudden movement

is quicker and usually less forceful, not typically accidental
to strike
vsto pop
508 2.4

To hit someone or something with force

is more specific about being quick and usually light
to slap
vsto pop
472 1.0

Hit quickly with the flat part of the hand

is lighter in force and less about a full hand blow
to smack
vsto pop
183 3.5

To hit someone or something with an open hand

is lighter and less forceful than a sharp open hand blow
to jab
vsto pop
48 3.3

To poke quickly and sharply with a finger, hand, or object

is lighter and less pointed than a quick sharp poke
to rap
vsto pop
23 3.7

To hit something quickly to make a short sharp sound

is quick and usually lighter rather than sharp and loud
to bop
vsto pop
  • Informal
11 6.1

To hit someone quickly in a light, playful way

is usually lighter and not intended as a strong hit

Idioms

9 9.9

To have sex with someone for the first time

Short sharp crackling sounds like cereal in a bowl

to pop the cherry
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To do something for the first time, often used informally about a person's first time having sex

Phrasal Verbs

244 3.5

Appear suddenly and briefly when you are not expecting it

94 3.1

To come out quickly from a surface or container

41 2.9

To appear suddenly without warning

to pop in
  • Informal
40 3.4

To make a short informal visit to a place

to pop into
  • Informal
26 3.9

A thought or memory comes into your mind suddenly and briefly

To ask someone to marry you

to pop off
  • Informal
8 8.1

To suddenly say something angry without warning

to pop off
  • Slang
7 8.4

To suddenly perform very well, often in games or music

to pop into
  • Informal
7 4.1

Visit a place for a short time, often without planning

6 7.9

To leave a place quickly, often without saying goodbye

to pop out
  • Informal
3 3.2

To leave a place for a short time to do something

to pop off
  • Informal
1 9.1

To die, often said as a joke to make it seem less serious

to pop a mint
  • Informal
1 3.4

To put a mint in your mouth to make your breath smell fresh

1 4.4

To put the lid back on a jar or container quickly

2.7

Burst the small air bubbles in plastic wrap for fun or to feel calm

to pop out
  • Specialized
5.1

To move a window or panel out of the main program into a separate window

9.9

To put drugs under the skin instead of into a vein

Compounds

40 1.0

Songs with a catchy tune that many people like

28 3.4

A short surprise test that checks what students learned recently

28 2.7

A thin sweet pastry with a fruit or chocolate filling that you heat in a toaster

19 3.4

A small window that suddenly appears on your computer screen

18 1.0

A sweet fizzy drink like cola

pop-up
  • Texting
12 3.8

A shop that opens in one place for a short time

9 4.4

An art style that uses images from advertising and comics

4 3.7

A book with pages that fold up into small paper scenes

4 2.3

A group of singers or musicians who play popular songs

3 2.5

A book for children with paper pictures that stand up when opened

pop fly
  • Jargon
3 5.8

A high ball hit in baseball or softball that is easy to catch

3 1.1

A bottle that holds fizzy soft drinks like cola

pop-up
  • Jargon
1 3.6

A high fly ball that is easy for fielders to catch

A small electric machine that heats bread slices and pushes them up when ready

1 3.8

A small, light tent that opens quickly and is easy to carry

pop feminism
  • Literature
1 6.4

A way people promote women's rights in popular culture like music and fashion

pop-fly
  • Jargon
1 5.7

A ball hit high into the air near home plate that is easy to catch

corporation pop
  • Literature
7.7

Popular music made by big companies to sell well and often not very original

7.7

A sweet fizzy drink flavored with ginger, like ginger ale

running pop
  • Specialized
9.9

A climbing tropical plant with thin divided leaf parts and stems that smell bad when crushed

How Hard

to hit
∞ 1.0
to smack
183 3.5
to pop
  • Informal
100 3.4
to tap
98 1.0
to pat
105 1.0

Surface Forms

pop infinitive
popped past
popped past participle
popping present participle
pops third person singular

Etymology

Pop meaning to hit lightly likely comes from the short, sharp sound and quick action of a small strike. So to pop someone is to give a quick, light hit.