slip-joint pliers
- noun
- /slɪp dʒɔɪnt ˈplaɪərz/
- Specialized
:
alicates de junta deslizante
- The toolbox contains several tools, including a pair of slip-joint pliers.
Examples
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He used slip-joint pliers to tighten the loose bolt under the sink.
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Slip-joint pliers are useful for gripping objects of different sizes.
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I used my slip-joint pliers to fix the faucet.
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Can you hand me the slip-joint pliers?
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You can easily adjust the width of slip-joint pliers to grip various sizes of nuts and bolts.
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The technician used slip-joint pliers to tighten the pipe fittings securely.
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For this repair, grab a pair of slip-joint pliers to help you reach the tight spaces.
Synonyms
5
2.5
A hand tool with two joined arms and toothed jaws used to hold, bend, or cut things
A hand tool with a moving joint and jaws for gripping different sizes
A small tool with two long metal arms joined at one end used to hold, bend, or cut things
How Adjustable
Surface Forms
Morphology
slip-joint + pliers
Although the hyphenated form 'slip-joint' is not listed, the meaning is directly analyzable from 'slip' (to slide) + 'joint' (a connection or pivot) combined with 'pliers' (a gripping tool). A B1 learner who knows these constituent words can infer that 'slip-joint pliers' are pliers with a joint that slips/adapts to different widths, so the compound is compositional and readily understandable.
Etymology
Slip-joint pliers get their name from the tool's simple hinge: the slip part is a slot where a pin can move, and the joint is the hinge that connects the handles and jaws. Because the pin can 'slip' into two positions, the jaws open wider or smaller, so the name shows the tool can 'adjust' to different sizes.