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to tip

to tip

4 6.7
To walk quietly on the tips of your toes
  • verb
  • /tɪp/
: andar de puntillas
  • I jogged behind on my tip toes, holding the flag on my extended arm so that my head was actually under the damned flag.
  • on tiptoe

Examples

  • He carefully tiptoed through the hall, trying not to make a sound.

  • She had to tiptoe around the sleeping baby so she wouldn't wake him.

  • We go easy, easy on our tip toes.

  • Tip your toe on down, tip toe down to the prop room.

  • I tried to tip-toe around it and not lead her on, but she's going to believe what she wants to believe.

  • The dancer learned to tiptoe gracefully across the stage during her performance.

Synonyms

to tiptoe
vsto tip
37 3.1

To walk quietly on the toes to avoid making noise

is lighter and quieter rather than deliberately stealthy
to tippytoe
vsto tip
1 7.4

To walk quietly on your toes to avoid making noise

walks lightly and quietly rather than with careful avoidance of noise

Antonyms

84 4.4

To step heavily on something and damage it

77 2.9

To walk heavily and loudly to show anger or determination

Idioms

7.9

To show your plans or ideas too early to others

Phrasal Verbs

114 6.8

Secretly tell someone important information to warn or help them

33 3.0

Make something fall from a standing position

Give extra money to the person who serves you in a restaurant

to tip the wink
  • Informal
1 9.9

To give someone a secret signal or hint

Compounds

tip-off
  • Literature
13 6.6

A secret message that warns people about planned illegal activity

tip-off
  • Jargon
8 4.6

The start of a basketball game when players jump for the ball

6 6.0

A short public thank you or recognition given to someone, often in writing

5 1.8

A small piece of helpful advice for people going on a trip

4 3.0

A pen with a soft cloth tip used for drawing or coloring

pro tip
  • Texting
3 4.8

A short helpful piece of advice from an expert

A small act that shows respect or thanks

2 6.4

Private information that gives someone an advantage

tip sheet
  • Literature
1 6.7

A short paper that gives advice and guesses about business, stocks, or horse racing

1 2.1

A pen with a soft felt tip for writing or drawing

tip-in
  • Jargon
1 6.3

A shot scored by lightly tapping a rebound into the basket before it hits the ground

iceberg's tip
  • Informal
1 5.8

A small visible part of a much larger hidden problem

sirloin tip
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A lean cut of beef from the upper sirloin, slightly less tender than other sirloin cuts

A tool with a flat tip that lets you turn screws with a straight slot

1 3.7

A truck with a bed that tilts to unload loose materials like sand

Advice on managing your own money, for example saving and budgeting

1 5.6

A shoe with a pointed toe and decoration on the front that looks like a W

1 4.0

A small piece at the end of a cigarette that reduces the harshness of smoke

tip drill
  • Jargon
1 7.4

A practice exercise where players tip and pass the ball to improve reaction time and coordination

1 7.4

Folds up and moves out of the way when not in use

1 7.8

A small table with a top that tilts up to save space

heel tip
  • Specialized
5.8

The small part at the back bottom of a shoe that touches the ground and can be replaced

tip-and-run
  • Jargon
8.6

A brief attack followed by a rapid retreat

9.0

A small table with a top that folds up to stand upright for storage

9.0

A large brown bear with light fur on its head in the mountains of western North America

How Quiet

to tip
4 6.7
to slink
26 6.7
sneak
60 5.6
to walk
∞ 1.0
to stomp
77 2.9

Surface Forms

tip infinitive
tipped past
tipped past participle
tipping present participle
tips third person singular

Etymology

Tip meaning to walk on the toes comes from the idea of the 'tip' as the very end of the foot; to tip along is to move on the 'tips' of your toes, so it means to move quietly and lightly.