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to hop across

to hop across

1 2.2
To jump lightly from one side to the other using small jumps
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : saltar
  • As the rabbit heard the noise, it quickly hopped across the garden to hide.
  • hop across rocks
  • rabbit hops across

See when that owl up in that tree saw that little thing hopping across the road, it locked its eyes on that little mouse.

Examples

  • When you see a deer hop across the road, there is always one or two behind it, so be on the lookout for them to follow within seconds!

    Blog text (26)
  • Hop across, kid.

  • A half dozen children got up and began to leap and hop across the bare floor in the center of the room.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • A rabbit hops across rough terrain.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • A familiar bunny rabbit hops across the highway.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Emma hops across on water lilies until she reaches land again.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • He gazed past the open glass doors to the patio, watching a small brown bird hop across the heavy vine that had climbed up the posts of his house.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Pleasure crouched at the end of the bench, her haunches twitching as she watched a finch hop across the sidewalk.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The children decided to hop across the large puddle to avoid getting wet.

  • We saw frogs hopping across the path as we walked through the marsh.

Synonyms

to cross
vsto hop across
1.0

To go across something from one side to the other

is specifically about crossing by light jumps rather than general movement
to leap
vsto hop across
199 1.0

To jump quickly from one place to another or make something jump

is lighter and less forceful than a strong springing jump
to hop
vsto hop across
133 1.0

To move with small quick jumps often on one foot

is used to cross from one side to another using such jumps
to get over
vsto hop across
100 3.3

Move across something like a river or mountain

is done by jumping lightly on one foot or small jumps to cross
to skip
vsto hop across
77 1.0

To move by light hops in a playful way

is used to cross with light jumps without playful tone
to get across
vsto hop across
53 1.8

Move from one side to the other, for example across a road or river

is done by jumping lightly on one foot or small jumps to cross
to vault
vsto hop across
28 4.4

To jump over an obstacle, often using the hands or a pole for support

is done without using hands or poles, using light jumps instead
to dart across
vsto hop across
2 3.0

Move suddenly and quickly from one side to the other

is about crossing with light short jumps rather than sudden speed
to hop-skip
vsto hop across
1 5.4

To move forward with small quick jumps using one foot then the other

is about crossing using short jumps rather than alternating steps
to overleap
vsto hop across
  • Archaic
1 8.0

To jump across an obstacle like a fence or wall

is for crossing by light jumps rather than clearing obstacles
to curvet across
vsto hop across
  • Specialized
9.9

Move across with a light, graceful jump like a dancer or horse

is less graceful and more plain, focusing on simple light jumps to cross

Antonyms

1.0

To remain in one place and not leave

How Far

to vault
28 4.4
to hop across
1 2.2

Surface Forms

hop across infinitive
hopped across past participle
hopping across present participle
hops across third person singular

Morphology

hop + across

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'hop' (to jump with small, quick jumps) with the directional adverb 'across' (from one side to another), so the phrase literally means to jump across something. This motion-verb + directional-word pattern is a common, compositional construction in English (and in many other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb hop across comes from the clear image of someone or an animal doing small jumps (hop) to get to the other side (across). That's why it means 'to move using short, light jumps'.