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Glite Dictionary
to nip at

to nip at

4 6.1
To bite or pinch something lightly, often in a playful way
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : morder
  • She playfully nipped at his ear, trying to get his attention.
  • nipping at his heels
  • dogs nipping at
  • nip at a finger

They do this thing where they nip at their target.

Examples

  • Sam leans into Molly and nips at her neck.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Dogs, horses, and goats chase Eric and Dennis, nipping at their heels.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The animals keep on nipping at my heels

    Full Out (2015)

  • Outside, the air is brisk as the November wind nips at my face.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • They're like little dogs nipping at your heels.

    Facing the Giants (2006)

  • Cold air rushed through the letterbox, nipping at her face and hands.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Merlin had dashed forward and was running and barking around them, nipping at their heels.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Boots kept nipping at the rump of one of the mules.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The wolves quickened their pace, urging him on with an occasional nip at his heels.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • The dog had obediently herded and harried Alfred to this point by nipping at the man's heels.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

to nip
vsto nip at
55 4.6

To pinch quickly with fingers or teeth

is lighter and more playful rather than sharp or forceful
to snap at
vsto nip at
22 4.3

Bite quickly with a short, sharp movement of the mouth

is mild and playful not sudden or aggressive
to boop
vsto nip at
  • Texting
1 8.1

To touch a nose or cheek lightly as a playful act

is a light playful contact rather than a small bite or pinch

Antonyms

to avoid
∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

How Hard

to gnaw
30 3.2
to bite
768 1.0
to nibble
56 2.0
to nip at
4 6.1
to peck
18 2.7

Surface Forms

nip at infinitive
nipped at past
nipped at past participle
nipping at present participle
nips at third person singular

Morphology

nip + at

The meaning 'to bite, pinch, or touch something lightly' is directly derivable from 'nip' (to pinch/snip sharply) combined with the preposition 'at' which marks the target of the action; together they convey a light, directed biting/pinching action. This verb + preposition composition is a common, predictable pattern in English (and in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Nip at comes from the little, quick bite or touch of something small. Imagine a kitten giving a quick nip at your hand or cold wind nipping your cheeks; these tiny pinches explain why it means 'to bite, pinch, or touch something lightly', often in a playful or teasing way.