to nip

Examples

• All

• The dog likes to nip at my fingers when I tease him.

• She gave the fabric a quick nip with the scissors to adjust its length.

• I think we should nip this in the bud.

  John, 316 (2021)

• And if anything goes wrong in that, it's a director's job to either nip it in the bud, you know, or fix it.

• We've got to nip it in the bud!

  Come Play with Me (1977)

• Yeah, nip it in the bud for your safety, the health of Wellness of your family and for hers.

• Thus, church-state activists work to nip every such effort in the bud.

  Academic text (2005)

• We will nip it in the bud –

  Les Misérables (2012)

• If you've got a disinterested third party, they're more likely to nip the cycle in the bud.

• So I do find that sometimes good old BP benzoyl peroxide from Neutrogena can nip it in the bud if you get it right on time.

Synonyms

B

to bite

vsto nip

768 1.0

To use the teeth to cut, grip, or tear something

can use fingers or tools and tends to be quicker or milder

P

to pluck

vsto nip

77 3.5

To pull something out quickly with the fingers

involves quick cutting, pinching, or biting rather than pulling

P

to pinch

vsto nip

57 1.8

Squeeze something tightly between your fingers, often causing pain

is quicker and sharper rather than a sustained squeeze

S

to snap at

vsto nip

22 4.3

Bite quickly with a short, sharp movement of the mouth

is broader, also done with fingers or tools, not only jaws

S

to snip

vsto nip

20 2.1

To cut something quickly and neatly with scissors

also includes quick bites or pinches, not only cutting

S

to snip off

vsto nip

• Informal

2 3.7

To cut a small part off something quickly and neatly with scissors or shears

can be done by fingers or teeth, not only by cutting

N

to nip off

vsto nip

5.1

Cut off small parts by pinching or snipping

applies to similar quick actions but is not limited to small parts

Antonyms

R

to release

∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

Idioms

N

to nip in the bud

• Informal

21 5.4

Stop something early before it becomes a bigger problem

N

nip and tuck

• Informal

1 8.1

Very close and evenly matched until the end

I

in the nip

• Informal

9.9

When the weather is cold outside

Phrasal Verbs

N

to nip at

4 6.1

To bite or pinch something lightly, often in a playful way

N

to nip off

5.1

Cut off small parts by pinching or snipping

Compounds

N

nip and tuck

1 8.3

A small surgery on the face that removes wrinkles and tightens skin

N

nip of winter

• UK

6.8

A small sharp cold feeling in the air that means winter is coming

How Hard

to tear

∞ 1.0

to bite

768 1.0

to nip

55 4.6

to pinch

57 1.8

graze

4 3.4

Surface Forms

Etymology