Nip
verb
To grab, pinch or bite quickly.
The puppy nipped at my shoes.
Often appears as...
- nip at
- nip in
verb
To go somewhere quickly or for a short time.
I'll just nip out to the shop.
Often appears as...
- nip out
- nip in
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A small drink of alcohol, especially spirits.
He had a quick nip of whiskey to keep warm.
Often appears as...
- have a nip
- take a nip
noun
A sudden sharp or biting sensation, especially of cold.
There's a nip in the air this morning.
Often appears as...
- nip in the air
- feel a nip
verb
To stop something from growing or developing.
We need to nip this problem in the bud before it gets worse.
Often appears as...
- nip in the bud
- nip problem
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb
To grab, pinch or bite quickly.
The puppy nipped at my shoes.
Often appears as...
- nip at
- nip in
verb
To go somewhere quickly or for a short time.
I'll just nip out to the shop.
Often appears as...
- nip out
- nip in
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A small drink of alcohol, especially spirits.
He had a quick nip of whiskey to keep warm.
Often appears as...
- have a nip
- take a nip
noun
A sudden sharp or biting sensation, especially of cold.
There's a nip in the air this morning.
Often appears as...
- nip in the air
- feel a nip
verb
To stop something from growing or developing.
We need to nip this problem in the bud before it gets worse.
Often appears as...
- nip in the bud
- nip problem
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Friendly Gesture
Used playfully amongst familiar individuals or animals, often light-hearted.
My cat nipped at my finger as a sign of affection.
Pro Tip 2/2Mild Aggression
Can indicate a mild warning or irritation, not always in a serious manner.
The horse nipped at her to back away.
Pro Tip 1/2Friendly Gesture
Used playfully amongst familiar individuals or animals, often light-hearted.
My cat nipped at my finger as a sign of affection.
Pro Tip 2/2Mild Aggression
Can indicate a mild warning or irritation, not always in a serious manner.
The horse nipped at her to back away.
Pro Tip 1/2Friendly Gesture
Used playfully amongst familiar individuals or animals, often light-hearted.
My cat nipped at my finger as a sign of affection.
Pro Tip 2/2Mild Aggression
Can indicate a mild warning or irritation, not always in a serious manner.
The horse nipped at her to back away.
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Video examples
Rethinking manufacturing...
so as you nip these things that don't go together together I'm gonna bring the other networks robots in 3d printing and you've been hearing about that this Ted this morning this session last year and as you're thinking about the impact of these things the first thing you've got to talk about is how it affects people
Video examples
Food Mover PIPE Life Below...
with tearing up water lines and then I'll stand and I'll guide you right up into this spot here make sure you pull straight in and we'll get the creditor level as possible it's he's nipping entry level I want to go inside things are gonna fall over there's no way to help it who
Video examples
Part 2: Israel Defense...
episode you are afraid that such a thing would transfer to other villages away that's the main concern that's why you have to stop it while it's small nip it in the bud it's weird being thrown stones at for me and I know you might not like that by growing up I was 10
Video examples
Beavers in the Snow PIPE...
freeze this is the true test if they haven't got their pond just deep enough to stop it freezing solid the large entrance would have been ice bar and with the forest inaccessible the adjoining lada is a lifesaver it means the Beavers can nip out for
Video examples
Shadow-Chasing Dogs PIPE...
at my eyes and said okay you behave different than what I normally used to I'm not used to that behavior of it you are nipping things in the bud without saying a word my owners normally use sound to tell me not to do a certain
Video examples
The Secret World of...
size matters in this world so even the nips of the largest dragonflies need look to survive the first few months of their lives when the diminutive saw is exposes them to predation by larger nymphs
Video examples
Turning trash into toys...
and what you do is you just nip two corners here, and this becomes like a baby crocodile's mouth. You put this in your mouth, and you blow. It's children's delight, a teacher's envy, as they say.
Video examples
Her Majesty the Termite...
eggs in her lifetime - huh no wonder she needs so many attendants it's one of their jobs to carry all those eggs to cells where they hatch into fragile nips these nips were thought to be more
Video examples
A brief history of dogs...
Short stocky dogs to herd livestock by nipping their heels; elongated dogs to flush badgers and foxes out of burrows; thin and sleek dogs for racing; and large, muscular dogs for guard duty.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 372 PIPE...
that's the father that's ting Ghana this is a quite spectacular afternoon I'm just gonna nip in front of a candy that said we can keep going forward yeah
Video examples
Rethinking manufacturing...
so as you nip these things that don't go together together I'm gonna bring the other networks robots in 3d printing and you've been hearing about that this Ted this morning this session last year and as you're thinking about the impact of these things the first thing you've got to talk about is how it affects people
Video examples
Food Mover PIPE Life Below...
with tearing up water lines and then I'll stand and I'll guide you right up into this spot here make sure you pull straight in and we'll get the creditor level as possible it's he's nipping entry level I want to go inside things are gonna fall over there's no way to help it who
Video examples
Part 2: Israel Defense...
episode you are afraid that such a thing would transfer to other villages away that's the main concern that's why you have to stop it while it's small nip it in the bud it's weird being thrown stones at for me and I know you might not like that by growing up I was 10
Video examples
Beavers in the Snow PIPE...
freeze this is the true test if they haven't got their pond just deep enough to stop it freezing solid the large entrance would have been ice bar and with the forest inaccessible the adjoining lada is a lifesaver it means the Beavers can nip out for
Video examples
Shadow-Chasing Dogs PIPE...
at my eyes and said okay you behave different than what I normally used to I'm not used to that behavior of it you are nipping things in the bud without saying a word my owners normally use sound to tell me not to do a certain
Video examples
The Secret World of...
size matters in this world so even the nips of the largest dragonflies need look to survive the first few months of their lives when the diminutive saw is exposes them to predation by larger nymphs
Video examples
Turning trash into toys...
and what you do is you just nip two corners here, and this becomes like a baby crocodile's mouth. You put this in your mouth, and you blow. It's children's delight, a teacher's envy, as they say.
Video examples
Her Majesty the Termite...
eggs in her lifetime - huh no wonder she needs so many attendants it's one of their jobs to carry all those eggs to cells where they hatch into fragile nips these nips were thought to be more
Video examples
A brief history of dogs...
Short stocky dogs to herd livestock by nipping their heels; elongated dogs to flush badgers and foxes out of burrows; thin and sleek dogs for racing; and large, muscular dogs for guard duty.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 372 PIPE...
that's the father that's ting Ghana this is a quite spectacular afternoon I'm just gonna nip in front of a candy that said we can keep going forward yeah
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Simon Hoggart
British Journalist
When I was collecting material for a political gossip column, and someone said something interesting, I would wait for them to add, 'and I don't want to read that in your magazine!' In which case I wouldn't use it. But if they didn't remember to say it, I'd nip off to the loo, write the story up, come back and change the subject.
Quote examples
Andi Dorfman
American Celebrity
I love altering my stuff and that's something I've learned over time: You don't have to buy a shirt and just wear it as it is. A little tuck here, a little nip there, making a deeper plunge in the front - it's not pretty, though, I'll tell you that. I always tell people not to look at the seams.
Quote examples
James Anderson
English Athlete
A lot is made of the pink ball. But it is the same really. A good ball is a good ball, regardless of the colour. You might want to bowl a touch fuller with the pink ball when it is nipping around but generally a pink kookaburra behaves the same as a red kookaburra.
Quote examples
Sonya Walger
English Actress
I had all this other life happening, and 'Lost' was this sort of seasoning - but it was never the main course. It was just this thing that I would nip off and do, so to be recognized for 'Lost' all the time is amazing.
Quote examples
Margaret Trudeau
Canadian Author
The secret is to nip any mental disorder in the bud. As soon as you're not feeling yourself, reach out and get some help because you can quickly get better. If you get stuck in it, it's so hard to get out.
Quote examples
Pete Buttigieg
American Politician
Businesses always have competitors nipping at their heels. Historically, cities have not viewed themselves as subject to that same type of competition. But that's wrong.
Quote examples
Allan McNish
British Driver
As a driver you enjoy winning races, and if you win in the easiest way possible, fine, but in reality we all remember the fights to the end, the nip and tuck stuff.
Quote examples
Jeannie Mai
American Celebrity
In L.A. there's diet trends, there's the new nip and tuck people are doing, the new person who is in town you never saw before.
Quote examples
Ava Gardner
American Actress
I'm not saying my own looks don't give the game away. Nothing I can do about that anymore. A nip and tuck ain't gonna do it.
Quote examples
Mark Zuckerberg
American Businessman
I believe we have to nip Ebola in the bud before it spreads through Africa and to other countries.
Quote examples
Simon Hoggart
British Journalist
When I was collecting material for a political gossip column, and someone said something interesting, I would wait for them to add, 'and I don't want to read that in your magazine!' In which case I wouldn't use it. But if they didn't remember to say it, I'd nip off to the loo, write the story up, come back and change the subject.
Quote examples
Andi Dorfman
American Celebrity
I love altering my stuff and that's something I've learned over time: You don't have to buy a shirt and just wear it as it is. A little tuck here, a little nip there, making a deeper plunge in the front - it's not pretty, though, I'll tell you that. I always tell people not to look at the seams.
Quote examples
James Anderson
English Athlete
A lot is made of the pink ball. But it is the same really. A good ball is a good ball, regardless of the colour. You might want to bowl a touch fuller with the pink ball when it is nipping around but generally a pink kookaburra behaves the same as a red kookaburra.
Quote examples
Sonya Walger
English Actress
I had all this other life happening, and 'Lost' was this sort of seasoning - but it was never the main course. It was just this thing that I would nip off and do, so to be recognized for 'Lost' all the time is amazing.
Quote examples
Margaret Trudeau
Canadian Author
The secret is to nip any mental disorder in the bud. As soon as you're not feeling yourself, reach out and get some help because you can quickly get better. If you get stuck in it, it's so hard to get out.
Quote examples
Pete Buttigieg
American Politician
Businesses always have competitors nipping at their heels. Historically, cities have not viewed themselves as subject to that same type of competition. But that's wrong.
Quote examples
Allan McNish
British Driver
As a driver you enjoy winning races, and if you win in the easiest way possible, fine, but in reality we all remember the fights to the end, the nip and tuck stuff.
Quote examples
Jeannie Mai
American Celebrity
In L.A. there's diet trends, there's the new nip and tuck people are doing, the new person who is in town you never saw before.
Quote examples
Ava Gardner
American Actress
I'm not saying my own looks don't give the game away. Nothing I can do about that anymore. A nip and tuck ain't gonna do it.
Quote examples
Mark Zuckerberg
American Businessman
I believe we have to nip Ebola in the bud before it spreads through Africa and to other countries.
Example 1 of 10
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