To dangle means ‘to hang or swing loosely’ and also ‘to cause something to hang loosely.’ If you dangle after someone, it means that you hang around them or follow them as if looking for favor or attention…
A bundle is a package, an item wrapped for carrying, or various items bound together. Figuratively, a large amount of something can be called a bundle and, as a slang term, a bundle means ‘a lot of money.’ As a verb, to bundle means…
A sloth is a slow-moving, tree-dwelling tropical American animal. They have long, coarse, brown or grayish fur and big claws for gripping tree branches while hanging upside down, as they usually do. And do you know why they’re called that?
To whirl means ‘to spin quickly, turning around or aside very fast.’ To travel or to be carried along very quickly is also to whirl and, if your head whirls, it means that you’re feeling dizzy. As a noun, a whirl is the…
Clobber is a very colloquial word. As a verb, it means ‘to hit or beat severely’ and, figuratively, in games or competitions, it means ‘to defeat completely.’ Also very colloquially, to clobber means ‘to criticize harshly.’ As a noun, in UK and Australian English, clobber means…
Literally, to dazzle means ‘to blind temporarily with a very bright light’ and, of lights or anything that sparkles, ‘to shine brightly.’ Figuratively, to dazzle means ‘to impress deeply’ or ‘to excite admiration.’ As a noun, dazzle is something that…
To peel means ‘to take the skin or rind out of something,’ such as vegetables or fruits. If skin or paint comes off on its own, that’s also to peel, and so is ‘to strip something away from something else.’ Figuratively, and usually followed by off, peel can also mean…
To taper means ‘to become thinner towards the end’ and also ‘to make thinner towards the end’ or ‘to reduce gradually.’ Always followed by off, taper means ‘ to decrease’ or ‘to be reduced by degrees.’ As a noun, a taper is a…
A strap is a narrow strip of material used for holding things together or a looped band by which an item may be held, carried, pulled, or lifted. It’s also the strip of material or metal that…
You might already know that blink is something we constantly do without even realizing; it means ‘to open and close your eyes involuntarily’ and ‘to open and close your eyes on purpose.’ Figuratively, if you blink at something, it means you…
