Budge
/bʌdʤ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To move very slightly; to make a small movement or adjustment: "budge" means to change position slightly, often with difficulty or after resistance. It implies a minimal movement, not a large change.
- To change an opinion, attitude, or decision; to yield or give way: "budge" can also mean to alter a firmly held stance or to compromise.
Examples of Usage
- Verb (Physical Movement):
- The heavy rock wouldn't budge, no matter how hard we pushed.
- He shifted slightly, but the sleeping cat on his lap didn't budge.
- Verb (Figurative - Opinion/Position):
- She refused to budge on her decision to leave the company.
- After hours of negotiation, neither side would budge from their initial demands.
Advanced Usage
- "won't/wouldn't budge an inch": to refuse to move or change one's position at all, emphasizing complete stubbornness.
- The landlord wouldn't budge an inch on the rent increase.
- "budge up" (British English, informal): to move over to make space for someone else.
- Budge up a bit so I can sit down too.
Variants and Related Words
- Budge is primarily used as a verb. It does not have common noun forms derived directly from this sense. (Note: "Budge" as a proper noun, like the tennis player Don Budge, is a separate, unrelated word).
Synonyms
- Shift: to move or change position.
- Move: to change place or position.
- Yield: to give way to pressure or persuasion.
- Relent: to become less severe, harsh, or strict.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Budge up: (informal, chiefly UK) To move closer together to make space.
- Can you all budge up and let me through?
Related Idioms
- Not budge an inch: To be completely unwilling to change one's mind or position.
- On the issue of safety regulations, the committee chair did not budge an inch.
- Couldn't budge it/him/her/them: Was completely unable to make something/someone move or change.
- I tried to convince her, but I couldn't budge her.
Noun
- United States tennis player who in 1938 was the first to win the Australian and French and English and United States singles championship in the same year (1915-2000)
Verb
- move very slightly
- He shifted in his seat