bob
/bɔb/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A short, quick up-and-down or side-to-side movement: A small, abrupt motion, often of the head or body.
- A short haircut: A hairstyle, typically for women or children, where the hair is cut straight around the head at about jaw level.
- A small, floating object: A buoyant object, often made of cork, attached to a fishing line to signal a bite.
- A hanging weight: A weight, often spherical, that hangs from a cord or chain, such as a pendulum weight.
- A type of sled: A long sled used for racing down snowy slopes, often accommodating more than one person and equipped with steering.
- A docked tail: The short tail of certain animals, like horses or dogs, that has been cut short.
- A former British coin: An informal historical term for a shilling.
Verb:
- To move with short, quick motions: To move up and down or back and forth in a series of small, bouncy movements.
- To cut hair in a bob style: To cut someone's hair to the length and style of a bob.
- To make a quick, respectful gesture: To perform a small, quick curtsy or bow.
- To ride a bobsled: To travel down a slope on a bobsled.
- To try to catch with the mouth: To attempt to seize something, like fruit, with the teeth, often while it is floating or dangling.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- She greeted me with a friendly bob of her head.
- She got a chic bob haircut for the summer.
- The fishing bob dipped below the surface of the water.
- The pendulum's bob swung back and forth with a steady rhythm.
Verb:
- The small boat bobbed gently on the waves.
- She decided to bob her long hair for a new look.
- The young girl bobbed politely when the queen entered the room.
- We spent the afternoon bobbing for apples at the fair.
Advanced Usage
- "To bob up": To appear suddenly or unexpectedly.
- Just when we thought he was gone, he bobbed up in the crowd.
- "To bob up and down": To move repeatedly in an up-and-down motion.
- The buoy was bobbing up and down in the rough sea.
Variants and Related Words
- Bobbed (adj): Describing something cut short or moved quickly.
- Bobbing (n/adj): The action or state of moving with short, quick motions.
- Bobtail (n): An animal with a docked or very short tail.
Synonyms
- Nod (v/n): A quick, slight downward movement of the head.
- Float (v): To rest or move on the surface of a liquid.
- Duck (v): To lower the head or body quickly.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Bob for: To try to catch something, typically fruit, with the teeth while it is in water or suspended.
- The children loved to bob for apples at the Halloween party.
- Bob along: To move or proceed in a casual, bouncing manner.
- The little boat bobbed along the calm river.
Related Idioms
- Bob's your uncle: (British, informal) An expression meaning "there you have it" or "it's all done," indicating that something is easily accomplished.
- Just add salt, stir, and Bob's your uncle—the soup is ready!
- To bob and weave: To move quickly and erratically to avoid something, originally a boxing term.
- The politician had to bob and weave to avoid answering the difficult questions.
Noun
- a short abrupt inclination (as of the head)
- he gave me a short bob of acknowledgement
- a short or shortened tail of certain animals
- a small float usually made of cork; attached to a fishing line
- a hanging weight, especially a metal ball on a string
- a long racing sled (for 2 or more people) with a steering mechanism
- a hair style for women and children; a short haircut all around
- a former monetary unit in Great Britain
Verb
- cut hair in the style of a bob
- Bernice bobs her hair these days!
- make a curtsy; usually done only by girls and women; as a sign of respect
- She curtsied when she shook the Queen's hand
- remove or shorten the tail of an animal
- ride a bobsled
- The boys bobbed down the hill screaming with pleasure
- move up and down repeatedly
- her rucksack bobbed gently on her back