crabwise
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Moving sideways or obliquely: Describes movement that is not straight forward or backward, but at an angle, typically in a manner resembling the sideways scuttle of a crab.
- Indirect or not straightforward: Can describe an approach or progression that is not direct or head-on.
Usage
- The primary use of "crabwise" is as an adjective to modify a noun related to movement or progression. It is often used with verbs like "move," "advance," or "proceed."
- It is a somewhat literary or descriptive term, not common in everyday casual conversation.
Examples
- Adjective:
- The strong winds forced the sailboat to make a crabwise approach to the dock.
- The negotiations progressed in a crabwise manner, with small, indirect steps.
- He edged crabwise along the narrow ledge to safety.
Advanced Usage
- "to move crabwise": to move sideways or obliquely.
- The car, with a flat tire, could only move crabwise down the road.
- "a crabwise advance": a slow, indirect, or sideways advance.
- The army's crabwise advance through the marsh avoided the main enemy defenses.
Variants and Related Words
- Sideways (adv/adj): To, towards, or from the side. (More common and general than "crabwise.")
- Obliquely (adv): Not in a direct way; at an angle. (Often used for lines or figurative approaches.)
- Laterally (adv): Relating to the side; sideways. (More technical.)
Synonyms
- Sideways
- Oblique
- Sidling
- Edgeways
Antonyms
- Direct
- Straight
- Head-on
- Forward
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "In a crabwise fashion/manner": This phrase is used to describe how an action is performed.
- She gained his trust in a crabwise fashion, never asking for too much at once.
- While not a phrasal verb, the adverbial phrase "crabwise" itself often functions similarly to describe the manner of movement.
- The suspect shuffled crabwise away from the police car.