Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Lacking stiffness or firmness; soft and flexible: Describes something that is not rigid or strong, often appearing weak or drooping.
   • Lacking energy, vigor, or strength; spiritless: Describes a person, action, or thing that is feeble or lacking in force.

2. Noun:

   • An uneven or labored walk, typically due to injury or weakness: Refers to the gait of someone who is walking with difficulty, often favoring one leg.

3. Verb:

   • To walk with difficulty, typically because of a damaged or stiff leg or foot: The primary action of moving unevenly or painfully.
   • To proceed with great difficulty or in a faltering, weak manner: Can describe the slow, struggling movement or progress of non-living things.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The flowers were limp after being out of water for a day.
  • He gave a limp handshake that conveyed no confidence.

• Noun:

  • After twisting his ankle, he walked with a noticeable limp.
  • The old dog's limp became more pronounced with age.

• Verb:

  • She had to limp back to the car after falling on the trail.
  • The damaged ship limped back to port for repairs.

Advanced Usage

• "to limp along": To continue functioning or progressing with difficulty or inadequately.
  • The company has been limping along since the economic downturn.
• "to limp in/into": To arrive slowly and with difficulty (often used for vehicles).
  • The bus limped into the station an hour late, billowing smoke.

Variants and Related Words

• Limply (adverb): In a limp manner; without strength or firmness.
  • The flag hung limply on the windless day.
• Limpeness (noun): The state or quality of being limp. (Less common)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Flaccid, floppy, drooping, weak, languid.
• Noun: Hobble, hitch, uneven gait.
• Verb: Hobble, falter, stagger, stumble.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Limp in/into: To arrive somewhere moving slowly and with difficulty.
  • The exhausted runner limped into the finish line.
• Limp along: To continue slowly and with great effort.
  • The negotiations are limping along without any major breakthroughs.

Related Idioms

• A limp excuse: A weak or unconvincing excuse.
  • Saying you forgot is a pretty limp excuse for missing the deadline.
• Go limp: To suddenly lose all muscle tension or strength; to become flaccid.
  • The puppet went limp when the strings were dropped.

Adjective

1. lacking in strength or firmness or resilience
   • gave a limp handshake
   • a limp gesture as if waving away all desire to know G.K.Chesterton
   • a slack grip
2. not firm
   • wilted lettuce

Noun

1. the uneven manner of walking that results from an injured leg

Verb

1. proceed slowly or with difficulty
   • the boat limped into the harbor
2. walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
   • The old woman hobbles down to the store every day