stiff

/stif/
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stiff

A stiff breeze blows the leaves across the park.

Definition

  1. Adjective:

    • Incapable of or resistant to bending; rigid: Not easily bent or moved; firm and inflexible.
    • Marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable: Showing strong, unwavering resolve.
    • Having a strong physiological or chemical effect: Powerful, especially in reference to drinks or substances.
    • Rigidly formal: Lacking ease or naturalness; constrained.
    • Powerful: Describing a strong force, such as wind or current.
    • Not moving or operating freely: Difficult to move, often due to tightness or lack of lubrication.
    • Very drunk: (Informal) Extremely intoxicated.

  2. Adverb:

    • In a stiff manner: In a rigid, inflexible, or unnatural way.
    • Extremely: (Informal) To a very high degree; utterly.

  3. Noun:

    • The dead body of a human being: (Slang) A corpse.
    • An ordinary man: (Slang, often "working stiff") A regular, often blue-collar, person.
Usage Examples

  • Adjective:

    • The new shoes were very stiff and uncomfortable. (Describing something rigid.)
    • She faced the criticism with stiff resistance. (Describing firm determination.)
    • He poured himself a stiff drink after a long day. (Describing a strong alcoholic beverage.)
    • His greeting was polite but stiff. (Describing a formal, unnatural manner.)
    • A stiff breeze blew the leaves across the yard. (Describing a strong wind.)
    • The old door had a stiff hinge. (Describing something that doesn't move freely.)
    • After the party, he was completely stiff. (Informal: describing being very drunk.)

  • Adverb:

    • He stood stiffly at attention. (Describing a rigid posture.)
    • I was bored stiff during the lecture. (Informal: meaning extremely bored.)

  • Noun:

    • The detective found a stiff in the alley. (Slang for a dead body.)
    • He's just a working stiff trying to pay the bills. (Slang for an ordinary laborer.)
Advanced Usage

  • "To keep a stiff upper lip": To remain brave and unemotional in the face of difficulty.

    • Even after the loss, he kept a stiff upper lip.

  • "A stiff neck": Literally, a neck that is sore and difficult to move; figuratively, can imply stubbornness.

    • I woke up with a stiff neck from sleeping awkwardly.
Variants and Related Words

  • Stiffen (verb): To make or become stiff.

    • The fabric will stiffen when the starch dries.

  • Stiffness (noun): The quality or state of being stiff.

    • The stiffness in the joint made movement painful.

  • Stiff-necked (adjective): Stubborn or haughty.

    • His stiff-necked refusal to listen caused many problems.
Synonyms
  • Adjective (rigid): Inflexible, hard, unyielding.
  • Adjective (formal): Starchy, wooden, unnatural.
  • Adjective (strong): Potent, powerful, robust.
  • Noun (corpse): Cadaver, body, remains.
  • Noun (worker): Laborer, employee, wage earner.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

  • Stiff someone (slang): To fail to pay someone, especially a tip or a debt.

    • The customer stiffed the waiter on the tip.

  • Stiff with (something): (Informal) Having a lot of something.

    • The area was stiff with police after the robbery.
Related Idioms

  • Scared stiff: Extremely frightened.

    • The loud noise left me scared stiff.

  • Bored stiff: Extremely bored.

    • The children were bored stiff on the rainy afternoon.
stiff

A stiff breeze blows the leaves across the park.

Adjective
  1. very drunk
  2. incapable of or resistant to bending
    • a rigid strip of metal
    • a table made of rigid plastic
    • a palace guardsman stiff as a poker
    • stiff hair
    • a stiff neck
  3. marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
    • firm convictions
    • a firm mouth
    • steadfast resolve
    • a man of unbendable perseverence
    • unwavering loyalty
  4. having a strong physiological or chemical effect
    • a potent toxin
    • potent liquor
    • a potent cup of tea, a stiff drink
  5. rigidly formal
    • a starchy manner
    • the letter was stiff and formal
    • his prose has a buckram quality
  6. powerful
    • a stiff current
    • a stiff breeze
  7. not moving or operating freely
    • a stiff hinge
Adverb
  1. in a stiff manner
    • his hands lay stiffly
  2. extremely
    • bored stiff
    • frightened stiff
Noun
  1. the dead body of a human being
    • the cadaver was intended for dissection
    • the end of the police search was the discovery of a corpse
    • the murderer confessed that he threw the stiff in the river
    • honor comes to bless the turf that wraps their clay
  2. an ordinary man
    • a lucky stiff
    • a working stiff

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