Definition

1. Noun:

   • A leather strap used for sharpening razors: A flexible strip of leather, often with a smooth surface, used to hone and align the edge of a razor blade.

2. Verb:

   • To sharpen on a strop: The action of drawing a blade, especially a straight razor, back and forth across a strop to refine its cutting edge.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The barber carefully hung his strop on the wall after use.
  • A good-quality strop is essential for maintaining a sharp razor.

• Verb:

  • He would strop his razor every morning before shaving.
  • It is important to strop the blade correctly to avoid dulling it.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in a strop" (British English, informal): To be in a bad mood or a state of irritation.
  • He's been in a bit of a strop all morning because he missed his train.

Variants and Related Words

• Strapped (verb, past tense): Having been sharpened on a strop.
  • The freshly strapped razor provided a smooth shave.

Synonyms

• Hone (verb): To sharpen, especially with a fine stone.
• Strap (noun): A strip of leather, but not specifically for sharpening.

Phrasal Verbs

• Strop up (informal, rare): To become annoyed or sulky.
  • He tends to strop up when things don't go his way.

Related Idioms

• "To have a strop on": To be sulking or in a bad temper (chiefly British informal).
  • Don't mind him, he's just got a strop on because he lost the game.

Noun

1. a leather strap used to sharpen razors

Verb

1. sharpen on a strop
   • strop razors