tiptoe
/'tiptou/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- The tip of a toe: The very end part of a toe, particularly when used for walking quietly.
Verb:
- To walk on one's toes: To walk very quietly or carefully by putting one's weight on the balls of the feet and the tips of the toes, with the heels raised off the ground.
Adverb:
- On tiptoe or as if on tiptoe: In a manner characterized by walking on the tips of the toes; very quietly and carefully.
Adjective:
- Walking on the tips of one's toes so as to make no noise: Describing a quiet, stealthy manner of walking.
- Moving with tiptoe steps: Characterized by cautious, light steps.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- She balanced on the tiptoes of her left foot.
- Verb:
- He had to tiptoe past the baby's room to avoid waking her.
- Adverb:
- She walked tiptoe across the creaky wooden floor.
- Adjective:
- They made a tiptoe approach to the deer, hoping to get a closer look.
Advanced Usage
- "on tiptoe" (adverbial phrase): In a position or manner of standing or walking on the tips of the toes.
- The child stood on tiptoe to see over the fence.
- "on the tiptoe of expectation" (idiomatic): In a state of eager anticipation or suspense.
- The audience was on the tiptoe of expectation for the final announcement.
Variants and Related Words
- Tiptoed (verb, past tense): The simple past tense and past participle of 'tiptoe'.
- She tiptoed out of the library.
Synonyms
- Creep: To move slowly and quietly, often with the body close to the ground.
- Pussyfoot: To move stealthily or cautiously.
- Sneak: To go or move in a quiet, stealthy way.
Related Phrases
- Walk on eggshells (idiom): To be extremely cautious in one's actions or words around someone.
- After the argument, he felt he had to walk on eggshells around his boss. (Note: This idiom conveys a similar sense of caution but is not directly related to physical movement.)
Adjective
- walking on the tips of ones's toes so as to make no noise
- moving with tiptoe steps
Adverb
- on tiptoe or as if on tiptoe
- standing tiptoe
Noun
- the tip of a toe
Verb
- walk on one's toes