Physical Actions

Physical Actions

Y1 What expressions are used around here for a person suddenly falling down: “She slipped on the steps and took quite a(n) ________.”

Y2 Other words for upsetting or disturbing somebody: “Losing all that money didn’t seem to ________ him a bit.”

Y3 To say uncomplimentary things about somebody is to _________ her.

Y4 Other words for a very uncomplimentary remark: “That was a(n) _________.”

Y5 Words meaning to urge somebody to do something he shouldn’t: “Mike wouldn’t have tried that if the other boys hadn’t ________.”

Y6 Words meaning to put pressure on somebody to do something he ought to have done but hasn’t: “He’s a whole week late. I’m going to ________.”

Y7 When one person never misses a chance to be mean to another or to annoy another: “I don’t know why she keeps ________ (me) all the time!”

Y9 Somebody who always follows along behind others: “Her little brother is an awful ________.”

Y10 To throw something—for example, “The dog came at her, so she picked up a stone and ________ it at him.”

Y11 Other words for a very hard blow: “You should have seen Bill go down. Joe really hit him a(n) ________.”

Y12a A fight between two people, mostly with words: “They really got into a(n) _________.”

Y12b A real fight in which blows are struck: “They had a real _________.”

Y13 A fistfight with several people in it: “A crowd gathered to watch the ________.”

Y14a To hit somebody hard with the fist: “I was so mad I wanted to _________ him.”

Y14b To hit somebody with the open hand: “I was so frustrated I wanted to _________ her.”

Y15 To beat somebody thoroughly: “John really ________ (that fellow)!”

Y16 A thorough beating: “He gave the bully an awful ________.”

Y17 When two people agree to stop fighting and not be enemies anymore, you might say, “I hear they ________.”

Y18 To leave in a hurry: “Before they find this out, we’d better ________!”

Y19 To begin to go away from a place: “It’s about time for me to ________.”

Y20 To run fast: “You should have seen her ________!”

Y21 To move about slowly and without energy: “After being sick, she could only _________.”

Y22 To move around in a way to make people take notice of you: “Look at him ________.”

Y23 Expressions meaning to move yourself or get yourself in motion: “I was so stiff I could hardly ________.”

Y24 Expressions meaning to walk, to go on foot: “I can’t get a ride, so I’ll just have to ________.”

Y25 To walk heavily, making a lot of noise: “He came ________ into the house.”

Y26a To walk very quietly: “She came ________ to the baby’s bed.”

Y26b To walk very quietly: “The children filled their pockets and ________ out the back way.”

Y27 To go about aimlessly, with nothing to do: “She’s always ________ around the drugstore.”

Y28 A person who loiters about doing nothing: “Get busy, don’t just be a(n) _________.”

Y29a To ‘go out’ a great deal, not to stay at home much: “She’s always (been a) ________.”

Y29b Or, about a man who doesn’t stay home much: “He’s always ________.”

Y30b To take something heavy up and move it from one place to another: “I need to _________ that to the neighbor’s house.”

Y31 If a child asked her father to carry her on his back, she might say, “Give me a(n) ________.”

Y32 To squeeze yourself into a small space: “If you’re going to fit in there, you’ll have to ________.”

Y33 Other words for squeezing or crushing something—for example, your finger in a door: “I ________ my finger in the door.”

Y34a When somebody moves on his hands and knees: “He was down in the bushes, ________ (around).”

Y34b What babies do before they walk: “She’s just about ready to ________.”

Y35x To spoil something so that it can’t be used—for example, a new coffeepot: “My new coffeepot—it’s completely ________.”

Y36a To spill something over the sides of a container: “See if you can carry that water without ________ (it all over).”

Y36b To knock or tip something over, especially by accident: “Be careful not to _______ it over.”

Y36c To fall over abruptly, capsize: “Look out! It’s going to ________.”

Y37 To make a place untidy or disorderly: “I wish they wouldn’t ________ the room so.”

Y38 Mixed together, confused: “The things in the drawer are all ________.”

Y39 To get something sticky or messy: “The children have been eating candy and they’ve got their faces all ________.”

Y40a Other words referring to sticky stuff: “I’ve got to wash my hands; they’re all ________.”

Y40b Other words referring to sticky stuff: “I’ve got to wash my hands. They’re all covered with ________.”

Y41b Expressions used around here to tell someone to light an electric light: “________ the light.”

Y42 Expressions for putting out a light: “Don’t forget to ________ the light.”

Y43a Expressions meaning to light a fire: “________ the fire.”

Y43b Expressions meaning to put out a fire: “Be sure to _________ the fire before you go to bed.”

Y44 A very small, sharp piece of wood: “His finger is sore—he ran a(n) ________ into it.”

Y45 Talking of a liquid—to scatter in all directions: “When she opened the can, the beer ________ (all over the kitchen).”

Y46a To get hurt with something sharp—for example, a thorn: “He ________ a thorn into his hand.”

Y46b To get hurt with something sharp, like a needle: “She ________ herself with a needle.”

Y47 To hide something away for future use: “I know he’s got it ________ somewhere.”

Y48 To look in every possible place for something you’ve mislaid—for example, a pair of gloves: “I’ve ________ (the house looking for them).”

Y50 To undertake or carry out a job: “That’s a big job for just one person to ________.”

Y51 Other ways of saying ‘to avoid’ things or people—for example: “He’s not friendly—you’d better ________ him.”

Y52 To move over—for example, on a long bench: “We have to make room for one more. Can you ________ (a little)?”

DARE Data Summary by Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.