Y1 What expressions are used around here for a person suddenly falling down: “He slipped on the steps and took quite a ________.”
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:
Y4 Other words for a very uncomplimentary remark:
Y5 Words meaning to urge somebody to do something he shouldn’t: “Johnny 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!” [Old QRs: When one person never misses a chance to be mean to another: . .]
Y8 To keep after a person so as to get him to do things: “He never gets a minute’s peace—she’s always ________.” [Asked in early Questionnaires only]
Y9 Somebody who always follows along behind others: “His little brother is an awful ________.”
Y10 To throw something—for example, “The dog came at him, so he 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 ________.”
Y12a A fight between two people, mostly with words:
Y12b A real fight in which blows are struck:
Y13 A fist fight with several people in it:
Y14a To hit somebody hard with the fist:
Y14b To hit somebody with the open hand:
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 any more, 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 him ________!”
Y21 To move about slowly and without energy:
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: “He’s always ________ around the drugstore.”
Y28 A person who loiters about with nothing to do:
Y29a To ‘go out’ a great deal, not to stay at home much: “She’s always ________.”
Y29b Or, about a man who doesn’t stay home much: “He’s always ________.”
Y30a To take something up and move it from one place to another—for example, a paper sack of groceries:
Y30b To take something heavy up and move it from one place to another—for example, a bushel of apples:
Y31 If a child asked his father to carry him on his back, he might say, “Give me a ________.”
Y32 To squeeze yourself into a small space: “If you’re going to fit in there you’ll have to ________.” (Gesture.)
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:
Y35x To spoil something so that it can’t be used—for example, a new coffee pot: “My new coffee pot—it’s completely ________.” [Not asked in early Questionnaires]
Y35y To spoil something so that it can’t be used: “You’ve ________ my new hat.” [Asked in early Questionnaires only]
Y36 To spill something over the sides of a container: “See if you can carry that water without ________ (it all over).”
Y37 To make a place untidy or disorderly: “I wish they wouldn’t ________ the room so.” (Gesture.)
Y38 Mixed together, confused: “The things in the drawer are all ________.”
Y39 To get something sticky or smeared up: “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 ________.”
Y41a Expressions used around here to tell someone to light a lamp or lantern: “________ the lamp.”
Y41b Expressions used around here to tell someone to light an electric light: “________ the light.”
Y42 Expressions for putting out a lamp or light:
Y43a Expressions meaning to light a fire: “________ the fire.”
Y43b Expressions meaning to put out a fire:
Y44 A very small, sharp piece of wood: “His finger is sore—he ran a ________ into it.”
Y45 Talking of a liquid—to scatter in all directions: “When he 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).”
Y49 A sudden pull on something: “If you want to get that string out, just ________ it.” [Asked in early Questionnaires only]
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 your kind—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.