dribble
/'dribl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To let saliva flow from the mouth.
- To propel a ball by a series of light taps or bounces, typically with the feet, hands, or a stick.
- To flow or fall in small drops or a thin, slow stream.
Noun:
- A small, thin flow of liquid; a trickle.
- Saliva flowing from the mouth.
- The act of moving a ball by repeated taps or bounces.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- The baby will dribble on his bib. (To let saliva flow.)
- The player learned to dribble the basketball skillfully. (To propel a ball.)
- Water began to dribble from the leaky faucet. (To flow in drops.)
Noun:
- There was a constant dribble of water from the pipe. (A small flow of liquid.)
- He wiped the dribble from the child's chin. (Saliva from the mouth.)
- His dribble past two defenders set up the goal. (The act of moving a ball.)
Advanced Usage
"to dribble away": To waste or lose something gradually.
- The team dribbled away their early lead. (They gradually lost their advantage.)
"to dribble in/out": To arrive or depart in small numbers or slowly over time.
- News from the disaster zone began to dribble in. (Information arrived slowly and piecemeal.)
Variants and Related Words
- Dribbler (noun): A person or thing that dribbles.
- He is an excellent dribbler on the soccer field.
- Dribbling (noun/gerund): The action or skill of dribbling a ball.
- Her dribbling technique is impressive.
- Driblet (noun): A small or insignificant amount.
- He paid the debt in driblets. (He paid in very small amounts over time.)
Synonyms
- Verb (saliva): Drool, slaver, drivel.
- Verb (liquid): Trickle, drip, seep, ooze.
- Verb (sports): Bounce, tap, carry (in soccer/hockey context).
- Noun (flow): Trickle, drip, streamlet.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Dribble down: To flow or trickle downward.
- Sweat dribbled down his forehead.
- Dribble out: To become known or be released slowly and in small pieces.
- The details of the agreement dribbled out over several weeks.
Related Idioms
- A dribble and a drab: A very small and insignificant amount. (Note: This is a less common, somewhat archaic idiom.)
- He offered only a dribble and a drab of help. (He offered minimal assistance.)
Noun
- the propulsion of a ball by repeated taps or kicks
- saliva spilling from the mouth
- flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid
- there's a drip through the roof
Verb
- let saliva drivel from the mouth
- The baby drooled
- propel, "Carry the ball"
- dribble the ball
- let or cause to fall in drops
- dribble oil into the mixture
- run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
- water trickled onto the lawn from the broken hose
- reports began to dribble in