/'pɔkit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A small bag sewn into or on clothing: A pouch-like part of a garment, used for carrying small items.
- A small, isolated area or group: A small, distinct area or group that is different from its surroundings.
- A cavity or hollow space: A natural or artificial hollow or enclosed space.
- A supply of money; financial resources: (Often used in phrases) Refers to one's personal money or finances.
- In billiards/pool, an opening at the corner or side of the table: One of the netted or holed openings into which balls are struck.
Verb:
- To put something into one's pocket: To place or conceal something in a pocket.
- To take something, especially dishonestly or secretly: To appropriate something for oneself, often unlawfully or without right.
- To suppress or conceal (a feeling): To hold back or hide an emotion, such as pride or anger.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- He put his keys in his pocket. (He placed his keys in the pouch of his trousers.)
- There are still pockets of poverty in the wealthy city. (Small, isolated areas of poverty exist within the generally rich city.)
- The plane hit an air pocket and dropped suddenly. (The plane encountered a localized region of low air pressure.)
- The new tax will come directly out of the consumer's pocket. (The tax will be paid directly by the consumer using their own money.)
- He sank the eight-ball in the corner pocket. (He successfully hit the eight-ball into the opening at the corner of the pool table.)
Verb:
- She pocketed the receipt after paying. (She put the receipt into her pocket.)
- The corrupt official was found to have pocketed public funds. (The official had taken public money for personal use.)
- He had to pocket his pride and ask for help. (He had to suppress his feelings of pride.)
Advanced Usage
- "To be in someone's pocket": To be under someone's control or influence.
- The politician was accused of being in the lobbyist's pocket.
- "To be out of pocket":
- (UK): To have lost money as a result of something.
- I was £50 out of pocket after the transaction.
- (US): To be unavailable or unreachable.
- I'll be out of pocket all afternoon at the doctor's office.
- "To line one's (own) pockets": To make money for oneself, especially in a dishonest way.
- The contractor was lining his pockets with funds meant for the project.
Variants and Related Words
- Pocketful (n): As much as a pocket will hold.
- He gave me a pocketful of coins.
- Pocketable (adj): Small enough to be carried in a pocket.
- A pocketable camera.
- Pocket-sized / Pocket-size (adj): Very small; compact.
- A pocket-sized dictionary.
- Air pocket (n): A region of low air pressure causing aircraft to drop suddenly.
- Pocket watch (n): A watch designed to be carried in a pocket, not worn on the wrist.
Synonyms
- Noun (for pouch): Pouch, compartment, sack.
- Noun (for isolated area): Enclave, island, patch.
- Verb (to take dishonestly): Embezzle, misappropriate, steal, filch.
Related Phrasal Verbs / Phrases
- Pocket something up: To accept or endure something unpleasant without complaining.
- He had to pocket up the insult.
- Pick someone's pocket: To steal from someone's pocket without them noticing.
- A thief picked his pocket on the crowded train.
Related Idioms
- Burn a hole in one's pocket: Said of money that one is eager to spend quickly.
- The bonus was burning a hole in his pocket, so he went shopping.
- Deep pockets: Having substantial financial resources.
- We need an investor with deep pockets for this venture.
- Put your hand in your pocket: To spend or give money.
- It's time for the government to put its hand in its pocket and fund the schools.
Noun
- an opening at the corner or on the side of a billiard table into which billiard balls are struck
- (anatomy) saclike structure in any of various animals (as a marsupial or gopher or pelican)
- a small isolated group of people
- they were concentrated in pockets inside the city
- the battle was won except for cleaning up pockets of resistance
- a local region of low pressure or descending air that causes a plane to lose height suddenly
- a hollow concave shape made by removing something
- (bowling) the space between the headpin and the pins behind it on the right or left
- the ball hit the pocket and gave him a perfect strike
- a supply of money
- they dipped into the taxpayers' pockets
- an enclosed space
- the trapped miners found a pocket of air
- a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
Verb
- take unlawfully
- put in one's pocket
- He pocketed the change