clip

clip over the ear

A slap, smack, or cuff on the side of the head, usually as a reprimand for bad behavior. If you don't start your homework right now, I'm going to give you a clip over the ear!

at a good clip

Quickly; at a good pace. That horse is moving at a good clip—I think he might win the race!

*at a good clip

and *at a fast clip

rapidly. (*Typically: go ~; move ~; run ~; travel ~.) We were moving along at a good clip when a state trooper stopped us.

clip someone's wings

Fig. to restrain someone; to reduce or put an end to someone's privileges. (Alludes to clipping a bird's wings to keep it from flying away.) You had better learn to get home on time, or I will clip your wings. My mother clipped my wings. I can't go out tonight.

See also: clip, wing

clip something from something

to cut something out of or away from something; to cut something off something. I clipped the picture from the magazine. I clipped the straggly hairs from his head.

clip something on(to) someone or something

and clip something on

to attach something to someone or something with a clip. I clipped a little name tag onto him before I put him on the plane. I clipped on a name tag.

clip something out of something

and clip something out

to remove something from something by clipping or cutting. Please clip the article out of the magazine. Could you clip out the picture, too?

clip your wings

to limit your freedom She was afraid that motherhood would clip her wings.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of clip a bird's wings (to cut the feathers that make it possible for a bird to fly)

See also: clip, wing

clip somebody's wings

to limit someone's freedom

Usage notes: Birds who have had their wings clipped (= cut) cannot fly.

She never had kids. I guess she thought motherhood would clip her wings.

See also: clip, wing

clip someone's wings

Restrain or reduce someone's freedom, as in Hiding his car keys-you're really clipping his wings. This metaphor for clipping a bird's wings to prevent its flying away dates from ancient Roman times. Christopher Marlowe used it in The Massacre at Paris (1590): "Away to prison with him, I'll clip his wings."

See also: clip, wing

clip

1. tv. to cheat someone. (see also clipped, clip joint.) That guy in there clipped me for a fiver.

2. tv. to kill someone. Frank and John had set out to clip Rocko first.

3. n. a holder for a marijuana cigarette butt. (see also roach clip.) My clip’s at home in my stash.

4. n. a music video; a short film. This next clip is something you’ll all recognize.

5. n. a fast rate of speed. You were moving at a pretty good clip when you ran into the truck.

6. tv. to sock someone. Max clipped Lefty on the jaw, and Lefty drew his gun.

clip a butt

tv. to pinch out a cigarette for later smoking. (Also with the.) Like an old soldier, Willy took a puff and then clipped the butt for later.

clip joint

n. a business establishment that cheats customers. The clip joint on Fourth Street was busted last night.

clip someone’s wings

tv. to restrain someone; to reduce or put an end to a teenager’s privileges. One more stunt like that and I’m going to clip your wings for a couple of weeks.

See also: clip, wing

clipped

1. mod. cheated. You weren’t clipped by me. I just made a mistake.

2. mod. arrested. Frank got clipped as he got out of his car.

3. mod. circumcised. Fred couldn’t imagine what not being clipped would be like.

roach clip

and roach pick

n. a device to hold a roach and make it smokable. (Drugs.) When the cops find a roach clip on you, you’ve had it. He held the roach on a paper clip “roach pick.”

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
KristjÁN	-	Icelandic
FraÑSez	-	Breton
HalldÓR	-	Icelandic
Carpus	KAHR-pəs (English)	Biblical, Biblical Latin
Ninette	-	French
Bruno	BROO-no (German), BRUW-naw (Polish)	German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Croatian, Polish, Ancient Germanic