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tuck
nip and tuck
1. noun A cosmetic surgery procedure, often (but not always) one performed on the face. Many women consider getting a nip and tuck as they age, but I think my wrinkles make me look distinguished.
2. noun A minor change to improve something, often the appearance of something. The house just needs a little nip and tuck before it is ready to go up for sale.
3. adjective Of a contest or competition, having a very close margin between the competitors. This race has been nip and tuck, and we won't know who has won until the final vote is counted.
4. adverb Very closely competing; head-to-head. The two teams went nip and tuck down to the final seconds of the game.
be nip and tuck
slang To have a very close margin between the competitors in a contest or competition. Primarily heard in US. This race has been nip and tuck, and we won't know who has won until the final vote is counted.
nip and tuck
Fig. almost even; almost tied. The horses ran nip and tuck for the first half of the race. Then my horse pulled ahead. In the football game last Saturday, both teams were nip and tuck throughout the game.
tuck into something
to begin eating something vigorously. The kids really tucked into the stew. I could see from the way that they tucked into their meal that they were really hungry.
tuck someone in(to) something
and tuck someone into place someone into something carefully; to wrap someone in blankets or something similar. Father tucked Jimmy into bed an hour later than he should have. Please tuck in Jimmy.
tuck something around someone or something
to wrap something snugly around someone or something. I tucked crumpled newspapers around the cups in the box to keep them from breaking. Molly-Jo tucked the covers around the baby.
tuck something away
1. Lit. to hide or store something away. Tuck this away where you can find it later. Can you tuck away this money somewhere?
2. Fig. to eat something. The boys tucked away three pizzas and an apple pie. When I was younger, I could tuck away my dinner in no time at all.
tuck something in (to) something
and tuck something into fold or stuff something into something. Please tuck your shirttail into your pants. Tuck in your shirt tail. When you make the bed, you have to tuck the sheets in.
tuck something up
to raise up some part of one's clothing and attach it temporarily. She tucked her skirt up and waded through the flooded basement. She tucked up her skirt.
tuck something up (under something)
to place or push something, such as cloth, up under something. Tuck the sheet up under the mattress when you make the bed. Tuck up the sheet under the mattress when you make the bed.
tuck in somebody
also tuck somebody in to cover a child comfortably in bed I tucked in Josh and Amy after reading them a story. Who's going to tuck me in while you're gone?
tucked away
hidden or difficult to find Van's house is tucked away at the end of the road.
a nip and (a) tuck
1. a medical operation to improve the appearance of your face I don't think you could look like that at her age without a little nip and tuck.
2. (American) small changes or reductions made in order to improve something A nip and a tuck in their household budget would give them the extra money they need.
be nip and tuck
(American informal) if two people who are competing are nip and tuck, they have almost the same number of points and either of them could win There's no saying who's going to win this game. It's been nip and tuck all the way.
nip and tuck
Very close so that the advantage or lead of competitors keeps shifting, as in
It was nip and tuck whether they would deal with the bill before Congress adjourned. The precise allusion in this term has been lost. [Early 1800s] Also see
neck and neck.
tuck away
1. Eat heartily, as in
He tucked away an enormous steak. [
Colloquial; mid-1800s] Also see
tuck into.
2. Hide, put in storage, as in She had several hundred dollars tucked away. [c. 1900]
tuck in
Thrust in the edge of or end of something, such as bed linens or a shirt; also, make a child secure in bed by folding in the bedclothes. For example, Tuck in your shirt; it looks awful hanging out of your pants, or Mother went upstairs to tuck in the children. [First half of 1600s]
tuck into
Eat heartily or greedily, as in For a two-year-old he really tucked into his food. [Early 1800s]
tuck away
v.1. To put something in an out-of-the-way, snug place: She tucked away her wallet under all of the socks. He tucked the files away in the back of the filing cabinet. The cabin is tucked away in the mountains.
2. To store something in a safe spot; save something: The child tucked away some candy. I'll bet my neighbors have tucked millions of dollars away.
3. Slang To consume some food heartily: The hungry farmer tucked away three steaks. The food left over from lunch was gone by dinnertime, since I tucked it all away during the afternoon.
tuck in
v.1. To gather something up and fold, thrust, or turn in so as to secure or confine it: The teacher told the boys to tuck in their shirts. I threw the sheet over the bed and tucked it in at the corners.
2. To make someone secure in bed for sleep, especially by tucking bedclothes into the bed: I tucked in my daughter and said good night. The babysitter tucked the little boy in.
3. To draw in some body part; contract something: She tucked in her arms and shook her head. The turtle tucked in its head.
4. Slang To begin to eat heartily: Dinner was served, and we tucked in.
tuck into
v.1. To gather something up and fold or thrust it into something so as to secure or confine it: I wrote the number on a piece of paper and tucked it into my pocket.
2. To make someone secure in some bed for sleep, especially by tucking bedclothes into the bed: After the children put on their pajamas, I tucked them into bed.
3. Slang To begin to eat something heartily: We tucked into a stack of pancakes.
tuck up
v.1. To put someone or something in a snug spot: The babysitter tucked the children up soundly in bed. I tucked up the horses in the barn.
2. To put something in an out-of-the-way, snug place: The cabin was tucked up among the pines. I tucked my hair up under a wool cap.
3. To draw up some body part into a tuck position: The diver tucked up her legs for a somersault. The gymnast tucked his knees up to his chest during the dismount.
4. To assume a tuck position: The flight attendants advised the passengers to tuck up for a rough landing.
nip and tuck
mod. so close as to be almost the same; neck and neck. They ran nip and tuck all the way to the finish line, but Tom won the race.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Lieber | | - | Yiddish |
| Nikias | | - | Ancient Greek |
| Llewelyn | | - | Welsh |
| Bedwyr | | BED-wir (Welsh) | Welsh, Welsh Mythology, Arthurian Romance |
| Claude | | KLOD (French), KLAWD (English) | French, English |
| Josie | | JO-zee | English |