stiff
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Old English stīf, from Proto-Germanic *stifaz, from Proto-Indo-European *stīpos ( compare Latin stipare).
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /stɪf/
- Audio (US)help, file
- Rhymes: -ɪf
[edit] Adjective
stiff (comparative stiffer, superlative stiffest)
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Positive |
- Of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible.
- (figuratively) Of policies and rules and their application and enforcement, inflexible.
- Of a person, formal in behavior, unrelaxed.
- (colloquial) Harsh, severe.
- He was eventually caught, and given a stiff fine.
- Of muscles, or parts of the body, painful, as a result of excessive, or unaccustomed exercise.
- My legs are stiff after climbing that hill yesterday.
- Potent.
- A stiff drink; a stiff dose; a stiff breeze.
[edit] Translations
of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible
figuratively: of policies and rules and their application and enforcement
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of a person, formal in behavior, unrelaxed
colloquial: harsh, severe
of muscles, or parts of the body
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
stiff (plural stiffs)
- An average person, usually male, of no particular distinction, skill, or education, often a working stiff or lucky stiff.
- A Working Stiff's Manifesto: A Memoir of Thirty Jobs I Quit, Nine That Fired Me, and Three I Can't Remember was published in 2003.
- A person who is deceived, as a mark or pigeon in a swindle.
- She convinced the stiff to go to her hotel room, where her henchman was waiting to rob him.
- (slang) A cadaver, a dead person.
- (US) A person who leaves (especially a restaurant) without paying the bill.
[edit] See also
[edit] Translations
average person, usually male
person who is deceived
slang: cadaver, dead person
US: person who leaves without paying the bill
[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to stiff (third-person singular simple present stiffs, present participle stiffing, simple past and past participle stiffed)
- To fail to pay that which one owes (implicitly or explicitly) to another, especially by departing hastily.
- Realizing he had forgotten his wallet, he stiffed the taxi driver when the cab stopped for a red light.
- 1946, William Foote Whyte, Industry and Society, page 129
- We asked one girl to explain how she felt when she was "stiffed." She said, You think of all the work you've done and how you've tried to please [them…].
- 1992, Stephen Birmingham, Shades of Fortune, page 451
- You see, poor Nonie really was stiffed by Adolph in his will. He really stiffed her, Rose, and I really wanted to right that wrong.
- 2007, Mary Higgins Clark, I Heard That Song Before, page 154
- Then he stiffed the waiter with a cheap tip.
[edit] Translations
to fail to pay money one owes
to tip ungenerously
to cheat someone
