New Word #63: Commonly Used S&P

Image by Roland Mey from Pixabay

Years ago, I was baffled by the phrases the native speakers often use that I had never learned at all from textbooks or classes or any of my readings. When it is a cold weather, people often say “nippy”; when something is not affordable, people don’t say expensive but rather use the word “steep”; when they want to have a cup of tea, they don’t say “brew” but rather “steep”. And so far I’ve never heard anybody use the word “careless” as if it is only there to decorate the dictionary–the word “sloppy” is usually used in its place. And the phrase “bad tempered” is rarely used. People will say “he has a temper” to represent a bad temper, or use “grumpy” or “sulky”.

The following are some commonly used words starting with “s” and ending with “p” or “py”

snip and snippy

snip: cut (something) with scissors or shears, typically with small quick strokes.

snippy: (informal•North American) curt or sharp, especially in a condescending way.

snap and snappy

snap: break or cause to break suddenly and completely, typically with a sharp cracking sound. For example, “snap one’s fingers”, which have several meanings.

snappy: irritable and inclined to speak sharply; snappish.

snoop and snoopy

snoop: investigate or look around furtively in an attempt to find out something, especially information about someone’s private affairs.

snoopy: given to snooping especially for personal information about others.

slip and slippery

slip: slide unintentionally for a short distance. It can also means to go or move quietly or quickly, without attracting notice.

slippery: (of a surface or object) difficult to hold firmly or stand on because it is smooth, wet, or slimy.

slippery slop: an idea or course of action which will lead to something unacceptable, wrong, or disastrous.

swamp and swampy

swamp: an area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects; a bog or marsh.

swampy: characteristic of or resembling a swamp.

sap and sappy

sap: the fluid, chiefly water with dissolved sugars and mineral salts.

sappy: (informal•North American) excessively sentimental; mawkish.

slop and sloppy

slop: (of a liquid) spill or flow over the edge of a container, typically as a result of careless handling. (North American) sentimental language or material.

sloppy: careless and unsystematic; excessively casual.

skimp and skimpy

skimp: expend or use less time, money, or material on something than is necessary in an attempt to economize. The phrase “skimp on something” is often used to show a person who’s cutting corners or using inadequate material.

skimpy: deficient in supply or execution especially through skimping : scanty.

stomp, stump, stoop, steep, and slump

stomp: 1 : to walk with a loud heavy step usually in anger stomped out of the office in a fit. 2 : to stamp

stump: (noun) the part of something (as a tooth or a pencil) that remains after the rest has been removed. Used as a verb, stump can mean different things. The most common use of stump is when someone — like a teacher — asks a question that no one can answer. That’s a case of the teacher stumping the class. Also, politicians traveling through a district, making speeches are stumping, giving what are called stump speeches.

stoop: to bend the body or a part of the body forward and downward sometimes simultaneously bending the knees. It is often used in “stoop so low”, meaning to lower one’s ethical standards (or perceived standards) by behaving in a malignant, self-centered, or despicable manner.

steep: 1. (of a slope, flight of stairs, angle, ascent, etc.) rising or falling sharply; nearly perpendicular. 2. To steep tea, pour hot water over your ingredients and let them rest for a few minutes.

slump: 1. sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply, especially with a bent back. 2. The word is often used to indicate a drop in the price of stocks or real estates

Other S&P

stampede: a sudden panicked rush of a number of horses, cattle, or other animals.