cherry-bob: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low frequency / ArchaicHighly informal, historical, chiefly British dialect
Quick answer
What does “cherry-bob” mean?
A traditional British children's game involving trying to bite or catch a suspended cherry using only the mouth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A traditional British children's game involving trying to bite or catch a suspended cherry using only the mouth.
By extension, can refer to any difficult, delicate, or playful attempt to grasp something elusive with the mouth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is exclusively British in origin and historical usage. There is no equivalent American term or cultural reference.
Connotations
Connotes nostalgia, traditional childhood games, and a simple, rustic past. In the UK, it's a piece of social history.
Frequency
Effectively obsolete in modern British English, known only in historical texts or by folklorists.
Grammar
How to Use “cherry-bob” in a Sentence
[Subject] plays cherry-bob.[Subject] is a game of cherry-bob.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cherry-bob” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The cherry-bob contest was the highlight of the village fete.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rarely used, only in historical, folkloric, or anthropological texts discussing traditional games.
Everyday
Not used in contemporary everyday language.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cherry-bob”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cherry-bob”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cherry-bob”
- Using it as a verb ('to cherry-bob') is unattested and incorrect.
- Confusing it with 'bobbing for apples', which uses water, not a string.
- Assuming it is a common or current term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term not used in modern conversation.
In cherry-bob, a single cherry is hung on a string and players try to bite it. In apple bobbing, apples float in water and players try to grab them with their teeth.
No, there is no attested verbal use. It functions as a compound noun naming the game.
It serves as an example of historical English, illustrating how language preserves niche cultural practices, and highlights the importance of context in understanding vocabulary.
A traditional British children's game involving trying to bite or catch a suspended cherry using only the mouth.
Cherry-bob is usually highly informal, historical, chiefly british dialect in register.
Cherry-bob: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɛri bɒb/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɛri bɑːb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHERRY BOBBing on a string that you try to bite.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GAME (specifically, a challenge of skill and luck).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'cherry-bob'?