clip
B1Neutral. Common in everyday, media, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A small device for holding things together; to cut or trim something, especially with scissors or shears.
Refers to a short segment of video or film; a piece of jewellery; a fast pace or speed; to hit or strike lightly; to edit or shorten.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word represents a polysemous cluster around the concepts of 'fastening' (noun) and 'cutting/shortening' (verb). Context is crucial to disambiguate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both noun senses (fastener, video segment) and verb senses (cut, move quickly) are used identically.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. 'Clip' as a fast pace ('at a brisk clip') is slightly more common in American reporting.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
clip something (to/on something)clip something from/out of somethingclip something togethermove at a clipVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “clip someone's wings (to restrict someone's freedom)”
- “at a brisk/clip (at a fast pace)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We need to clip our expenses this quarter." (reduce)
Academic
"The researcher analysed a clip of the interview." (short segment)
Everyday
"Can you clip this note to the document?" (attach); "I need to clip my toenails." (cut)
Technical
"The video file is exported as a 10-second clip." (media segment); "The rifle's clip was empty." (ammunition holder)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She clipped the coupon from the magazine.
- The gardener clipped the privet hedge neatly.
- The cyclist was clipped by a wing mirror.
American English
- He clipped the article out of the newspaper.
- I need to clip my fingernails.
- The runner clipped the last hurdle.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- The clip-on earrings were surprisingly comfortable.
- He reviewed the clip art library.
American English
- She bought a clip-on tie for the event.
- The presentation used outdated clip art.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Use a clip to hold your papers.
- The baby has a pretty hair clip.
- I saw a funny clip from the new film online.
- Please clip these receipts together.
- The journalist clipped several paragraphs from her original draft to meet the word limit.
- The horse moved at a steady clip along the path.
- The new regulations will effectively clip the wings of the more aggressive investors.
- He managed to clip the ball just inside the baseline for a winner.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a paper CLIP: it CLIPs papers together, and you can CLIP (cut) its wire.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED IS A CUTTING MOTION ('moving at a clip'), TIME/SPEECH IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT THAT CAN BE SHORTENED ('clip your speech').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'clip' (видеоклип, зажим) with 'cleep' (non-existent).
- The verb 'to clip' is not the same as 'to glue' (клеить).
- "Clip joint" (мошенническое заведение) is an idiom, not a literal place for clips.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'clip' to mean 'stick strongly' (use 'glue').
- Confusing 'clip' (for holding) with 'clamp' (for gripping tightly).
- Saying 'cut a clip' instead of 'edit a clip' or 'cut with clippers'.
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'clip someone's wings', what does 'clip' metaphorically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it has two primary families of meaning: fastening/attaching (noun/verb) and cutting/shortening (verb).
A clip is generally for holding items together or in place (paper, hair), often by spring pressure. A clamp is a stronger device for gripping or compressing, typically used in woodworking or mechanics.
Yes, this is a very common modern usage, derived from the idea of a short segment 'clipped' from a longer film or broadcast.
It's typically used in the phrase 'at a good/brisk/steady clip', meaning 'at a fast pace'. It functions as a noun in this idiom (e.g., 'The work progressed at a brisk clip').