dash
B1Neutral to informal (depending on sense). The verb and noun are common in all registers. The sense of 'stylishness' is more literary/formal.
Definition
Meaning
To move suddenly and with great speed; a short, quick run or movement; a small amount of a liquid ingredient.
A horizontal stroke in writing or printing (—); a small amount added to something ('a dash of salt'); stylishness or flamboyance in manner ('he did it with great dash'); to destroy or frustrate hopes or plans ('our hopes were dashed'); a short sprint race.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A highly polysemous word. Physical motion and punctuation are the most common cores. The verb 'to dash' often implies urgency, haste, or force.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English uses 'dash' informally to mean 'a party' (e.g., 'the village dash') and historically 'dashboard' for the mudguard on a carriage, which became the car's 'dash'. In recipes, BrE often uses 'dash' for a very small liquid amount, AmE uses 'splash' or 'dash' equally.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'to dash' is a slightly old-fashioned or literary word for 'run quickly'. In AmE, 'dash' as a punctuation mark is more formally called an 'em dash'.
Frequency
The phrase 'cut a dash' (to look stylish) is more common in BrE. The verb meaning 'to throw/break violently' ('dash to pieces') is equally understood but more common in literary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
dash (somewhere) (adverb/prep phrase)dash something + adv/prep (e.g., dash it to the ground)dash something with something (e.g., dash it with colour)dash (to do something) (e.g., I must dash to catch the train)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dash it all! (mild, old-fashioned exclamation)”
- “cut a dash”
- “dash someone's hopes”
- “dash off (a letter/note)”
- “dash to pieces”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The CEO dashed investor hopes with the poor forecast.'
Academic
Mainly as punctuation: 'Use an em dash—like this—to indicate a parenthetical thought.'
Everyday
Common: 'I'll just dash to the shop.' / 'Add a dash of milk.' / 'He won the 50m dash.'
Technical
In Morse code (the 'dah'), in UI/UX design (a dashed line), in athletics (short dash events).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- Add just a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
- He made a frantic dash for the closing tube doors.
- The old car had plenty of dash.
American English
- She won the 100-meter dash in record time.
- The recipe calls for a dash of Tabasco.
- He wrote the number with a quick dash of his pen.
verb
British English
- I must dash, my train's in five minutes.
- She dashed his letter into the bin in anger.
- He dashed off a quick reply before the meeting.
American English
- I gotta dash to make my appointment.
- The waves dashed against the rocky shore.
- She dashed cold water on her face.
interjection
British English
- Dash it all! I've forgotten my wallet again.
American English
- Well, dash it! That's not what I meant.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat made a dash under the bed.
- Can you add a dash of salt to the soup?
- He runs the 50-meter dash.
- I had to dash off an email before leaving.
- The storm dashed our plans for a picnic.
- The fabric had a dash of blue in the pattern.
- Her candidacy was dashed by the scandal.
- He cut quite a dash in his new uniform at the ball.
- The report was concise—written with clarity and dash.
- The invaders' hopes of a quick victory were dashed by the resilient defence.
- The poet used a series of em dashes to create a fragmented, breathless effect.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a chef adding a DASH of salt while DASHING across the kitchen—both actions are quick and small.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED IS A HORIZONTAL LINE (the dash as a mark and as a race); A SMALL AMOUNT IS A QUICK MOTION (a dash of liquid added quickly); DESTRUCTION IS A VIOLENT IMPACT (to dash hopes).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'дашь' (you will give).
- Not the car part 'торпедо' (that's the dashboard).
- The Russian 'тире' is the punctuation dash.
- The verb 'to dash' (run) is closer to 'мчаться', 'нестись', not just 'бежать'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'dash' with 'hyphen' (-).
- Using 'dash' for large quantities (e.g., 'a dash of flour' is odd; use 'a cup of flour').
- Overusing the verb in modern speech; 'run' is more natural than 'I must dash' in many contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'dash' used to mean 'a small amount of something'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A hyphen (-) joins words or parts of words (e.g., well-known). A dash (— or –) is longer and separates parts of a sentence, like parentheses or a colon, indicating a pause or break in thought.
It's still used, particularly in British English, but can sound slightly dated or informal. 'I have to run' or 'I need to rush' are more neutral alternatives.
Not standardly. 'Dash' is primarily a noun and verb. The related adjective is 'dashing' (meaning handsome and energetic).
It has two meanings: 1) To leave quickly ('I dashed off after lunch'). 2) To write or draw something very quickly and often carelessly ('She dashed off a note to her neighbour').