dribble
B2neutral; informal when referring to saliva.
Definition
Meaning
to fall or let something fall in small, slow drops; to let saliva run out of the mouth.
In sports, to move a ball forward with repeated small kicks, bounces, or hits.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb connects a literal, often uncontrolled, flow (water, saliva) with a controlled, skillful sporting action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. In sports contexts, 'dribble' is used identically for football (UK)/soccer (US) and basketball. In the UK, 'dribble' can be a colloquial noun for nonsense (e.g., 'What a load of dribble!'), though 'drivel' is more standard.
Connotations
Identical for most uses.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in the UK due to the prominence of football (soccer) culture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] (intransitive: liquid/saliva)[VN] (transitive: ball)[V + adv/prep]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dribs and drabs (small, irregular amounts)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'New orders are coming in in a dribble.'
Academic
Rare, used in specific contexts like fluid dynamics or sports science.
Everyday
Common for babies/saliva and in casual sports talk.
Technical
Specific term in sports coaching and physiology (saliva control).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tap is dribbling water.
- Kane can dribble past two defenders with ease.
- The baby's started to dribble.
American English
- The faucet is dribbling.
- She dribbled the basketball down the court.
- He dribbled ketchup on his shirt.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby dribbles on her toy.
- Water dribbled down the window.
- He dribbled the football skilfully.
- Try not to dribble paint on the floor.
- The player dribbled past three opponents before scoring.
- Funding for the project arrived in a dribble, not a flood.
- The novelist's genius is evident, even in the dribble of posthumously published fragments.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a baby dribbling (drooling) while trying to dribble (bounce) a ball – both involve a small, steady flow.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVING FORWARD IS CONTROLLING A FLOW (He dribbled through the defence).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'дриблинг' (dribling) – the sports term is a direct borrowing. The saliva meaning translates as 'пускать слюни'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dribble' for a fast flow of liquid (use 'pour'). Confusing 'dribble' (small drops) with 'drizzle' (light rain).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'dribble' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral, but the saliva meaning is informal. The sports meaning is standard in formal commentary.
Yes: 'a dribble of water', 'a skilful dribble' (sports).
They are synonyms for saliva, but 'drool' implies more volume and is less formal. 'Dribble' is the standard paediatric term.
No. In American football, the quarterback is said to 'drop back', not dribble. 'Dribble' is for basketball, soccer, and hockey.