drip
B2Informal (for slang senses); Neutral/Technical (for core senses).
Definition
Meaning
to fall or let something fall in small drops.
1. A small drop of liquid; the sound made by falling drops. 2. (Slang) A person lacking in character, charisma, or style; considered boring or uncool. 3. (Slang, especially in fashion) High-end, stylish clothing or accessories. 4. (Medical) A continuous intravenous infusion of a substance into a patient.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The slang meaning (uncool person) is often pejorative but can be used playfully. The fashion slang (stylish gear) is positive and often used in hip-hop/urban contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Core meanings are identical. The slang 'drip' (stylish gear) is strongly associated with American hip-hop and may be less common or understood in older UK demographics. The medical 'drip' (IV) is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
UK: Primarily literal liquid-related, or medical. US: Can carry strong additional slang connotations in youth culture (fashion/style).
Frequency
The slang meanings are significantly more frequent in contemporary American English, especially online and in music.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Something drips (from/onto something)Something drips something (e.g., The tap drips water)Drip with (e.g., drip with confidence/sweat/jewellery)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Drip-feed (to supply slowly/in small amounts)”
- “Drip-dry (clothing)”
- “Drip with sarcasm/confidence”
- “A drip in the bucket (a very small, insignificant part)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'drip-feed information to the market'.
Academic
Technical descriptions in chemistry, medicine ('IV drip'), or geology.
Everyday
Describing leaky taps, rain, or drying clothes.
Technical
Medical: 'administer fluids via a drip'. Engineering: 'drip irrigation system'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Water was dripping through the ceiling.
- Leave the umbrella to drip in the sink.
American English
- The faucet has been dripping all night.
- He was just dripping sweat after the workout.
adverb
British English
- Hang the coat up to dry drip-dry.
American English
- (Rare as a standalone adverb; typically part of compound adjectives like 'drip-dry'.)
adjective
British English
- She hung up her drip-dry blouse.
- The patient is on drip feed.
American English
- He's wearing some serious drip today. (slang)
- Drip coffee is more common here than espresso.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The rain drips from the roof.
- Please fix the dripping tap.
- I could hear a steady drip coming from the bathroom.
- They had to put him on a drip at the hospital.
- The government plans to drip-feed the economic data to avoid shocking the markets.
- His voice was dripping with sarcasm during the debate.
- The new collection is all about understated luxury, not the garish drip favoured by some influencers.
- Critics dismissed the protagonist as a sentimental drip, lacking any real agency.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound 'drip... drip... drip...' from a leaky tap. The word sounds like the action.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUID FLOW IS TRANSFER (e.g., drip-feeding money/information). POSSESSION/JEWELLERY IS A LIQUID (e.g., 'dripping in diamonds'). LACK OF CHARACTER IS WEAKNESS/LEAKAGE (slang for boring person).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'капельница' (only for the medical sense). The slang 'drip' (fashion) has no direct equivalent; 'стильный лук' is a descriptive phrase. The slang for a boring person is close to 'зануда' or 'тюфяк', not 'капля'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'drip' for a large flow of water (use 'pour' or 'gush'). Confusing 'drip' (verb) with 'drop' (can be a noun or verb for a single action). Overusing slang meanings in formal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In modern American slang, 'He's got serious drip' most likely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are opposite slang meanings from different eras. The 'boring person' meaning is older and negative. The 'stylish gear' meaning is recent, positive, and comes from African American Vernacular English (AAVE).
Yes, but it's less common than 'drop'. It often implies a drop formed by the process of dripping, e.g., 'a drip of wax fell from the candle'.
It is typically hyphenated when used as a verb or adjective (to drip-feed, a drip-feed campaign). As a noun, it can be 'drip feed' or 'drip-feed'.
Context is key. If talking about a person's character negatively, it's the 'boring' meaning. If talking about jewellery, sneakers, or designer clothes positively, it's the 'style' meaning. The literal meaning is always the safest assumption.