limp
B2Neutral (common in everyday, literary, and some technical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A way of walking unevenly because one leg or foot is injured or stiff; not firm or stiff.
To function or proceed in a weak, ineffective, or unsteady manner; lacking in strength, vitality, or determination.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Limp" as a verb (walking) is a dynamic action, while the adjective describes a physical state (flaccid, not stiff) or metaphorical weakness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor lexical variation in collocations. Adjective sense slightly more common in UK informal descriptions (e.g., "limp excuse"). No major syntactic differences.
Connotations
Identical core connotations of weakness, injury, and lack of support/vigor.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] limp [A] (e.g., He limped off the field).[S] limp [CC] (e.g., The project limped to a conclusion).[S] be/look/feel limp (adjective).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Limp to the finish line”
- “Go limp”
- “A limp handshake”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'Sales limped along after the holiday season.'
Academic
Descriptive in medical/biological texts: 'The muscle tissue appeared limp post-mortem.'
Everyday
Literal: 'He twisted his ankle and now has a limp.' / 'The flowers went limp in the heat.'
Technical
Medical: 'Observing the patient's gait for signs of a limp.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He had to limp the final five miles to the nearest village.
- The injured footballer limped off the pitch.
American English
- She limped back to her car after the hike.
- The old truck limped into the gas station.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The dog hurt its paw and now it limps.
- My balloon is limp now.
- He walks with a slight limp from an old injury.
- The salad leaves were limp in the heat.
- After the scandal, the campaign limped towards election day.
- She offered only a limp apology for the mistake.
- The peace talks have been limping along for months without any breakthrough.
- Critics dismissed the sequel as a limp imitation of the original film.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LIMP rhymes with WIMP and GIMP - all suggesting weakness or an irregularity.
Conceptual Metaphor
LACK OF VIGOR/SUPPORT IS LIMPNESS (e.g., a limp handshake, a limp economy, limp defenses).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing verb 'to limp' (хромать) with 'to stumble' (спотыкаться).
- Adjective 'limp' (вялый, безжизненный) is not the same as 'soft' (мягкий) in all contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'limp' as a noun for something soft (use 'floppy object').
- Incorrect: 'He limped on his leg.' Correct: 'He limped.' or 'He walked with a limp.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'limp handshake'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are common. The verb describes the action of walking unevenly. The adjective describes a state of being not stiff or strong.
Yes, very commonly. E.g., 'a limp excuse,' 'the economy is limping,' 'limp performance.'
They are close synonyms. 'Hobble' can imply more difficulty or the use of an aid, and is less commonly used as an adjective.
Yes. It means to suddenly lose all stiffness or strength, either physically (e.g., fainting) or metaphorically (e.g., a negotiation tactic failing).