neck
A1Neutral; common in all registers.
Definition
Meaning
The part of the body connecting the head to the shoulders.
1) A narrow connecting or projecting part, like the neck of a bottle or a guitar. 2) The length of a horse or similar animal in racing. 3) The part of a garment that fits around the neck. 4) A narrow stretch of land or water.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is highly polysemous. Its concrete anatomical meaning is primary and foundational. Most extended meanings are based on the shared feature of being a narrow, connecting part.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The verb usage 'to neck' (to kiss amorously) is more dated but equally recognized. 'Sticky neck' (sweaty neck) might be a more British informal phrase. The idiom 'neck and neck' is equally common.
Connotations
Generally neutral. In UK slang, 'neck' can also be a verb meaning to drink something (especially an alcoholic drink) quickly ('He necked his pint'). This is informal.
Frequency
The anatomical meaning is of identical high frequency. The informal verb sense 'to drink' is more frequently used in British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a [adj] neckbreak one's neck to [verb]neck (with someone)be up to one's neck in [something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “neck and neck (in a close race)”
- “risk one's neck”
- “breathe down someone's neck”
- “up to one's neck in something”
- “get it in the neck (to be blamed/punished)”
- “save one's neck/skin”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The bottleneck in production is causing delays." (metaphorical use)
Academic
"The study focused on cervical vertebrae in the mammalian neck."
Everyday
"I've got a pain in my neck from looking down at my phone."
Technical
"The fracture was located at the surgical neck of the humerus." (anatomy/medicine)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They were caught necking in the back of the cinema.
- He necked the entire bottle of water after the run.
American English
- The teenagers were necking in the parked car.
- She quickly necked the shot of tequila.
adverb
British English
- The race ended neck and neck; a photo finish was required.
American English
- The two candidates are running neck and neck in the polls.
adjective
British English
- She wore a high-neck jumper to stay warm.
- The dress has a beautiful lace neckline.
American English
- He prefers a crew-neck sweatshirt.
- She suffered a neck injury in the accident.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My scarf is around my neck.
- The giraffe has a very long neck.
- This shirt is too tight on the neck.
- She craned her neck to see over the crowd.
- I woke up with a stiff neck.
- The bottle has a very narrow neck.
- The two horses were neck and neck until the final stretch.
- He's up to his neck in debt and doesn't know how to get out.
- A geological neck is the solidified pipe of an ancient volcano.
- The daring proposal was a real neck-or-nothing gamble for the company.
- Political analysts described the election as a neck-and-neck contest with no clear favourite.
- The sculptor paid meticulous attention to the graceful curve of the statue's neck.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GIRAFFE with a very long NECK. The word NECK is short, just like a human's neck compared to a giraffe's. Both have a NECK.
Conceptual Metaphor
NARROW CONNECTION IS A NECK (e.g., bottle neck, land neck, neck of the hourglass). DIFFICULTY/PRESSURE IS A PAIN IN THE NECK (e.g., 'My neighbour is a real pain in the neck').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'neck' as 'горлышко' for the body part; this is for bottles. Use 'шея'. For 'neck of a bottle', 'горлышко' is correct. Confusing 'neck' (шея) with 'throat' (горло) is common.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I have a pain on my neck.' Correct: 'I have a pain in my neck.' Incorrect: 'He broke the neck.' (when meaning his own) Correct: 'He broke his neck.'
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'breathe down someone's neck' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is used for all animals with a distinct connecting part between head and body (e.g., horse's neck, swan's neck). It is also used metaphorically for objects.
'Neck' refers to the entire external and structural part connecting head and shoulders. 'Throat' is specifically the internal front passage inside the neck for food and air.
Yes. As a verb, it has two main informal meanings: 1) to kiss and cuddle amorously ( 'They were necking on the sofa'). 2) (chiefly British) to drink something, especially alcohol, quickly and completely ('He necked his beer').
It's an informal idiom meaning a particular area or locality. 'So, what brings you to this neck of the woods?'
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Body and Health
A1 · 49 words · Parts of the body and basic health vocabulary.
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