nippers
C1Technical (tool sense); Informal, slightly dated (child sense).
Definition
Meaning
A tool resembling pliers, used for gripping, cutting, or squeezing small objects. Historically and informally, also refers to a child.
Primarily refers to pincer-like tools (e.g., wire cutters, tweezers). In informal, chiefly British English, can be a humorous or slightly dated term for a young child. In zoology, refers to the pincer-like claws of crustaceans.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The 'tool' sense is standard and international. The 'child' sense is informal, potentially patronising, and now less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'child' sense is almost exclusively British (or Commonwealth) informal usage. The 'tool' sense is universal.
Connotations
For 'child': British informal, often used by older generations; can sound affectionate or slightly dismissive.
Frequency
'Tool' sense is medium-frequency in relevant contexts (DIY, crafting, fishing). 'Child' sense is low-frequency and declining.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Use [nippers] to [verb] (e.g., cut, remove, grip)[Subject] [verb] with [a pair of] nippersVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) keen as a pair of nippers (rare, Austral./NZ informal meaning very eager)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in hardware/DIY retail.
Academic
Rare; used in materials science or zoology contexts.
Everyday
Medium (DIY contexts); Low (informal for child).
Technical
High in specific trades (electrical, crafting, fishing).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- Pass me those nippers to trim the fuse wire.
- He's got three lively nippers running around the garden.
American English
- You'll need nippers to cut the steel leader for fishing.
- (Child sense rarely used in US).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The jeweller used small nippers to bend the wire.
- After stripping the cable, he used the nippers to trim the exposed copper strands neatly.
- The crustacean's powerful nippers can exert enough force to crack a mollusc's shell.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
NIPpers NIP things – they pinch or cut small bits off.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOLS ARE BODY PARTS (jaws, fingers).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: Not related to 'ниппель' (nipple). The 'child' sense has no direct single-word Russian equivalent; a phrase like 'малыш' or 'кроха' is closer in register.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'nipper' (singular) for the tool – it's almost always 'nippers' in plural for the tool. Confusing with 'nail clippers' (specifically for fingernails).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'nippers' LEAST likely to be used in modern British English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun (like 'scissors' or 'trousers'). We say 'a pair of nippers' or 'these nippers'.
Yes, but mainly in the informal 'child' sense ('a little nipper'). For tools, the singular is rare and usually part of a compound (e.g., 'a nipper tool').
It is informal and can be affectionate, but may be considered patronising or old-fashioned. Context and tone are key.
Nippers are designed primarily for cutting (with a cutting edge near the pivot). Pliers are primarily for gripping, bending, or compressing, though some types can cut.