paw
B1Neutral to informal (when referring to human hands).
Definition
Meaning
The foot of a mammal with claws, especially a quadruped such as a cat, dog, or bear.
Informal or humorous reference to a human hand, often implying clumsiness, roughness, or unwanted touching.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to the soft, padded foot of animals. The human-hand sense is figurative and often derogatory or playful.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The informal 'hand' sense is used in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally neutral for animals. The human-hand sense can carry a slightly coarser, more humorous connotation in British English.
Frequency
Core meaning is equally common. The informal 'hand' sense is moderately common in both, perhaps slightly more frequent in informal American speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Animal] + paw + [at/through object][Person] + paw + [at object/person] (informal)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cat's paw (a person used by another)”
- “make a paw of someone (archaic, to make a fool of)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in zoology, veterinary science, and biology contexts.
Everyday
Common when discussing pets or animals.
Technical
Specific anatomical term in veterinary medicine.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The cat pawed at the feather toy.
- He was accused of pawing his colleague at the pub.
American English
- The dog pawed the door to be let out.
- Stop pawing the merchandise in the store.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My dog has a white paw.
- The cat lifted its paw.
- The puppy hurt its paw on the sharp stone.
- He gave me his paw to shake.
- Badger paw prints were clearly visible in the mud.
- Keep your paws off my biscuits!
- The bear's massive paw swiped at the tree, leaving deep gouges.
- The drunk patron began to paw clumsily at the bartender.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A PAW has PAds and claws. Think of a cat pAWing at a ball of yarn.
Conceptual Metaphor
HANDS ARE PAWS (for clumsiness or roughness).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'paw' as 'лапа' for human hands in neutral contexts; use 'рука'. 'Paw' for humans is informal/negative.
- Do not use 'paw' for bird feet ('лапа' in Russian); birds have 'talons' or 'claws'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'paw' for human hands in formal writing.
- Confusing 'paw' (the whole foot) with 'claw' (just the nail).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'paw' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's typically for mammals with soft foot pads and claws (e.g., dogs, cats, bears). It is not used for hooved animals (horses), birds, or reptiles.
It can be, as it often implies the hand is large, clumsy, or being used inappropriately. It's informal and context-dependent.
A 'paw' is the entire foot, including pads and toes. A 'claw' is the sharp, curved nail on the toe of an animal or bird.
Yes. For animals, it means to touch or scrape with a paw. For people, it means to handle clumsily, roughly, or with unwanted sexual touching.
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