scuttle
C1Formal (nautical/sabotage senses), Informal/Neutral (movement sense)
Definition
Meaning
To move quickly with short, hurried steps, like a small animal; to deliberately cause a plan or effort to fail; to make holes in a ship's hull to sink it.
The action of hurried, shuffling movement; a hatch or opening in a ship's deck or a building's roof; a small, lidded container for coal; the act of deliberately sabotaging or abandoning a project.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Three distinct senses: 1. Movement (intransitive verb/noun). 2. Sabotage/destruction (transitive verb). 3. Container/opening (noun). The sabotage sense often implies haste, panic, or malicious intent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'coal scuttle' (container) is more common in UK historical/domestic contexts. The verb sense 'to scuttle' (sink a ship) is equally understood but more frequent in UK naval history. No major differences in the 'hurried movement' sense.
Connotations
UK: Stronger historical/maritime association. US: Slightly more general use for 'ruin' or 'cancel hastily'.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but the 'movement' sense is the most common in everyday language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB: NP ~ (away/off/across) [movement]VERB: NP ~ NP [sabotage/sink]NOUN: a ~ of coalNOUN: through the ~Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scuttlebutt (originating from 'scuttle' + 'butt' [cask], meaning gossip/rumour)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The board voted to scuttle the merger after the market analysis."
Academic
"The researcher feared the new evidence would scuttle her original hypothesis."
Everyday
"I saw a cockroach scuttle under the fridge."
Technical
"The crew was ordered to scuttle the vessel to prevent its capture."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The crab will scuttle sideways across the sand.
- Ministers decided to scuttle the proposed legislation.
American English
- The kids scuttled back inside when it started to rain.
- The negative press could scuttle the entire campaign.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form)
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjective form)
American English
- N/A (No standard adjective form)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The mouse scuttled into its hole.
- He carried the coal in a scuttle.
- Spiders often scuttle away when you turn on the light.
- They had to scuttle the old boat because it was leaking.
- The government's internal disagreements could scuttle the peace talks.
- The sailor climbed up through the deck scuttle.
- Fearing exposure, the informant scuttled off into the night.
- The CEO was accused of scuttling the innovation project to protect the old product line.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SCUTtling SKUTtle (a small container) with legs, running away to sink a ship.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAILURE/DESTRUCTION IS SINKING A SHIP ("scuttle the plans"). HASTE IS THE MOVEMENT OF A SMALL PREY ANIMAL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'скачать' (to download).
- The noun 'scuttle' (hatch) is not 'люк' in all contexts—it's specifically a small, covered deck opening.
- The movement sense is specific: not 'бежать' (to run) but to move quickly in a furtive, shuffling way.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'scuttle' for graceful or purposeful running (incorrect: *He scuttled victoriously to the finish line).
- Confusing 'scuttle' (sink) with 'settle'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'scuttle' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are synonyms in the 'hurried movement' sense, both implying quick, short steps, often of small animals. They are not etymologically related but are semantically linked.
Yes, for people it describes hurried, furtive, or awkward movement, often implying fear, shyness, or secrecy (e.g., 'He scuttled away after being reprimanded').
To 'sink' a ship is general. To 'scuttle' a ship means to deliberately sink it by making holes or opening valves, typically to avoid capture, as a wartime measure, or to create an artificial reef.
Yes, primarily in American English, meaning 'rumour' or 'gossip'. It originates from nautical slang for a water cask ('scuttled butt') where sailors gathered to talk.