sneeze
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
To expel air forcibly and involuntarily through the nose and mouth due to irritation of the nostrils.
To dismiss or regard as insignificant (as in 'not to be sneezed at').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an involuntary physiological reflex. The extended metaphorical meaning is idiomatic and less frequent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. The verb 'sneeze' is used identically.
Connotations
Identical connotations of a sudden, uncontrollable bodily function.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] sneezes.[Subject] sneezed [Adverbial: loudly, violently].It makes me sneeze.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not to be sneezed at”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in idiomatic use: 'An offer like that is nothing to sneeze at.'
Academic
Rare, except in medical/biological contexts describing the reflex.
Everyday
Very common for describing the common physical act.
Technical
Used in medical texts; the act is 'sternutation'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The pepper made him sneeze violently.
- Cover your mouth when you sneeze, please.
American English
- I think I'm going to sneeze.
- She sneezed three times in a row.
adjective
British English
- a sneezing fit
- sneezing passengers
American English
- a sneezing child
- sneezing symptoms
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I sneeze when I have a cold.
- He said 'bless you' after I sneezed.
- The bright sunlight sometimes makes me sneeze.
- Try to sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.
- A sudden, uncontrollable sneeze disrupted the quiet lecture.
- Such a generous donation is certainly not to be sneezed at.
- The mechanism behind the photic sneeze reflex is still not fully understood.
- He dismissed the minor criticism with a metaphorical sneeze.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound: SNEEZE has a 'snee' sound like the start of the act, and 'ez' like 'ease' – but sneezing doesn't bring ease!
Conceptual Metaphor
INSIGNIFICANCE IS SOMETHING TO BE SNEEZED AT (reversal of the idiom).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'чихать' used colloquially to mean 'not care' (e.g., 'Мне на это чихать'). The English idiom 'not to be sneezed at' means it IS significant and valuable, which is the opposite connotation.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I sneezed *on* the dust.' Correct: 'I sneezed *because of* the dust.' / 'The dust made me sneeze.'
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'not to be sneezed at' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is most commonly a verb ('I sneeze'), but it is also a countable noun ('I heard a loud sneeze').
In many English-speaking cultures, it is polite to say 'Excuse me' after you sneeze, and others may say 'Bless you' or 'Gesundheit'.
A sneeze is a sudden, involuntary expulsion of air from the nose and mouth, typically caused by irritation in the nasal passages. A cough is a similar expulsion, but primarily from the lungs and throat, often to clear an obstruction.
Yes, but almost exclusively in the negative idiom 'not to be sneezed at,' which means not to be dismissed or considered unimportant.
Collections
Part of a collection
Health and Body
A2 · 48 words · Talking about health, illness and medical care.