stab
B2Neutral to informal; the noun 'a stab at' is common in informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To push a sharp object into someone or something, causing injury or damage.
To make a sudden, sharp, or painful action; a sudden feeling of pain; an attempt to do something, especially when uncertain or likely to fail.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a transitive verb requiring a direct object (stab someone/something). Can be used literally (physical attack) or metaphorically (emotional hurt, attempt). The noun form often implies a quick, jabbing motion or a tentative effort.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. The idiom 'stab in the back' (betrayal) is universal.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of violence and betrayal in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; the metaphorical 'have a stab at (doing) something' (to try) is slightly more British in flavour but understood in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJ stab OBJSUBJ stab OBJ with INSTRUMENTSUBJ stab at OBJ (less forceful/accurate)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stab in the back”
- “stab in the dark”
- “have a stab at something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The new policy felt like a stab in the back for the sales team.'
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or criminology texts describing violent acts.
Everyday
Common for describing physical attacks, sudden pains ('a stab of guilt'), or informal attempts ('I'll have a stab at fixing it').
Technical
Used in medical contexts (e.g., 'stab incision', 'stab wound ballistics').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was tragically stabbed outside the pub.
- I'll just stab the sausage to see if it's cooked.
- She felt betrayed, as if her friend had stabbed her in the back.
American English
- The victim was stabbed multiple times.
- Go ahead, stab the straw through the lid.
- His criticism stabbed right through my confidence.
adjective
British English
- The surgeon made a small stab incision.
- It was a stab wound, not a gunshot.
American English
- The detective examined the stab wound pattern.
- They used a stab-binding technique for the booklet.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He stabbed the potato with his fork.
- Ouch! I got a sharp stab from the thorn.
- The thief stabbed the man and stole his wallet.
- She felt a sudden stab of pain in her side.
- Can I have a stab at answering the question?
- Witnesses reported seeing the assailant stab the victim repeatedly.
- His disloyal comment was a real stab in the back.
- My first stab at writing a novel wasn't very successful.
- The journalist's exposé was a brutal stab at the corrupt establishment.
- The polemic was designed to stab at the very heart of their ideology.
- Her words carried the sharp stab of vindictive truth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound 'STAB' – it's short, sharp, and harsh, like the action itself.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL PAIN IS PHYSICAL WOUNDING ('a stab of jealousy'); ATTEMPTS ARE THRUSTING MOVEMENTS ('a stab in the dark').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'stab' for general 'cutting' (резать) or 'hitting' (бить). It specifically implies a pointed instrument and a piercing motion.
- The noun 'stab' (попытка) in 'have a stab at' is an idiom, not a direct translation of 'попытка'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'She stabbed the paper.' (More natural: 'She stabbed *through* the paper' or 'She stabbed the paper *with a pencil*' – requires an instrument/force context)
- Incorrect: *'I stabbed to cook dinner.' (Correct: 'I *had a stab at* cooking dinner.')
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'a stab in the dark', what does 'stab' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while commonly associated with knives, it can be used with any sharp, pointed object (fork, pencil, ice pick, sword).
'Stab' implies a deliberate, often violent, thrusting motion, usually into flesh. 'Pierce' is more general and can be gentler or more precise (pierce ears, pierce armour).
Yes, metaphorically. You can say 'The cold wind stabbed at my face' or 'Her eyes stabbed into me.'
It's an informal idiom meaning 'to try or attempt something', often with a sense of it being tentative or not guaranteed to succeed (e.g., 'I'm not sure, but I'll have a stab at it.').