tiger
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A large, wild cat with orange fur and black stripes, native to Asia.
A fierce, aggressive, or energetic person; a dynamic sports team; a national symbol for several Asian countries.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to the animal. Metaphorical uses imply ferocity, power, or vibrant energy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In the UK, 'paper tiger' is slightly more common in political discourse. In US sports, 'Tiger' is a common team name/mascot.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[determiner] + tigertiger + [verb (e.g., roars, stalks)]tiger + [preposition (e.g., of, in)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “paper tiger”
- “eye of the tiger”
- “a tiger by the tail”
- “tiger mother”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a dynamic, high-growth economy (e.g., 'Asian Tiger economies').
Academic
Used in zoology, conservation biology, and cultural studies.
Everyday
Refers to the animal, a fierce person, or a sports team.
Technical
Zoological classification: Panthera tigris.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tigered into the challenge with great ferocity. (rare, metaphorical)
American English
- The team tigered its way to a comeback victory. (rare, metaphorical)
adjective
British English
- She has a tiger-like intensity about her.
- The boxer's tigerish aggression won the fight.
American English
- His tigerish determination impressed everyone.
- She moved with a tiger-like grace.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The tiger is a big cat.
- I saw a tiger at the zoo.
- Tigers have orange fur with black stripes.
- The footballer played like a tiger to defend the goal.
- Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting the endangered Bengal tiger.
- His boss is a real tiger when it comes to meeting deadlines.
- The so-called regulatory body proved to be a paper tiger, lacking any real enforcement power.
- The Asian Tiger economies experienced rapid industrialisation in the late 20th century.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh bouncing energetically – a tiger has that powerful, energetic spring.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSION IS A TIGER / ENERGY IS A TIGER (e.g., 'She attacked the problem like a tiger').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'тигр' for a fierce woman; in English 'tigress' exists but is less common. 'Tiger' is gender-neutral in most metaphors.
- Do not translate 'бумажный тигр' literally in all contexts; 'paper tiger' is correct for a false threat, but may sound idiomatic.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural: 'tigers' (not 'tiger').
- Misuse in metaphors: Calling a timid person a 'tiger' is contradictory.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'tiger economy' typically refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Tiger' can refer to the species generally or specifically to a male. 'Tigress' refers specifically to a female tiger. In metaphorical use, 'tiger' is often gender-neutral.
It is not inherently offensive but is a critical idiom meaning something that appears threatening but is ineffectual. Use it in appropriate contexts, like politics or business analysis.
Very rarely. Uses like 'to tiger one's way' are highly informal, metaphorical, and not standard. It's best to use the noun or adjective forms ('tigerish').
Overusing the metaphorical sense or applying it to the wrong context (e.g., calling a slow, gentle person a 'tiger'). The core meaning is the animal.