trip
HighInformal to neutral.
Definition
Meaning
A journey or voyage, often for pleasure or a specific purpose.
The act of stumbling or causing to stumble; a mistake or misstep; a light, rapid step; the experience induced by a hallucinogenic drug.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word 'trip' spans a continuum from concrete physical journeys to abstract experiences and errors. Its verb forms can be transitive or intransitive, with meanings shifting from travel to causing a fall or triggering a mechanism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Trip' as a journey is equally common. In British English, 'go on a trip' is slightly more frequent than 'take a trip', which is more common in American English.
Connotations
Similar core connotations. 'Trip' can imply informality and brevity compared to 'journey' in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties. Slight preference for 'holiday' (UK) vs. 'vacation' (US) for longer leisure travel, but 'trip' is used for shorter durations universally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] on a trip (to...)[V] over sth[VN] (up) (cause to stumble)[VN] (switch/mechanism) (activate)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “trip the light fantastic (to dance)”
- “a guilt trip”
- “a power trip”
- “trip up (to make a mistake)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to travel for work purposes, e.g., 'He's on a sales trip to Frankfurt.'
Academic
Used in geography/tourism studies. Can also mean a field trip for students.
Everyday
Dominant usage for short leisure travel, e.g., 'We're planning a weekend trip to the coast.'
Technical
In engineering, to activate a circuit breaker ('trip a switch'). In psychology/drug culture, refers to a hallucinogenic experience.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The school organised a trip to the Science Museum.
- It was just a silly trip, nothing serious.
American English
- They're taking a cross-country trip this summer.
- His misstep was a costly trip during the negotiations.
verb
British English
- Mind you don't trip on that loose carpet.
- The security system will trip if the door is forced.
American English
- She tripped over the kid's toy left on the floor.
- He deliberately tripped the alarm to test it.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We went on a school trip to the zoo.
- Be careful not to trip!
- He's saving money for a trip around Europe.
- I tripped over the step because I wasn't looking.
- The merger is on hold after the CEO's trip during the due diligence process.
- They embarked on a soul-searching trip across South America.
- The psychedelic substance induced a profound and challenging trip.
- A single miscalculation could trip up the entire diplomatic initiative.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TRIP: Travel Rapidly In Pleasure (or Purpose).
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY ('a trip through life'), MISTAKES ARE STUMBLES ('he tripped up during the presentation').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'trip' always as 'поездка'. For 'trip over a cable', use 'споткнуться'. For 'a bad trip' (drugs), use 'бэд-трип' or 'негативный опыт'. 'Business trip' is 'командировка'. 'Trip' is less formal than 'путешествие'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I will trip to London.' Correct: 'I will go on/take a trip to London.' or 'I will trip over something.' Confusing 'trip' (short journey) with 'travel' (uncountable activity).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'trip' is metaphorical?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exclusively, but it often implies a shorter or more informal journey compared to 'voyage' or 'expedition'. A 'round-the-world trip' is perfectly acceptable.
'Journey' emphasizes the process of traveling from A to B, often overland. 'Trip' emphasizes the entire experience, including the purpose and destination. 'Trip' is also more common in everyday speech.
Rarely in modern English. As a verb, 'trip' primarily means to stumble or to activate a switch. For travel, use 'go on a trip' or 'take a trip'.
It specifically refers to a frightening or unpleasant experience while under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug. It is not used for a generally unpleasant vacation.
Collections
Part of a collection
Travel Vocabulary
A2 · 50 words · Words for getting around, booking trips and visiting new places.