Is 'wolf' ever used as a verb?

Yes, informally, meaning 'to eat something very quickly and greedily' (e.g., He wolfed down his dinner).

What's the difference between 'wolf' and 'fox' in metaphors?

A 'wolf' connotes raw aggression, pack mentality, or voracious hunger. A 'fox' connotes cunning, slyness, and trickery.

What is the plural of 'wolf'?

The plural is 'wolves' (changing 'f' to 'v' and adding 'es').

Where does the idiom 'cry wolf' come from?

It comes from Aesop's fable 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', where a shepherd boy repeatedly lies about a wolf attacking his flock, so when a real wolf comes, no one believes him.

wolff

UK/wʊlf/US/wʊlf/

neutral

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A wild carnivorous mammal of the dog family, living and hunting in packs.

A person or thing resembling a wolf in predatory, fierce, or voracious behavior; a man who habitually pursues women amorously; a voracious eater.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The noun is common; verb usage (meaning to eat quickly) is informal.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Minor spelling differences in compound terms (e.g., 'wolf-whistle' vs. 'wolf whistle'). The informal verb 'to wolf (down)' is equally common.

Connotations

Similar connotations of fierceness, predation, and hunger. 'Lone wolf' is equally common.

Frequency

Comparatively frequent in both dialects.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

cry wolflone wolfwolf packwolf down

medium

hungry wolfbig bad wolfwolf cubwolf whistle

weak

grey wolfwolf specieswolf populationwolf attack

Grammar

Valency Patterns

wolf (something) downwolf at the doorkeep the wolf from the door

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

beastbruteravenous eaterphilanderer

Neutral

canidpredator

Weak

wild doghunter

Vocabulary

Antonyms

lambpreyherbivorecelibate

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“cry wolf”
“keep the wolf from the door”
“a wolf in sheep's clothing”
“throw someone to the wolves”
“wolf at the door”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Metaphor for a ruthless competitor or a looming financial crisis ('wolf at the door').

Academic

Used in biology, ecology, and literature (e.g., fables, symbolism).

Everyday

Common in warnings, stories, and describing eating habits.

Technical

Zoology: refers to species like *Canis lupus*.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

He wolfed down his sandwich before the meeting.

American English

She wolfed her burger in two minutes flat.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The wolf is a big animal.
Wolves live in forests.

The story had a scary wolf in it.
He eats like a wolf.

The politician was accused of being a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Famine is the wolf at the door for the impoverished nation.

The corporation was a lone wolf in the market, refusing to join the consortium.
Her ravenous, almost wolflike ambition drove her to the top.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of the 'O' in 'wolf' as the wolf's howling mouth.

Conceptual Metaphor

HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (a cruel person is a wolf; a flirtatious man is a wolf).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Not to be confused with 'волк' (volk) used idiomatically in different ways. The Russian idiom 'волк в овечьей шкуре' translates directly to 'wolf in sheep's clothing'.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect plural: 'wolfs' instead of 'wolves'. Incorrect spelling: 'woolf'. Forgetting the silent 'l' in pronunciation.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

If you too many false alarms, people will stop believing you. You'll have 'cried wolf' once too often.

Multiple Choice

What does the idiom 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' mean?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, informally, meaning 'to eat something very quickly and greedily' (e.g., He wolfed down his dinner).
: A 'wolf' connotes raw aggression, pack mentality, or voracious hunger. A 'fox' connotes cunning, slyness, and trickery.
: The plural is 'wolves' (changing 'f' to 'v' and adding 'es').
: It comes from Aesop's fable 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', where a shepherd boy repeatedly lies about a wolf attacking his flock, so when a real wolf comes, no one believes him.