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zigzag

B1
UK/ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/US/ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/

neutral

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A line or path consisting of a series of short, sharp turns in alternating directions.

Describes any process, movement, or pattern that proceeds by frequent sharp changes in direction, course, or opinion.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Can describe both literal physical paths and metaphorical patterns of thought, progress, or movement.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Minimal. More common to see 'zigzag' as a single word in both varieties. The hyphenated form 'zig-zag' is archaic but occasionally seen in older texts or stylistically.

Connotations

Identical. Implies inefficiency, evasion, or a non-linear, erratic path.

Frequency

Slightly higher frequency in American English in contexts like sports (zigzag run in football) or road descriptions.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
sharp zigzagzigzag patternzigzag coursezigzag line
medium
zigzag pathzigzag routezigzag stitchzigzag through
weak
zigzag designzigzag movementzigzag climbzigzag strategy

Grammar

Valency Patterns

The road zigzags (up the mountain).He zigzagged (across the field).The policy has zigzagged (between extremes).

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

swerve erratically

Neutral

meanderweavewind

Weak

twistsnake

Vocabulary

Antonyms

straight linedirect routebee-linelinear path

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “zigzag course of history”
  • “to zigzag one's way”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Describes volatile market movements or inconsistent policy changes.

Academic

Used in geography to describe river courses, in history for non-linear progress.

Everyday

Describes walking through a crowd, a stitching pattern, or a mountain road.

Technical

In electronics (zigzag antenna), sewing (zigzag stitch), military (zigzag trench).

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The path zigzags up the fell towards the summit.
  • The drunk man zigzagged his way down the pavement.

American English

  • The receiver zigzagged across the field to avoid the tackle.
  • The administration's position has zigzagged on the issue.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • Draw a zigzag line.
  • The lightning made a zigzag in the sky.
B1
  • The mountain road zigzagged dangerously.
  • She sewed a zigzag stitch along the edge.
B2
  • His career path has been a zigzag rather than a straight climb.
  • The politician zigzagged between populist rhetoric and pragmatic policy.
C1
  • The river's zigzag course through the valley is a classic example of meandering.
  • The debate zigzagged through a myriad of complex ethical issues.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine the letter 'Z' – it's a perfect mini zigzag.

Conceptual Metaphor

PROGRESS IS A PATH; indecision or difficulty is a zigzag path.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Avoid using 'зигзаг' for a simple 'turn' or 'bend'. It specifically implies a back-and-forth pattern.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'zigzag' as a verb without '-ed' for past tense (e.g., 'He zigzag' instead of 'He zigzagged').
  • Confusing it with 'sawtooth' pattern, which is angular but not alternating in direction.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
To avoid the gunfire, the soldier had to across the open field.
Multiple Choice

Which of these is NOT a typical use of 'zigzag'?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It can be all three (noun: 'a zigzag', verb: 'to zigzag', adjective: 'a zigzag line').

'Zigzag' implies sharp, angular turns. 'Meander' suggests gentle, winding, curving turns, like a river.

'Zigzagged' (double 'g'). The present participle is 'zigzagging'.

Yes, commonly to describe inconsistent progress, erratic thinking, or fluctuating prices (e.g., 'zigzag course of negotiations').