coax
gb/kˈoʊæks/ us/kˈoʊæks/
B2
English
rábeszél, szép szóval rávesz, kicsalogat, kiszed, beigazít, óvatosan kinyit, óvatosan átvezet, működésre bír, beindít, koaxiális kábel, koax, koaxkábel
VERB
B2
1
rábeszél
B2
Usage pattern:
coax [someone] (into doing) [something]
She coaxed the toddler into trying a few bites of dinner.
Szép szóval rávette a kisgyereket, hogy megkóstoljon pár falatot a vacsorából.
I finally coaxed him to come with us by promising we’d leave early.
Végül úgy beszéltem rá, hogy jöjjön velünk, hogy megígértem neki: korán indulunk.
The sales rep tried to coax me into upgrading my plan.
Learner examples
I coaxed my friend to join us.
Rábeszéltem a barátomat, hogy csatlakozzon hozzánk.
She coaxed the child into bed.
Szép szóval rávette a gyereket, hogy lefeküdjön.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse coax (/koʊks/) with coach (/koʊtʃ/).
Meaning
persuade gently over time
Collocations
coax someone into doing something
|coax someone to do something
|coax a child
|gently coax
|try to coax
|coax someone away from
|coax someone back
|coax someone to come
|coax someone to talk
|coax someone to agree
Synonyms
cajole (Often suggests friendly, playful persuasion.)
|
persuade (More general; not necessarily gentle or patient.)
|
wheedle (Often implies annoying or insincere persistence.)
|
entice (Often suggests tempting someone with an attractive offer.)
Antonyms
force (Uses power or pressure rather than gentle persuasion.)
|
compel (Makes someone do something through strong authority or necessity.)
Themes
communication
|relationships
|emotions
|daily_life
Definition
to gently persuade someone to do something
To persuade someone to do something by speaking kindly and patiently, often over a period of time.
VERB
B2
2
kicsalogat
B2
kiszed
B2
Usage pattern:
coax [something] (out of/from) [someone]
It took weeks to coax the full story out of him.
Hetekbe telt, mire sikerült kicsalogatni belőle a teljes történetet.
The interviewer coaxed more detail from the reluctant witness.
A kérdező türelmesen további részleteket csalogatott ki a vonakodó tanúból.
A few kind questions coaxed a small smile from her.
Learner examples
The teacher coaxed an answer out of the student.
A tanár végül választ csalogatott ki a diákból.
He coaxed a smile from his sister.
Sikerült mosolyt csalnia a testvére arcára.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use coax for direct demands; coax implies patience and softness, not pressure.
Meaning
get information or reaction gently
Collocations
coax the truth out of someone
|coax information out of someone
|coax a confession out of someone
|coax a smile from someone
|coax an answer out of someone
|coax details from someone
|coax a reaction from someone
|coax a laugh out of someone
|coax a response from someone
|coax someone into opening up
Synonyms
elicit (More formal; focuses on drawing out a response.)
|
draw out (Common and neutral; emphasizes gradually getting someone to speak.)
|
extract (Stronger and less gentle; can imply effort or resistance.)
Antonyms
withhold (Refuses to give information rather than drawing it out.)
|
conceal (Keeps something hidden rather than bringing it out.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|work
Definition
to slowly and gently get someone to say or show something
To get information, an admission, or an emotional response from someone through gentle, patient encouragement.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
coax [something] into/through/around [place]
She coaxed the cable through the tiny opening without damaging it.
Óvatosan átvezette a kábelt az apró nyíláson, anélkül hogy megsértette volna.
With a bit of wiggling, he coaxed the stuck drawer open.
Némi ide-oda mozgatással sikerült óvatosan kinyitnia a beszorult fiókot.
I had to coax the photo into the frame so it wouldn’t crease.
Learner examples
He coaxed the wire into place.
Óvatosan a helyére igazította a vezetéket.
She coaxed the drawer open.
Óvatosan kinyitotta a fiókot.
Common mistake:
This sense is physical; avoid using it when you mean simple 'move' without careful effort.
Meaning
gently guide into position or shape
Collocations
coax something into place
|coax something through a gap
|coax something out
|coax something open
|coax something shut
|coax the wire into position
|coax the fabric flat
|coax the lid off
|coax the piece into alignment
|coax the knot loose
Synonyms
ease (Emphasizes gentle, careful movement with little force.)
|
nudge (Suggests small pushes, sometimes less careful than coax.)
|
maneuver (More neutral; may not imply gentleness.)
Antonyms
jam (Forces something in roughly or makes it stuck.)
|
yank (Pulls suddenly and forcefully rather than gently.)
Themes
daily_life
|tools
|crafts
Definition
to slowly and carefully move something into the right place
To move, shape, or guide something carefully and gently into a desired position, condition, or form.
VERB
C1
4
beindít
B1
Usage pattern:
coax [something] into working/starting; coax [something] back to life
After a few restarts, she coaxed the laptop into working again.
Néhány újraindítás után sikerült újra működésre bírnia a laptopot.
He managed to coax the old mower into starting on the third pull.
A harmadik rántásra végül sikerült beindítania a régi fűnyírót.
We coaxed the sluggish network back to life by rebooting the router.
Learner examples
I coaxed the computer into working.
Sikerült működésre bírnom a számítógépet.
He coaxed the engine to start.
Sikerült beindítania a motort.
Meaning
get a machine working again
Collocations
coax an engine into starting
|coax a car into life
|coax a computer into working
|coax a printer into cooperating
|coax something back to life
|coax something into running
|coax something to start
|coax something along
Synonyms
nurse (Often used for keeping something working carefully over time (e.g., nurse a car home).)
|
revive (More general; doesn’t necessarily suggest gentle, patient effort.)
Antonyms
disable (Stops a machine or system from working.)
|
break (Damages something so it no longer works.)
Themes
technology
|transport
|daily_life
Definition
to make a machine work with careful effort
To get a machine, vehicle, or system to work, start, or continue, by careful, patient handling rather than force.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
run/plug in [coax]
The installer ran new coax from the basement to the living room.
A szerelő új koaxkábelt húzott az alagsorból a nappaliba.
Make sure the coax is tightly connected to the modem.
Győződj meg róla, hogy a koaxkábel szorosan csatlakozik a modemhez.
Learner examples
The TV needs a coax cable.
A tévéhez koaxiális kábel kell.
Common mistake:
As a noun, coax usually refers to a cable; it is unrelated to the verb meaning.
Meaning
coaxial cable (informal)
Collocations
coax cable
|a length of coax
|run coax
|coax connection
|coax line
|coax outlet
|RG-6 coax
|plug in the coax
Synonyms
coaxial cable (The full, more explicit term.)
Themes
technology
|home
Definition
a type of cable used for TV or internet
A coaxial cable, often used for TV, internet, and radio signals.
Grammar
Dictionary form
coax
IPA
GB/kˈoʊæks/
US/kˈoʊæks/
Syllables & stress
coax (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (coax)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: coax
- 3rd Person Singular: coaxes
- Present Participle: coaxing
- Past: coaxed
Word family
Forms
coaxes
verb
coaxing
verb
coaxed
verb
Advanced or less common
coaxingly
adverb
coaxer
noun
Expressions
coax along
1/kˈoʊæks əlˈɔŋ/
phrasal verb
encourage slow progress
to help something continue slowly
Examples
- They coaxed the tired children along the last stretch of the hike.
- The manager tried to coax the discussion along when it stalled.
- He coaxed the old truck along to the next service station.
Learner examples
- We coaxed him along.
coax out
1/kˈoʊks ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
gently draw out information
to gently get someone to say or show something
Examples
- It took an hour to coax out the whole story.
- The counselor helped him coax out feelings he’d kept hidden for years.
- I couldn’t coax an answer out of her.
Learner examples
- The teacher coaxed out an answer.
coax to life
1/kˈoʊæks tə lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
make something start working
to make something work again
Examples
- With a new fuse, he coaxed the old radio to life.
- They coaxed the stalled project to life with a small grant.
- A few taps and a restart coaxed the screen to life.
Learner examples
- He coaxed the engine to life.