cuff
gb/kˈʌf/ us/kˈʌf/
B1
English
mandzsetta, felhajtás, bilincs, csap, meglegyint, megbilincsel, tenyeres ütés, legyintés, felhajt, feltűr, karperec, fülmandzsetta, vérnyomásmérő mandzsetta
NOUN
B1
1
mandzsetta
B2
felhajtás
B1
Usage pattern:
the cuff of [a shirt/sleeve/pant leg]
His shirt cuffs were frayed from years of wear.
Az inge mandzsettái kirojtosodtak a sokéves hordástól.
She adjusted the cuffs of her jacket before the meeting.
Megigazította a zakója mandzsettáit az értekezlet előtt.
The tailor shortened the trousers and re-stitched the cuffs.
Learner examples
This shirt has tight cuffs.
Ennek az ingnek szűkek a mandzsettái.
He rolled the cuffs up.
Feltűrte az ingujját.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse cuff (end of a sleeve) with collar (around the neck).
Meaning
band at sleeve or pant end
Collocations
shirt cuff
|sleeve cuff
|pant cuff
|cuff button
|cufflink
|French cuff
|cuff size
|cuff detail
|stiff cuff
|rolled cuff
Synonyms
wristband (Often used for the band around the wrist specifically.)
Themes
clothing
|fashion
|daily_life
Definition
The part at the end of a sleeve or pant leg.
A folded or separate band of fabric at the end of a sleeve or pant leg, often used for fit or decoration.
NOUN
B1
2
bilincs
B1
Usage pattern:
in cuffs; a pair of cuffs
The officer checked that the cuffs weren’t too tight.
A rendőr ellenőrizte, hogy a bilincs nem túl szoros-e.
He was led away in cuffs after the arrest.
Az elfogása után bilincsben vezették el.
They found a set of cuffs in the car.
Learner examples
The police put him in cuffs.
A rendőrök bilincsbe tették.
Common mistake:
Cuff can mean either clothing (shirt cuff) or handcuffs; context usually makes it clear.
Meaning
restraint for a person’s wrists
Collocations
in cuffs
|put someone in cuffs
|police cuffs
|plastic cuffs
|tight cuffs
|cuff key
|wrist cuffs
|locked cuffs
Synonyms
handcuff (More explicit; cuff can sound more informal or shorthand.)
Themes
crime
|law_enforcement
|society
Definition
Handcuffs used by the police.
A device used to restrain a person by fastening their wrists, especially by the police; often one of a matching pair.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
csap
A2
meglegyint
B2
Usage pattern:
cuff [someone] (on [the head/ear/arm])
He cuffed his friend on the shoulder as a joke.
Viccből vállon csapta a barátját.
She cuffed him on the ear for being rude.
Fülön csapta, amiért szemtelen volt.
Stop cuffing your little brother and leave him alone.
Learner examples
Don’t cuff people.
Ne csapj oda másoknak.
Common mistake:
Cuff is usually a quick open-hand hit; punch is with a closed fist.
Meaning
hit with an open hand
Collocations
cuff someone on the head
|cuff someone on the ear
|cuff him lightly
|cuff her arm
|cuff a child (gently)
Synonyms
slap (Often stronger and more direct than cuff.)
|
smack (Usually more forceful than cuff.)
Antonyms
caress (Touch gently and affectionately rather than strike.)
Themes
conflict
|daily_life
Definition
To hit someone with your open hand.
To hit someone lightly or sharply with an open hand, often on the head or arm.
VERB
B2
4
megbilincsel
B1
Usage pattern:
cuff [someone]; cuff [someone] to [something]
The police cuffed him and put him in the back of the car.
A rendőrök megbilincselték, és betették a kocsi hátsó ülésére.
They cuffed her to the bench while they searched the area.
A padhoz bilincselték, amíg átkutatták a környéket.
He was cuffed for his own safety during transport.
Learner examples
The officer cuffed the man.
A rendőr megbilincselte a férfit.
Common mistake:
Not the same as handcuff (noun); cuff (verb) means to put the cuffs on.
Meaning
put handcuffs on someone
Collocations
cuff and arrest
|cuff someone behind their back
|cuff someone to a railing
|cuff the suspect
|cuffed to a chair
Synonyms
handcuff (More explicit and slightly more formal than cuff.)
Antonyms
uncuff (Remove handcuffs from someone.)
Themes
crime
|law_enforcement
Definition
To put handcuffs on someone.
To put handcuffs on someone to restrain them, especially during an arrest.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
5
legyintés
B2
Usage pattern:
a cuff (on [the head/ear])
He gave the dog a gentle cuff to stop it jumping up.
Finoman rálegyintett a kutyára, hogy ne ugráljon fel.
She responded with a cuff on his arm and a laugh.
Válaszul nevetve karon legyintette.
A cuff on the back of the head isn’t funny to everyone.
Learner examples
He gave me a cuff on the arm.
Karon legyintett.
Meaning
a light open-hand blow
Collocations
a cuff on the head
|a cuff on the ear
|give someone a cuff
|a playful cuff
|a sharp cuff
Synonyms
slap (Often sounds stronger than cuff.)
Themes
conflict
|daily_life
Definition
A quick hit with an open hand.
A light or sharp hit with an open hand.
VERB
B2
6
Usage pattern:
cuff [your jeans/sleeves/pants]
She cuffed her jeans to keep them out of the water.
Felhajtotta a farmerja szárát, hogy ne érjen a vízbe.
He cuffed his sleeves before washing the dishes.
Feltűrte az ingujját, mielőtt mosogatni kezdett.
If the pants are too long, you can cuff them temporarily.
Learner examples
I cuff my jeans in summer.
Nyáron felhajtom a farmerom szárát.
Common mistake:
Roll up is more general; cuff usually implies a neat folded band at the end.
Meaning
turn up sleeves or pants
Collocations
cuff your jeans
|cuff the sleeves
|cuffed jeans
|cuffed trousers
|double-cuff the jeans
|neatly cuffed
Synonyms
turn up (Common British English phrase for folding the hem.)
|
roll up (More casual and not always a neat cuff.)
Antonyms
let down (Undo a fold/turn-up so the fabric hangs its full length.)
Themes
clothing
|fashion
|daily_life
Definition
To fold the end of your jeans or sleeves up.
To fold the end of a sleeve or pant leg up to make a cuff.
NOUN
B2
7
karperec
B2
Usage pattern:
a cuff bracelet; an ear cuff
She wore a simple silver cuff on her wrist.
Egyszerű ezüst karperecet viselt a csuklóján.
He bought an ear cuff but decided it looked too flashy.
Vett egy fülmandzsettát, de végül úgy gondolta, hogy túl feltűnő.
The designer released a new line of sculptural cuffs.
Learner examples
She wears a gold cuff.
Arany karperecet visel.
Meaning
wide bracelet or ear band
Collocations
cuff bracelet
|gold cuff
|silver cuff
|chunky cuff
|wear a cuff
|ear cuff
|stacked cuffs
Synonyms
bangle (A bangle is usually a closed ring; a cuff is often open-ended.)
Themes
fashion
|jewelry
|shopping
Definition
A wide bracelet (or ear piece) that fits closely.
A wide piece of jewelry, especially a bracelet or ear piece, that fits closely and is often open at one side rather than a complete circle.
NOUN
B2
8
Usage pattern:
a blood pressure cuff; wrap the cuff around [your arm]
The nurse wrapped the cuff around his upper arm.
Az ápoló a férfi felkarjára helyezte a vérnyomásmérő mandzsettáját.
This cuff is too small, so the reading may be inaccurate.
Ez a mandzsetta túl kicsi, ezért pontatlan lehet a mérés.
Home monitors usually come with an automatic cuff.
Learner examples
The nurse used a cuff to check my blood pressure.
Az ápoló vérnyomásmérő mandzsettával mérte meg a vérnyomásomat.
Meaning
inflatable band for measuring blood pressure
Collocations
blood pressure cuff
|inflatable cuff
|cuff size
|wrap the cuff around your arm
|automatic cuff
|tighten the cuff
|cuff reading
Synonyms
sphygmomanometer cuff (More technical; used in medical contexts.)
Themes
health
|medicine
|daily_life
Definition
A band used to check blood pressure.
An inflatable band wrapped around the arm (or sometimes the wrist) that is used to measure blood pressure.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cuff
IPA
GB/kˈʌf/
US/kˈʌf/
Syllables & stress
cuff (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cuff)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cuff
- Plural: cuffs
Verb
- Base: cuff
- 3rd Person Singular: cuffs
- Present Participle: cuffing
- Past: cuffed
Word family
Forms
cuffs
noun
cuffing
verb
cuffed
verb
Related words
cufflink
noun
handcuff
noun
Expressions
cuff up
1/kˈʌf ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
roll or turn up clothing
To fold your sleeves or jeans up.
Examples
- It’s hot in here—let’s cuff up our sleeves.
- She cuffed up her jeans before walking through the wet grass.
- You can cuff up the pants to show off the shoes.
Learner examples
- I cuffed up my sleeves.
cuffing season
1/kˈʌfɪŋ sˈizən/
fixed phrase
slang
time people seek relationships
A time when many people want a boyfriend/girlfriend.
Examples
- As soon as it got cold, everyone started talking about cuffing season.
- They met in October, right at the start of cuffing season.
- She joked that he only texted because it was cuffing season.
french cuff
1/fɹˈɛnt͡ʃ kˈʌf/
fixed phrase
double cuff folded back
A shirt cuff that folds back and uses cufflinks.
Examples
- He wore a dress shirt with French cuffs and silver cufflinks.
- French cuffs usually look more formal than button cuffs.
- The rental shop asked whether I wanted French cuffs.
Learner examples
- This shirt has French cuffs.
in cuffs
1/ˈɪn kˈʌfs/
fixed phrase
wearing handcuffs; under arrest
With handcuffs on.
Examples
- The suspect was brought in cuffs to the station.
- He spent the night in cuffs while they questioned him.
- She watched the man being led away in cuffs.
Learner examples
- He was taken away in cuffs.
off the cuff
1/ˈɔf ðə kˈʌf/
idiom
without preparation; spontaneous
Without planning or preparing.
Examples
- I can’t give exact numbers off the cuff.
- She made an off-the-cuff remark that upset people.
- His speech sounded polished, but it was mostly off the cuff.
Learner examples
- I answered off the cuff.