dribble
gb/dɹˈɪbəl/ us/dɹˈɪbəl/
B1
English
csorog, csöpög, labdát vezet, cselez, pár csepp, egy kevés, labdavezetés, csel, apránként érkezik, apránként kiszivárog, szállingózik, hadovál, hülyeségeket beszél
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[liquid] dribbles (down/off/onto [something])
Coffee dribbled down the side of the mug and onto the table.
A kávé végigcsorgott a bögre oldalán, és az asztalra folyt.
After the run, sweat dribbled into his eyes.
Futás után az izzadság a szemébe csorgott.
Water was dribbling from a cracked pipe under the sink.
Learner examples
Milk dribbled on my shirt.
Tej csöpögött az ingemre.
Water is dribbling from the tap.
Csöpög a víz a csapból.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with drizzle (light rain) or scribble (write quickly).
Meaning
flow in small drops
Collocations
dribble down your chin
|dribble out of the bottle
|dribble onto the floor
|dribble with sweat
|milk dribbled
|water dribbled
|sauce dribbled
|blood dribbled
|tears dribbled
|drool dribbled
Synonyms
trickle (Often suggests a small steady flow.)
|
drip (Emphasizes separate drops rather than a thin stream.)
|
drool (Specifically saliva from the mouth.)
Antonyms
pour (Implies a larger, continuous flow.)
|
gush (Implies a sudden, forceful flow.)
Themes
daily_life
|body
|food_and_drink
Definition
If liquid dribbles, it comes out in small drops.
To let a liquid fall or run in small drops or a thin, irregular stream.
VERB
B1
2
labdát vezet
B1
Usage pattern:
dribble [the ball] (up/down [the court])
She dribbled the ball up the court and passed to the center.
Felvezette a labdát a pályán, majd a centerhez passzolt.
He can dribble with either hand without looking down.
Mindkét kezével tud labdát vezetni anélkül, hogy lenézne.
The coach told them to keep dribbling and protect the ball.
Learner examples
I can dribble the ball.
Tudok labdát vezetni.
He dribbled up the court.
Felvezette a labdát a pályán.
Common mistake:
In basketball, dribble means bounce the ball; in soccer, dribble usually means run with the ball at your feet.
Meaning
bounce a ball while moving
Collocations
dribble the ball
|dribble up the court
|dribble down the court
|dribble with your right hand
|dribble with your left hand
|dribble past a defender
|dribble between your legs
|dribble behind your back
|learn to dribble
|practice dribbling
Synonyms
bounce (General verb; doesn’t always imply control and movement.)
Antonyms
carry (Not allowed in basketball while moving; opposite of bouncing.)
Themes
sports
|basketball
Definition
In basketball, to keep control of the ball by bouncing it.
To control a ball, especially in basketball, by repeatedly bouncing it on the ground while moving.
VERB
B1
3
cselez
B1
labdát vezet
B1
Usage pattern:
dribble (past [someone]) (toward [place])
He dribbled past two defenders and shot from the edge of the box.
Két védőt is kicselezett, majd a tizenhatos széléről lőtt.
The winger likes to dribble down the left side.
A szélső szeret a bal szélen végigcselezni.
She dribbled toward goal but lost the ball under pressure.
Learner examples
He dribbled past the defender.
Kicselezte a védőt.
She can dribble well.
Jól tud cselezni.
Common mistake:
In British English, football = soccer; the verb dribble is used for both sports but with different actions.
Meaning
run with ball at feet
Collocations
dribble past a defender
|dribble down the wing
|dribble into the box
|dribble around a player
|dribble through the defense
|quick dribbling
|skillful dribbling
|dribble forward
|dribble toward goal
|dribble inside
Synonyms
weave (Highlights moving in and out between players.)
Antonyms
clear (To kick the ball away rather than keep close control.)
Themes
sports
|soccer
Definition
In soccer, to move with the ball while keeping control.
To move forward while keeping control of a ball with a series of short touches, especially in soccer/football.
NOUN
B2
4
Usage pattern:
a dribble of [liquid]
There was a dribble of blood on his lip.
Egy kis vércsík volt az ajkán.
She added just a dribble of olive oil.
Csak pár csepp olívaolajat adott hozzá.
Only a dribble of water came from the tap.
Learner examples
Add a dribble of oil.
Adj hozzá pár csepp olajat.
I saw a dribble of water.
Láttam pár csepp vizet.
Common mistake:
Often uncountable in meaning; but commonly used as 'a dribble of' for a small amount.
Meaning
a small thin stream of liquid
Collocations
a dribble of water
|a dribble of milk
|a dribble of sauce
|a dribble of blood
|a dribble of saliva
|just a dribble
Synonyms
trickle (Often suggests a slightly steadier small flow.)
|
drip (Often suggests single drops rather than a thin stream.)
Antonyms
flood (A very large amount of liquid.)
Themes
daily_life
|body
Definition
A small amount of liquid that comes out slowly.
A small amount of liquid that comes out in drops or a thin, irregular stream.
NOUN
B2
5
labdavezetés
B1
csel
B1
Usage pattern:
a dribble (past [someone])
He beat his marker with one quick dribble.
Egy gyors csellel lerázta az őrzőjét.
The crowd cheered after her dribble to the basket.
A közönség ujjongott, miután labdavezetéssel betört a kosárhoz.
That dribble past the last defender set up the goal.
Learner examples
He made a dribble past the defender.
Egy csellel elment a védő mellett.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this noun; often English prefers 'dribbling' as the general skill.
Meaning
act of dribbling in sports
Collocations
a quick dribble
|a clever dribble
|a strong dribble
|a dribble past a defender
|a dribble to the basket
|a dribble toward goal
Synonyms
run (Broader; doesn’t necessarily include close ball control.)
Antonyms
pass (Moving the ball to a teammate instead of carrying it.)
Themes
sports
Definition
A time when someone dribbles the ball.
The act of controlling a ball by dribbling, especially in basketball or soccer.
VERB
B2
6
Usage pattern:
[things] dribble in/through; dribble [something] (to/into [place])
After the announcement, complaints started to dribble in.
A bejelentés után apránként kezdtek érkezni a panaszok.
More details dribbled out over the next few days.
A következő néhány napban további részletek szivárogtak ki apránként.
As restrictions eased, tourists began to dribble back into the city.
Learner examples
People dribbled in slowly.
Az emberek lassan szállingóztak be.
Details dribbled out later.
A részletek később apránként szivárogtak ki.
Common mistake:
This meaning often appears with particles (dribble in/out), but the core idea is 'slowly in small amounts'.
Meaning
arrive or be released slowly
Collocations
information dribbled out
|customers dribbled in
|results dribbled through
|reports dribbled in
|funding dribbled in
|support dribbled away
|details dribbled out
|new hires dribbled in
Synonyms
trickle (Very common for small amounts arriving gradually.)
|
filter (Often implies gradual spread through a system or group.)
Antonyms
flood (To arrive in very large numbers or amounts at once.)
|
pour in (To arrive rapidly and in large quantities.)
Themes
business
|news_and_media
|daily_life
Definition
To come slowly, a little at a time.
To come, be provided, or be sent in small amounts over a period of time.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
7
hadovál
B2
Usage pattern:
dribble (on) (about [something])
He was dribbling on about conspiracy theories again.
Már megint összeesküvés-elméletekről hadovált.
Stop dribbling and tell me what actually happened.
Ne hadoválj, mondd el, mi történt valójában.
The article just dribbles vague claims without evidence.
Learner examples
He dribbled on for hours.
Órákig csak hadovált.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with drivel (noun/verb), which is a close synonym; 'dribble' is more common in sports and liquid meanings.
Meaning
talk nonsense or weakly
Collocations
dribble on
|dribble on about
|dribble nonsense
|dribble rubbish
|dribble something online
|dribble in an interview
Synonyms
drivel (Stronger: emphasizes stupidity and worthlessness.)
|
babble (Suggests rapid, confused, or childish talk.)
Antonyms
make sense (To speak clearly and logically.)
|
be concise (To speak briefly and to the point.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
Definition
To talk in a stupid or boring way.
To talk or write in a silly, foolish, or pointless way.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dribble
IPA
GB/dɹˈɪbəl/
US/dɹˈɪbəl/
Syllables & stress
dribble (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dribble)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: dribble
- Plural: dribbles
Verb
- Base: dribble
- 3rd Person Singular: dribbles
- Present Participle: dribbling
- Past: dribbled
Word family
Forms
dribbles
noun
dribbling
verb
dribbled
verb
Related words
dribbler
noun
Expressions
dribble away
1/dɹˈɪbəl əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
waste gradually over time
To waste something little by little.
Examples
- They dribbled away their savings on small, unnecessary purchases.
- The team dribbled away a two-goal lead.
- He dribbled away the afternoon scrolling on his phone.
Learner examples
- Don’t dribble away your money.
dribble down
1/dɹˈɪbəl dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
pass down slowly in small amounts
To move down slowly, a little at a time.
Examples
- Rainwater dribbled down the window.
- Any extra funding rarely dribbles down to the smaller teams.
- Information dribbled down to staff in bits and pieces.
dribble in
1/dɹˈɪbəl ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
arrive gradually in small numbers
To arrive slowly, not all at once.
Examples
- Guests started to dribble in after seven.
- Orders dribbled in during the afternoon.
- As the storm cleared, flights began to dribble in again.
Learner examples
- People dribbled in late.
dribble on
1/dɹˈɪbəl ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
informal
talk boringly for too long
To talk for too long in a boring way.
Examples
- He dribbled on about his golf game all evening.
- The meeting dragged on because the manager kept dribbling on.
- Don’t dribble on—what’s your point?
Learner examples
- He dribbled on and on.
dribble out
1/dɹˈɪbəl ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
be revealed little by little
To come out slowly, a little at a time.
Examples
- More details dribbled out during the investigation.
- The truth dribbled out over several months.
- Reviews of the product began to dribble out online.
Learner examples
- The news dribbled out slowly.