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English - Hungarian

fist

gb/fˈɪst/ us/fˈɪst/
A2 English
~ 7800
ököl, ökölcsapás, fisting, ököllel vagy kézzel behatol, kézírás
NOUN A2
1
ököl A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] makes/clenches [their] fist
He raised his fist in the air in a show of protest.
Tiltakozása jeléül a levegőbe emelte az öklét.
Her tiny fist wrapped around her mother's finger.
Apró ökle az anyja ujja köré zárult.
She clenched her fist so hard that her knuckles turned white.
The crowd greeted the news with cheers and raised fists.
He slammed his fist on the table to get everyone's attention.
Learner examples
He made a fist because he was angry.
Ökölbe szorította a kezét, mert dühös volt.
The baby held my finger in her small fist.
A kisbaba apró öklében tartotta az ujjam.
She shook her fist at the car that almost hit her.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "fist" to mean any hand, even when the hand is open. "Fist" is only used when the hand is closed tightly. For an open hand, say "hand" or "palm", not "fist".
Meaning
Hand with the fingers clenched
Collocations
clench your fist |make a fist |raise a fist |shake a fist |tiny fist |tight fist
Synonyms
clenched hand (A descriptive phrase that explains the shape; less common as a set term than "fist".)
Antonyms
open hand (Describes a hand with fingers extended, the opposite physical shape of a fist.)
Themes
body |daily life |violence |core_vocabulary
Definition

A hand that is closed tightly, with the fingers bent into the palm, often to hit or to show strong feeling.

A hand with the fingers bent tightly into the palm, usually as a sign of anger, determination, or readiness to hit.

NOUN B1
2
ökölcsapás B2
Usage pattern:
give [someone] a fist
The boxer ended the round with a brutal fist to his opponent's jaw.
A bokszoló a menet végén brutális ökölcsapást mért ellenfele állára.
He threatened to give anyone who came closer a fist in the stomach.
Azzal fenyegetőzött, hogy aki közelebb jön, annak ökölcsapást mér a gyomrára.
One solid fist to the nose was enough to knock him down.
Learner examples
He gave his brother a fist in the arm.
Ököllel karon ütötte a testvérét.
The man took a fist to the face and fell.
A férfi ökölcsapást kapott az arcába, és elesett.
She blocked his fist with her arm.
Common mistake:
Learners more often say "he gave me a punch" than "he gave me a fist". "Punch" is usually more natural for the action. Use "fist" this way mainly in fixed phrases like "a fist to the face" or "take a fist".
Meaning
A punch using the fist
Collocations
a hard fist |a fist to the face |take a fist |land a fist |swing a fist
Synonyms
punch (The most common general word for a hit with the fist; often more natural than using "fist" as a hit.)
Antonyms
embrace (Shows physical contact of the opposite emotional type, friendly instead of violent.)
Themes
violence |sports |daily life |body
Definition

A hit you give someone or something with your closed hand.

A blow or hit delivered with a clenched hand.

C2 VULGAR
3
fisting C2
ököllel vagy kézzel behatol C2
Usage pattern:
to fist [someone]
The film was criticized for showing explicit scenes of people being fisted.
A filmet azért bírálták, mert fistinget bemutató explicit jeleneteket tartalmazott.
That club is known for extreme practices, including fisting.
Az a klub szélsőséges gyakorlatokról ismert, köztük a fistingről.
He talked openly about liking to fist his partners, which shocked some listeners.
Learner examples
This word is vulgar and talks about sex.
Ez a szó vulgáris, és szexuális dologra utal.
Some websites ban videos that show fisting.
Egyes weboldalak tiltják a fistinget bemutató videókat.
She said she does not like being fisted.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes do not realize this is a strong, vulgar sexual term and may use it jokingly in polite company. It should be avoided in formal, professional, or mixed social situations.
Meaning
Penetrate sexually with the fist
Collocations
fist someone |be fisted |anal fisting |vaginal fisting
Synonyms
penetrate (A broader and more neutral term for entering a sexual partner's body; does not specifically mean using the hand.)
Antonyms
abstain (Means choosing not to have sex; opposite in the sense of not engaging in this activity at all.)
Themes
sex |health |relationships |body
Definition

To put your hand or fist inside someone's vagina or anus for sex. This is a strong and vulgar word.

To insert the hand or fist into a partner's vagina or anus as a form of sexual activity.

NOUN C1 ARCHAIC
4
kézírás A2
Usage pattern:
a [good/bad/neat] fist
The teacher praised him for making such a clear, round fist.
A tanár megdicsérte a jól olvasható, kerek kézírásáért.
She writes a good bold fist for someone so young.
Fiatal korához képest szép, határozott kézírással ír.
His letters were hard to read because he never made much of a fist at school.
Learner examples
The boy wrote a neat fist in his notebook.
A fiú rendezett kézírással írt a füzetébe.
Her father had a strong, heavy fist in his letters.
Az apjának erőteljes, vastag vonalú kézírása volt a leveleiben.
This meaning of "fist" for handwriting is old and not common now.
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand old texts where "a good fist" refers to handwriting, not to a strong punch. In modern English, use "handwriting", not "fist", for this idea.
Meaning
Style of handwriting (dated)
Collocations
a good fist |a bad fist |a neat fist |a bold fist
Synonyms
handwriting (Standard and current term; "fist" in this sense is old-fashioned and much less common.)
Antonyms
typing (Contrasts handwritten text with text produced on a keyboard.)
Themes
writing |education |communication
Definition

The way a person writes by hand; their handwriting style. This use is old-fashioned.

A person's style of handwriting, especially its overall look or quality.

Grammar
Dictionary form
fist
IPA
GB/fˈɪst/
US/fˈɪst/
Syllables & stress
fist (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fist)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: fist
  • Plural: fists
Word family
Forms
fists noun
Related words
fistful noun fistfight noun
Expressions

clench your fist

1
/klˈɛnt͡ʃ jˈʊɹ fˈɪst/
fixed phrase

Close your hand tightly into a fist

To close your hand very tightly so it becomes a hard fist, often because you are angry, afraid, or in pain.

Examples
  • She clenched her fist in anger but said nothing.
  • He clenched his fist around the metal bar until his knuckles went white.

hand over fist

1
/hˈænd ˈoʊvɚ fˈɪst/
idiom informal

Very quickly and in large amounts

To gain or lose something, especially money, very fast and in large amounts.

Examples
  • The company is making money hand over fist.
  • During the crisis, some investors were losing cash hand over fist.

make a fist

1
/mˈeɪk ə fˈɪst/
fixed phrase

Form your hand into a fist

To close your hand so that your fingers bend into your palm and your hand becomes a fist.

Examples
  • The doctor told him to make a fist so she could check his pulse.
  • When he heard the news, he made a fist without even noticing.

make a good fist of something

1
/mˈeɪk ə ɡˈʊd fˈɪst əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom informal

Do something fairly well

To do something quite well, especially when it is not easy or you are new to it. (mainly British English)

Examples
  • For a beginner, she made a good fist of the presentation.
  • He made a good fist of running the shop while his parents were away.

make a poor fist of something

1
/mˈeɪk ə pˈʊɹ fˈɪst əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom informal

Do something badly

To do something badly or unsuccessfully.

Examples
  • They made a poor fist of the marketing campaign and sales dropped.
  • He made a poor fist of answering the reporter's questions.

put up your fists

1
/pˈʊt ˈʌp jˈʊɹ fˈɪsts/
fixed phrase informal

Raise fists, get ready to fight

To lift your closed hands in front of you, ready to hit someone in a fight.

Examples
  • He told his opponent to put up his fists and stop talking.
  • The boys put up their fists, but a teacher stepped in before they could fight.

raise your fist

1
/ɹˈeɪz jˈʊɹ fˈɪst/
fixed phrase

Lift a clenched hand in the air

To hold your closed hand up in the air, often to show protest, support, or victory.

Examples
  • The crowd raised their fists in solidarity.
  • He raised his fist in celebration when the final goal was scored.

shake your fist at someone

1
/ʃˈeɪk jˈʊɹ fˈɪst ˈæt sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase

Wave a clenched fist angrily

To move your closed hand up and down or back and forth toward someone because you are angry with them.

Examples
  • The old man shook his fist at the noisy teenagers.
  • Drivers leaned out of their windows and shook their fists at the bus.

with an iron fist

1
/wˈɪθ ən ˈaɪɚn fˈɪst/
idiom

In a very harsh, strict way

In a very hard and strict way that does not allow freedom or kindness.

Examples
  • The company was run with an iron fist for decades.
  • He ruled his household with an iron fist, and no one dared argue with him.

an iron fist in a velvet glove

1
/ən ˈaɪɚn fˈɪst ˈɪn ə vˈɛlvɪt ɡlˈʌv/
idiom literary

harsh power hidden by gentleness

To control people in a very strict or harsh way but to hide this behind a polite, kind, or gentle manner.

Examples
  • The new CEO rules with an iron fist in a velvet glove, smiling as she makes tough cuts.
  • The governor’s style was an iron fist in a velvet glove—polite in public, but very firm in private.
  • Parents sometimes need an iron fist in a velvet glove to set clear limits with love.

an iron fist in a velvet glove

2
/ən ˈaɪɚn fˈɪst ˈɪn ə vˈɛlvɪt ɡlˈʌv/
idiom

Gentle appearance, harsh control

A person who looks kind and gentle but actually controls people in a very hard and strict way.

Examples
  • The new CEO is an iron fist in a velvet glove: always smiling, but very tough.
  • Her teaching style was an iron fist in a velvet glove—calm voice, strict rules.

rule with an iron fist

1
/ɹˈul wˈɪθ ən ˈaɪɚn fˈɪst/
idiom

Govern in a harsh, strict way

To control people in a very strict and often cruel way.

Examples
  • The dictator ruled with an iron fist for over 20 years.
  • The dictator ruled with an iron fist for more than thirty years.
  • She runs her company with an iron fist, allowing no mistakes.
  • Managers who rule with an iron fist often face quiet resistance from their teams.
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