fray
gb/fɹˈeɪ/ us/fɹˈeɪ/
B2
English
~ 9500
foszlik, felőröl, elfogy a türelme, küzdelem, csetepaté, foszlás
VERB
B2
1
foszlik
B2
Usage pattern:
to fray [cloth/rope] at the edges
The cuffs of his shirt had started to fray from years of use.
Az inge mandzsettája az évekig tartó használattól foszlani kezdett.
If you cut the rope without sealing the end, it will quickly fray.
Ha a kötelet úgy vágod el, hogy nem zárod le a végét, gyorsan foszlani fog.
The carpet is fraying where it meets the doorway.
She liked the look of jeans that fray slightly at the bottom.
The old flag was badly frayed by the wind and rain.
Learner examples
The edge of my jeans is starting to fray.
A farmerem széle kezd foszlani.
Tie a knot so the rope does not fray.
Köss rá egy csomót, hogy a kötél ne foszoljon ki.
This old towel is frayed in the middle.
Her scarf frayed after many washes.
He burned the end of the rope so it would not fray.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "fray" with "fry" because they sound similar. "Fray" is about cloth or rope becoming worn; "fry" means to cook in hot oil.
Meaning
wear so threads come loose
Collocations
fray at the edges
|frayed cuffs
|frayed rope
|fray the ends
|frayed hem
Synonyms
wear (A general word for slow damage from use; does not specifically suggest loose threads at the edge.)
|
unravel (Focuses more on threads coming apart completely, not just being worn at the edge.)
Antonyms
mend (Means to repair damaged cloth, the opposite of letting it fray further.)
Themes
daily life
|clothing
|materials
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To become or make something slowly damaged so that small threads come out at the edge of cloth or rope.
To become or cause to become worn so that threads or fibers come loose, especially along the edges of cloth, rope, or similar material.
VERB
C1
2
felőröl
B2
Usage pattern:
[nerves/patience/tempers] fray
After hours in the delayed queue, passengers' tempers began to fray.
A késések miatti, órákig tartó sorban állás után az utasok türelme fogyni kezdett.
The constant noise eventually frayed his nerves.
Az állandó zaj végül felőrölte az idegeit.
Her patience was fraying after answering the same question all day.
Tensions frayed as the negotiations dragged into a second night.
Working long nights on the project started to fray the whole team's nerves.
Learner examples
The loud music began to fray my nerves.
A hangos zene kezdte felőrölni az idegeimet.
After three hours in traffic, his patience frayed.
Három óra dugóban araszolás után elfogyott a türelme.
Tempers frayed when the game was delayed again.
The crying baby slowly frayed her nerves.
Long days at work are fraying his patience.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "fray" can mean "to scare" because it looks like "afraid" or "frighten". In this sense, it means to slowly make someone stressed, angry, or nervous, not suddenly scared.
Meaning
cause nerves or patience to weaken
Collocations
tempers fray
|nerves fray
|fray someone's nerves
|patience begins to fray
|frayed nerves
Synonyms
strain (Focuses on putting pressure on someone's emotions; does not include the image of slowly wearing away.)
|
wear down (Informal; suggests slow loss of energy or resistance, not only emotional irritation.)
Antonyms
soothe (Means to make someone calmer and less upset, the opposite of fraying their nerves.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|work
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To slowly make a person feel very tired, angry, or nervous so they lose their calm.
To make someone increasingly nervous, impatient, or irritated, or to become tense and easily upset, especially after a period of stress.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
join/enter [the] fray
Several new candidates have now entered the fray ahead of the election.
A választás előtt most több új jelölt is beszállt a küzdelembe.
By the time police arrived, most of the fray was over.
Mire a rendőrök megérkeztek, a csetepaté nagy része már véget ért.
Tech companies are rushing to join the fray in the growing AI market.
He tried to stay out of the office fray, but the argument pulled him in.
Once she stepped into the fray, the debate quickly shifted in her favor.
Learner examples
Two players started a fray on the field.
Két játékos csetepatét robbantott ki a pályán.
More companies are joining the fray in online shopping.
Egyre több cég száll be az online vásárlásért folyó küzdelembe.
He did not want to enter the fray between his friends.
The teacher broke up the fray in the hallway.
New voices came into the fray during the discussion.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "fray" as a noun is only physical fighting. It is often used metaphorically for arguments or strong competition, especially in news writing (e.g. politics, business, sports).
Meaning
noisy fight or heated conflict
Collocations
join the fray
|enter the fray
|into the fray
|back out of the fray
|be drawn into the fray
Synonyms
fight (General term; "fray" often suggests more confusion, noise, or many people involved.)
|
battle (Can be more serious or military; "fray" can be physical, verbal, or competitive.)
Antonyms
peace (Describes a situation without conflict, the opposite of a fray.)
Themes
conflict
|politics
|sports
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A busy fight, argument, or competition where many people are strongly against each other.
A noisy, often confused fight, argument, or intense competitive situation, especially one involving several people or groups.
NOUN
C1
4
foszlás
B2
Usage pattern:
the fray at/on [edge/hem/cuff]
The fray at the cuffs showed how often he wore that jacket.
A mandzsettán látható foszlás elárulta, milyen gyakran hordta azt a kabátot.
She trimmed the fray from the edge of the curtain.
Levágta a foszlást a függöny széléről.
There was a small fray on the hem of her dress.
Tailors can sometimes repair a fray so it does not spread.
The fray along the carpet edge was clearly visible.
Learner examples
There is a fray on my shirt sleeve.
Van egy foszlás az ingujjamon.
He cut off the fray at the bottom of his jeans.
Levágta a foszlást a farmerja aljáról.
The fray on the curtain looks untidy.
She tried to fix the fray with a needle.
You can see a fray on the edge of this cloth.
Meaning
worn edge with loose threads
Collocations
the fray at the cuffs
|the fray on the hem
|signs of fray
|edge of the fray
Synonyms
wear (General damage; "fray" focuses on the loose-threaded edge.)
Antonyms
smooth edge (Describes cloth that is finished and not worn or coming apart.)
Themes
clothing
|materials
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The place on cloth where it is damaged and small threads come out at the edge.
The part of a piece of cloth or similar material where it has become worn and the threads or fibers are coming loose.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fray
IPA
GB/fɹˈeɪ/
US/fɹˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
fray (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fray)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fray
- Plural: fray
Verb
- Base: fray
- 3rd Person Singular: frays
- Present Participle: fraying
- Past: frayed
Word family
Forms
frays
verb
fraying
verb
frayed
verb
Expressions
enter the fray
1/ˈɛntɚ ðə fɹˈeɪ/
idiom
step into an active conflict
To go into a fight, argument, or strong competition that is already happening and start taking part in it.
Examples
- New companies are expected to enter the fray as demand for electric cars rises.
- She was reluctant to enter the fray, but finally spoke up to defend her colleague.
- Several celebrities entered the fray, adding their voices to the online discussion.
into the fray
1/ˈɪntu ðə fɹˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
literary
into the middle of conflict
Into the middle of a fight, argument, or very busy and difficult situation.
Examples
- With a deep breath, he stepped into the fray and tried to calm everyone down.
- Young activists are moving into the fray on climate policy.
- The new coach was thrown into the fray just days before the tournament.
join the fray
1/d͡ʒˈɔɪn ðə fɹˈeɪ/
idiom
become involved in a conflict
To start taking part in a fight, argument, or strong competition that has already started.
Examples
- Several smaller firms have decided to join the fray in the smartphone market.
- Parents eventually joined the fray as the online debate about school rules grew louder.
- A new player has joined the fray, promising cheaper prices and faster service.
tempers fray
1/tˈɛmpɚz fɹˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
people start losing their temper
People start to feel angry and lose patience, especially after a stressful time.
Examples
- As the delays continued, tempers frayed among the passengers.
- In the summer heat, tempers fray quickly in the crowded office.
- When deadlines pile up, tempers fray and small problems become big arguments.