skim
gb/skˈɪm/ us/skˈɪm/
B1
English
átfut, végigsiklik, súrol, leszed, lefölöz, gyors átnézés, gyors átfutás
VERB
B1
1
átfut
B2
Usage pattern:
skim [something]
I only had time to skim the report before the meeting.
A megbeszélés előtt csak arra volt időm, hogy gyorsan átfussam a jelentést.
She skimmed the article to see if it was relevant.
Átfutotta a cikket, hogy lássa, releváns-e.
Skim the instructions first, then read them more carefully if needed.
Learner examples
I skim my emails in the morning.
Reggelente gyorsan átfutom az e-mailjeimet.
He skimmed the news on his phone.
Gyorsan átfutotta a híreket a telefonján.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse skim (main ideas) with scan (look for specific information like a name or number).
Meaning
read quickly for main points
Collocations
skim a document
|skim an email
|skim a report
|skim the article
|skim the headlines
|skim the summary
|skim the introduction
|quickly skim
|skim for key points
|skim and scan
Synonyms
glance through (Emphasizes a quick look rather than careful reading.)
|
scan (Often implies searching for specific information rather than general meaning.)
Antonyms
read carefully (Focuses on details and full understanding.)
|
study (Implies slow, thorough reading to learn.)
Themes
education
|work
|communication
Definition
to read fast and only take the main ideas
To read something quickly, focusing on the main ideas rather than details.
VERB
B2
2
végigsiklik
B2
súrol
B2
Usage pattern:
skim (over) [something]
A dragonfly skimmed across the pond.
Egy szitakötő végigsiklott a tó felszíne fölött.
The stone skimmed the water and bounced twice before sinking.
A kő végigsiklott a víz felszínén, kétszer megpattant, majd elsüllyedt.
The ball skimmed past the post and went out.
Learner examples
The bird skimmed over the sea.
A madár alacsonyan végigsiklott a tenger fölött.
Common mistake:
Skim can mean physical movement over a surface, not only reading.
Meaning
move lightly along a surface
Collocations
skim across the water
|skim over the surface
|skim the waves
|skim the runway
|skim past
|skim along
|a stone skims
|the ball skimmed
|skim the top of
|skim the surface
Synonyms
glide (Suggests smooth, continuous movement, often without touching.)
|
graze (Emphasizes light contact rather than smooth movement.)
Antonyms
sink (Moves downward into a surface like water.)
|
hit (Implies strong contact rather than light contact.)
Themes
daily_life
|sports
|nature
Definition
to go over a surface lightly
To move quickly and lightly along a surface, touching it only slightly or not at all.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
skim [something] off (the top of) [something]
Skim the foam off the soup as it simmers.
Szedd le a habot a leves tetejéről, miközben lassan fő.
After chilling the stew, she skimmed the fat from the top.
Miután lehűtötte a ragut, leszedte a zsírt a tetejéről.
The recipe says to skim off any impurities.
Learner examples
Skim the cream off the milk.
Szedd le a tejszínt a tej tetejéről.
Common mistake:
Don’t use skim for mixing; it specifically means removing something from the top.
Meaning
remove floating layer from liquid
Collocations
skim the fat
|skim the foam
|skim the scum
|skim off the cream
|skim the broth
|skim the stock
|skim off impurities
|skim the surface
|skim the top
|skim milk
Synonyms
remove (General; does not specifically mean taking from the surface.)
|
scoop off (More literal and often involves a spoon or ladle.)
Antonyms
add (Puts something into the liquid rather than taking it off.)
|
stir in (Mixes something into the liquid instead of removing from the top.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|daily_life
Definition
to take the top layer off a liquid
To remove a layer or substance from the top of a liquid, especially fat, foam, or impurities.
VERB
C1
4
lefölöz
B2
Usage pattern:
skim [money/profits] (from) [something]
The accountant was accused of skimming money from client payments.
A könyvelőt azzal vádolták, hogy pénzt fölözött le az ügyfelek befizetéseiből.
Investigators believe the manager skimmed a small percentage from every sale.
A nyomozók szerint a vezető minden eladásból lefölözött egy kis százalékot.
The scheme relied on skimming tiny amounts that were hard to detect.
Common mistake:
In this sense skim is about dishonest taking, not reading quickly.
Meaning
take a small amount dishonestly
Collocations
skim money
|skim profits
|skim cash
|skim a percentage
|skim from sales
|skim from the register
|skim from the top
|skim off revenue
|skim small amounts
|skim funds
Synonyms
embezzle (Usually larger amounts and a more formal/legal term.)
|
siphon off (Suggests diverting money or resources away, often gradually.)
Antonyms
pay in (Puts money into an account or system rather than taking it out.)
|
account for (Implies proper reporting rather than concealment.)
Themes
business
|crime
|money
Definition
to secretly take a small amount of money
To take a small amount of money or profit dishonestly, often repeatedly and without being noticed.
NOUN
B2
5
Usage pattern:
have a skim (of/through) [something]
I had a quick skim of the agenda on the train.
A vonaton gyorsan átfutottam a napirendet.
After a skim through the contract, she asked for more time to read it properly.
Miután gyorsan átfutotta a szerződést, több időt kért, hogy alaposan elolvashassa.
Give the email a skim and tell me if anything looks urgent.
Learner examples
I had a quick skim of the news.
Gyorsan átfutottam a híreket.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this noun; in conversation, 'a quick look' is often more natural.
Meaning
a quick reading or look
Collocations
have a skim
|a quick skim
|a skim through the report
|a skim of the headlines
|give it a skim
|after a skim
|do a quick skim
|just a skim
|a skim read
|a brief skim
Synonyms
quick look (More general; not limited to reading.)
|
scan (Often suggests searching for specific items.)
Antonyms
close reading (Careful attention to language and detail.)
|
thorough review (Systematic and detailed checking.)
Themes
education
|work
|communication
Definition
a fast read
A quick reading or look at something, without paying attention to details.
Grammar
Dictionary form
skim
IPA
GB/skˈɪm/
US/skˈɪm/
Syllables & stress
skim (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (skim)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: skim
- 3rd Person Singular: skims
- Present Participle: skimming
- Past: skimmed
Expressions
skim off
1/skˈɪm ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
remove something from the top
to take the top layer off a liquid
Examples
- Skim off the fat once it rises to the surface.
- He used a spoon to skim the foam off the boiling stock.
- After the soup cooled, she skimmed off the layer of oil.
Learner examples
- Skim off the foam.
skim off the top
1/skˈɪm ˈɔf ðə tˈɑp/
idiom
take the best or steal first
to take the best part for yourself first
Examples
- He was accused of skimming off the top of donations.
- Some agencies skim off the top before the money reaches the project.
- The middleman skimmed off the top and paid the suppliers late.
skim over
1/skˈɪm ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
deal with something superficially
to mention or read something only a little
Examples
- The talk skimmed over the causes and focused on solutions.
- I skimmed over the first chapter, so I’ll reread it tonight.
- The report skims over several major risks.
Learner examples
- He skimmed over the details.
skim the surface
1/skˈɪm ðə sˈɚfɪs/
idiom
cover only basic points
to talk about something without details
Examples
- This course only skims the surface of data science.
- We’ve skimmed the surface of the problem, but we haven’t found the root cause.
- The article skims the surface and ignores important evidence.
Learner examples
- The lesson only skimmed the surface.
skim through
1/skˈɪm θɹˈu/
phrasal verb
read quickly and not carefully
to read something fast
Examples
- I skimmed through the notes before the exam.
- She skimmed through the email and missed the attachment.
- He skimmed through the comments to get the general mood.
Learner examples
- I skimmed through the article.