tack
gb/tˈæk/ us/tˈæk/
B1
English
megközelítés, taktika, rajzszög, csapás, lószerszám, irányt vált, vált, feltűz, fércel, csapást vált, cirkál
NOUN
B2
1
megközelítés
B2
taktika
B2
Usage pattern:
take a [adjective] tack; adopt a [adjective] tack; a tack on [something]
The company took a different tack and focused on customer service instead of discounts.
A vállalat más megközelítést választott: az árengedmények helyett az ügyfélszolgálatra összpontosított.
When the interview got tense, she shifted tack and started asking simpler questions.
Amikor az interjú feszültté vált, taktikát váltott, és egyszerűbb kérdéseket kezdett feltenni.
His tack was to stay calm and let the facts speak for themselves.
Learner examples
Let’s try a new tack.
Próbáljunk ki egy új megközelítést.
Her tack was to apologize and explain.
Az volt a taktikája, hogy bocsánatot kér és magyarázatot ad.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the sailing meaning; in this sense it means an approach or strategy.
Meaning
a way of dealing with something
Collocations
take a different tack
|change tack
|adopt a new tack
|try another tack
|a diplomatic tack
|a hard-line tack
|a softer tack
|a more cautious tack
|take the opposite tack
|a tack on the issue
Synonyms
approach (General word for a method of dealing with something.)
|
strategy (Often implies planning to achieve a goal.)
|
line (Common in phrases like 'line of argument'.)
Themes
communication
|work
|problem_solving
Definition
A way of doing something or dealing with a situation.
A particular way of approaching a problem or situation; a method or line of action.
NOUN
B1
2
rajzszög
B1
Usage pattern:
a tack in/into [surface]; a tack through [material]
She used a tack to pin the note to the bulletin board.
Egy rajzszöggel tűzte ki a cetlit a faliújságra.
Be careful—there are loose tacks on the floor.
Vigyázz, elszórt rajzszögek vannak a padlón.
He tapped the tack in with a small hammer.
Learner examples
I put a tack in the wall.
Rajzszöget szúrtam a falba.
The paper is held up with tacks.
A papír rajzszögekkel van feltűzve.
Common mistake:
In American English, a 'thumbtack' is a specific kind of tack you press in with your thumb.
Meaning
a small sharp nail
Collocations
drawing tack
|brass tack
|carpet tack
|a box of tacks
|hammer in a tack
|pull out a tack
|push a tack into the wall
|tacks and nails
|a tack board
|sharp tack
Synonyms
pin (Often used for attaching paper or fabric; not always hammered in.)
|
small nail (Descriptive, but less specific than 'tack'.)
Themes
daily_life
|materials
|diy
Definition
A small nail used to hold something in place.
A small nail with a flat head used to fasten paper, fabric, or other light materials to a surface.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
csapás
C1
Usage pattern:
on port/starboard tack; change tack; a long/short tack
They were on starboard tack as they headed toward the buoy.
Jobb csapáson haladtak, miközben a bója felé tartottak.
Because of the wind, the crew sailed a series of short tacks across the bay.
A szél miatt a legénység több rövid csapással vitorlázott át az öblön.
On the new tack, the boat picked up speed.
Learner examples
The boat is on port tack.
A hajó bal csapáson halad.
Common mistake:
Not the same as 'track'; 'tack' is specific to sailing and wind direction.
Meaning
a sailing direction or leg
Collocations
port tack
|starboard tack
|change tack
|a long tack
|a short tack
|be on the same tack
|lay a tack
|close-hauled tack
|make a tack
|tacks and gybes
Synonyms
leg (In sailing, a 'leg' is one section of a course; 'tack' is a leg defined by wind angle.)
Themes
sports
|travel
|nautical
Definition
In sailing, the direction the boat goes compared to the wind.
In sailing, the direction a boat is moving relative to the wind, or a single leg of a zigzag course; often described as port tack or starboard tack.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
lószerszám
B2
Usage pattern:
horse tack; riding tack; a set of tack
She stored the tack in the tack room after the lesson.
A lovaglóóra után eltette a lószerszámot a nyeregszobába.
Before the ride, he checked the tack for loose straps.
Lovaglás előtt ellenőrizte a lószerszámot, nincs-e rajta meglazult szíj.
The stable bought new tack for the school horses.
Learner examples
I cleaned the tack after riding.
Lovaglás után megtisztítottam a lószerszámot.
Common mistake:
This 'tack' is unrelated to nails; it’s used in horse-riding contexts.
Meaning
equipment used for riding a horse
Collocations
horse tack
|riding tack
|tack room
|clean the tack
|a tack shop
|leather tack
|saddle and tack
|check the tack
|borrow tack
|new tack
Synonyms
riding gear (More general; can include rider’s clothing as well.)
|
horse gear (Informal, broad term.)
Themes
sports
|animals
|equestrian
Definition
Riding equipment for a horse.
Equipment used to ride and control a horse, such as a saddle, bridle, and reins.
VERB
C1
5
irányt vált
B1
vált
B1
Usage pattern:
tack (toward/to) [a new approach/position]
After the backlash, the spokesperson tacked toward a more conciliatory tone.
A heves visszhang után a szóvivő békülékenyebb hangnemre váltott.
When the facts changed, the campaign tacked quickly to a new message.
Amikor megváltoztak a tények, a kampány gyorsan új üzenetre váltott.
He tacked away from personal attacks and focused on policy.
Learner examples
We tacked to a new plan.
Új tervre váltottunk.
Common mistake:
Often appears as 'change tack'; as a standalone verb it can sound slightly formal or journalistic.
Meaning
to change approach or direction
Collocations
tack toward compromise
|tack to the center
|tack away from controversy
|tack back
|tack sharply
|tack gradually
|tack toward safety
|tack to a new position
Synonyms
shift (General change; less tied to deliberate strategy.)
|
pivot (Emphasizes a noticeable, strategic change.)
Antonyms
stick (To keep the same approach rather than changing it.)
Themes
communication
|work
|problem_solving
Definition
To change how you deal with something.
To change your approach, position, or way of speaking in order to achieve a result.
VERB
B2
6
Usage pattern:
tack [something] (to/onto) [something]; tack [fabric] in place
She tacked the fabric in place before sewing the final seam.
A végleges varrás előtt odafércelte az anyagot a helyére.
We tacked the poster to the wall for the weekend.
A hétvége idejére rajzszöggel feltűztük a plakátot a falra.
He tacked the loose corner down so no one would trip.
Learner examples
I tacked the paper to the board.
Feltűztem a papírt a táblára.
Common mistake:
Learners may think it always means nails; in sewing it can also mean temporary stitches.
Meaning
to fasten lightly or temporarily
Collocations
tack in place
|tack to the wall
|tack onto a board
|tack the hem
|tack the fabric
|tack along the edge
|tack the poster up
|tack down the corners
|tack a note
|tack the lining
Synonyms
pin (Often used for fabric; usually easier to remove than tacking.)
|
baste (Sewing term for temporary long stitches.)
Antonyms
detach (To remove an attachment instead of making one.)
Themes
diy
|materials
|crafts
Definition
To attach something for a short time, not permanently.
To attach something lightly or temporarily, especially with a tack or with large temporary stitches.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
7
csapást vált
C1
cirkál
C1
Usage pattern:
tack; tack to port/starboard; tack upwind; tack across [water]
They tacked twice to reach the harbor against the wind.
Kétszer csapást váltottak, hogy széllel szemben elérjék a kikötőt.
As the gust hit, the skipper tacked and headed for safer water.
Amikor lecsapott a széllökés, a kormányos csapást váltott, és biztonságosabb vizek felé vette az irányt.
The dinghy tacked back and forth along the shoreline.
Learner examples
The boat tacked to the left.
A hajó balra csapást váltott.
Common mistake:
Often confused with 'jibe/gybe' (turning with the stern through the wind).
Meaning
to turn a sailboat through the wind
Collocations
tack upwind
|tack across the bay
|tack to port
|tack to starboard
|tack repeatedly
|tack quickly
|tack in light winds
|tack through the wind
|tack toward shore
|learn to tack
Synonyms
beat (Sailing term for working upwind by repeated tacks.)
Themes
sports
|nautical
|travel
Definition
In sailing, to turn so the wind comes from the other side.
To change a sailboat’s direction by turning its bow through the wind so that the wind shifts from one side of the sails to the other; also, to make progress by sailing in a zigzag pattern against the wind.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tack
IPA
GB/tˈæk/
US/tˈæk/
Syllables & stress
tack (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tack)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tack
- Plural: tack, tacks
Verb
- Base: tack
- 3rd Person Singular: tacks
- Present Participle: tacking
- Past: tacked
Expressions
change tack
1/t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ tˈæk/
fixed phrase
change your approach
To try a different way of doing something.
Examples
- If this isn’t working, we may need to change tack.
- She changed tack and started asking about his experience instead of his grades.
- The negotiations stalled, so both sides agreed to change tack.
Learner examples
- Let’s change tack.
get down to brass tacks
1/ɡˈɛt dˈaʊn tə bɹˈæs tˈæks/
idiom
informal
Discuss most important details
To start talking about the most important facts or details of something.
Examples
- Let’s get down to brass tacks and talk about how much it will cost.
- After some small talk, they got down to brass tacks.
get down to brass tacks
1/ɡˈɛt dˈaʊn tə bɹˈæs tˈæks/
idiom
informal
talk about practical facts
To focus on the most important details.
Examples
- We’ve chatted enough—let’s get down to brass tacks and set a budget.
- After the introductions, the team got down to brass tacks.
- If we’re going to do this, we need to get down to brass tacks.
on the right tack
1/ˈɔn ðə ɹˈaɪt tˈæk/
idiom
doing something the right way
To be doing something in the correct way.
Examples
- Your reasoning is solid—you’re on the right tack.
- The first draft wasn’t working, but the new version is on the right tack.
- If the results improve next week, we’ll know we’re on the right tack.
Learner examples
- I think we are on the right tack.
tack down
1/tˈæk dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
fasten or fix firmly
To make something stay in place, or to decide something exactly.
Examples
- They tacked down the loose edge of the carpet to stop it curling.
- Let’s tack down the meeting time before everyone leaves.
- We need to tack down the details before we announce anything.
Learner examples
- We tacked down the date.
tack on
1/tˈæk ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
add something extra at the end
To add something extra.
Examples
- Can we tack on a quick stop at the pharmacy?
- They tacked on an extra fee at the end of the bill.
- He tacked on a short apology before leaving the stage.
Learner examples
- She tacked on a question at the end.
tack up
1/tˈæk ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
fasten something to a wall
To put something up with tacks.
Examples
- They tacked up the schedule on the noticeboard.
- I’ll tack up a sign so people know where to go.
- She tacked the map up in her office for quick reference.
Learner examples
- We tacked up a poster.
tack up
2/tˈæk ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
technical
put riding gear on a horse
To put a saddle and bridle on a horse.
Examples
- She tacked up the horse while the instructor adjusted the stirrups.
- We tacked up in the barn before heading out on the trail.
- He learned to tack up quickly and check every strap.
Learner examples
- I tacked up the horse.
take a different tack
1/tˈeɪk ə dˈɪfɹənt tˈæk/
fixed phrase
try a new approach
To do something in a new way.
Examples
- To reach younger customers, the brand took a different tack on advertising.
- He took a different tack and asked for feedback instead of defending himself.
- The teacher took a different tack to explain the same grammar point.
Learner examples
- I will take a different tack.