tuck
gb/tˈʌk/ us/tˈʌk/
A2
English
~ 1700
betűr, bedug, tűr, nekiesik, jóízűen nekilát, betakargat, betakar, varrott hajtás, büfé
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to tuck [something] [somewhere]
She tucked her hair behind her ears.
A füle mögé tűrte a haját.
He tucked the letter into his jacket pocket.
A levelet a kabátja zsebébe dugta.
Please tuck your shirt in before the meeting.
The boy tucked the blanket under his chin.
I tucked the receipt into my wallet.
Learner examples
She tucked her shirt in.
Betűrte az ingét.
He tucked the paper into his bag.
Bedugta a papírt a táskájába.
I tucked my phone into my pocket.
She tucked the blanket around the baby.
He tucked the pen behind his ear.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tuck' with 'fold'. 'Tuck' usually involves securing something in place, not just bending it.
Meaning
Push or fold into place
Collocations
tuck in shirt
|tuck into bed
|tuck away
|tuck behind ear
|tuck into pocket
Synonyms
insert (More formal; emphasizes putting something inside a space.)
|
stuff (Informal; can imply doing it quickly or carelessly.)
Antonyms
untuck (Opposite action; to pull something out from being tucked in.)
Themes
daily life
|clothing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To push or fold something into a small space or to make it stay in place.
To push, fold, or insert something into a small space, or so that it is held in place and not visible.
VERB
B1
INFORMAL
2
nekiesik
B2
Usage pattern:
to tuck into [food]
The children tucked into the birthday cake.
A gyerekek nekiestek a születésnapi tortának.
After the long hike, we tucked into a big meal.
A hosszú túra után jó étvággyal nekiláttunk egy nagy adag ételnek.
He tucked into his sandwich as soon as he sat down.
Learner examples
We tucked into the pizza.
Nekiestünk a pizzának.
She tucked into her lunch.
Nekiesett az ebédjének.
They tucked into the cake after dinner.
Common mistake:
Some learners use 'tuck' alone to mean 'eat', but in this meaning it almost always appears as 'tuck into'.
Meaning
Eat eagerly
Collocations
tuck into dinner
|tuck into cake
|tuck into meal
Synonyms
devour (Stronger; suggests eating very fast or greedily.)
|
enjoy (More general; not necessarily about food.)
Antonyms
pick at (To eat without enthusiasm or very little.)
Themes
food
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
To start eating something with energy and enjoyment.
To eat something with great enjoyment and enthusiasm, often used in the phrase 'tuck into'.
VERB
A2
3
betakargat
B1
betakar
A2
Usage pattern:
to tuck [someone] in
She tucked the baby in before leaving the room.
Mielőtt kiment a szobából, betakargatta a kisbabát.
Dad came to tuck me in and say goodnight.
Apa bejött, hogy betakargasson és jó éjszakát kívánjon.
He gently tucked her in with an extra blanket.
Learner examples
My mother tucks me in at night.
Édesanyám esténként betakargat.
He tucked the baby in.
Betakargatta a kisbabát.
She tucks her son in every night.
Meaning
Arrange blankets around someone
Collocations
tuck in child
|tuck in at night
Synonyms
cover (More general; may not involve securing the covers snugly.)
Antonyms
uncover (To remove blankets from someone.)
Themes
family
|daily life
|daily_life
|housing
Definition
To put a blanket around someone in bed to keep them warm and comfortable.
To arrange bedclothes around someone to make them warm and comfortable, especially a child.
NOUN
B2
4
The dress had delicate tucks along the bodice.
A ruha felsőrészén finom varrott hajtások voltak.
She added a tuck to shorten the skirt.
Bevarrt egy hajtást, hogy megrövidítse a szoknyát.
The tailor made two tucks at the waistline.
Learner examples
The shirt has small tucks on the front.
Az ing elején apró varrott hajtások vannak.
He made a tuck in the dress.
Egy hajtást varrt a ruhába.
The tailor made a tuck in my pants.
Meaning
Sewn fold in fabric
Collocations
sew a tuck
|dress with tucks
Synonyms
pleat (Similar but usually larger and can be unstitched for cleaning.)
Themes
clothing
Definition
A small fold sewn into clothes for decoration or to make them fit better.
A small, stitched fold in cloth made for decoration or to adjust the fit of a garment.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
5
büfé
A2
We bought crisps from the tuck shop during break.
Szünetben csipszet vettünk az iskolai büfében.
The campers lined up at the tuck shop after lunch.
Ebéd után a táborozók sorba álltak a büfénél.
She ran the school tuck shop for three years.
Learner examples
I went to the tuck shop for candy.
Elmentem az iskolai büfébe édességért.
The school has a tuck shop.
Az iskolában van büfé.
We buy snacks from the tuck shop.
Meaning
Snack shop (UK)
Collocations
tuck shop
Synonyms
snack bar (More general; can be anywhere, not just schools or camps.)
Themes
food
|food_drink
|education
|daily_life
Definition
In British English, a small shop that sells sweets and snacks, often at school or camp.
A small shop or counter, especially in a school or camp, selling sweets and snacks (British English).
Grammar
Dictionary form
tuck
IPA
GB/tˈʌk/
US/tˈʌk/
Syllables & stress
tuck (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tuck)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tuck
- Plural: tuck, tucks
Verb
- Base: tuck
- 3rd Person Singular: tucks
- Present Participle: tucking
- Past: tucked
Word family
Forms
tucks
noun
tucking
verb
tucked
verb
Negative and opposite forms
untuck
verb
untucked
adjective
Expressions
tuck away
1/tˈʌk əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
Hide or store something safely
To put something away in a safe or hidden place until later.
Examples
- She tucked away her savings in a secret drawer.
- The documents were safely tucked away in the cabinet.
tuck in
1/tˈʌk ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
Arrange blankets snugly around someone
To put blankets around someone in bed to keep them warm and comfortable.
Examples
- She came to tuck me in before I fell asleep.
- He tucked the child in with an extra blanket.
tuck into
1/tˈʌk ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
informal
Eat eagerly and enjoyably
To start eating something with energy and enjoyment.
Examples
- Everyone tucked into the roast dinner as soon as it was served.
- He tucked into his burger without saying a word.
tuck up
1/tˈʌk ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Fold clothing upwards temporarily
To fold clothes up so they are shorter or don't get dirty.
Examples
- She tucked up her skirt before walking through the stream.
- He tucked up his sleeves before washing dishes.