slither
gb/slˈɪðɚ/ us/slˈɪðɚ/
B2
Kiingereza
kúszik, kígyózik, bekúszik, elsurran, megcsúszik, csúszkál, kúszás, surrogás
KITENZI
B2
1
Muundo wa matumizi:
[animal] slithers (+ along/across/through [place])
A snake slithered through the long grass and disappeared into the hedge.
Egy kígyó átkúszott a magas füvön, és eltűnt a sövényben.
We watched the lizard slither across the warm rock.
Néztük, ahogy a gyík átkúszott a meleg sziklán.
Earthworms slither along the soil after heavy rain.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
The snake slithered away.
A kígyó elkúszott.
I saw a worm slither on the ground.
Láttam egy férget kúszni a földön.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes use *slither* for normal walking; it suggests a snake-like sliding motion.
Maana
move like a snake
Miunganiko ya maneno
slither along
|slither across the floor
|slither through the grass
|slither into a hole
|slither out from under
|slither away
|slither silently
|slither forward
|slither between rocks
|slither over
Visawe
wriggle (Emphasizes twisting movement, not necessarily forward progress.)
|
glide (Suggests smooth motion, but usually without the twisting shape.)
Vinyume
stand still (No movement at all.)
Mada
animals
|nature
|movement
Ufafanuzi
If a snake slithers, it moves forward by sliding and turning its body.
To move forward by sliding over a surface with a twisting, curving motion, like a snake.
KITENZI
C1
2
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone/something] slithers (+ into/out of/through/past [place])
He slithered into the meeting late and took the nearest empty seat.
Késve besurrant a megbeszélésre, és elfoglalta a legközelebbi üres széket.
Fog slithered through the trees and across the road.
A köd bekúszott a fák közé, és ráterült az útra.
The scarf slithered through her fingers as she tried to tie it.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
The cat slithered under the sofa.
A macska bekúszott a kanapé alá.
She slithered past without a sound.
Hangtalanul elsurrant.
Kosa la kawaida:
Don’t confuse *slither* with *slide*: *slither* often suggests a long, curving motion and can sound slightly negative when used about people.
Maana
move smoothly and quietly
Miunganiko ya maneno
slither into the room
|slither through a gap
|slither past
|slither between
|slither around
|slither out
|slither quietly
|slither silently
|slither closer
|slither back
Visawe
sneak (Focuses on secrecy; not necessarily smooth or snake-like movement.)
|
glide (Neutral/positive smooth movement; lacks the creepy or sneaky suggestion.)
Vinyume
stomp (Loud, heavy movement rather than quiet, smooth movement.)
Mada
movement
|daily_life
|stories
Ufafanuzi
To move in a smooth, quiet way, like a snake.
To move smoothly and quietly in a way that suggests a snake-like, sinuous motion.
KITENZI
C1
3
megcsúszik
B1
csúszkál
B1
Muundo wa matumizi:
[vehicle/object/person] slithers (+ along/down/over [surface])
The car slithered on the ice and narrowly missed the barrier.
Az autó megcsúszott a jégen, és kis híján nekiütközött a korlátnak.
Loose stones made us slither down the path despite our boots.
A laza kövek miatt a bakancsunk ellenére is meg-megcsúszva ereszkedtünk le az ösvényen.
The canoe slithered over the mud as they dragged it to the water.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
The car slithered on the wet road.
Az autó megcsúszott a nedves úton.
Kosa la kawaida:
Use *skid* more for vehicles; *slither* adds a snaking, side-to-side feeling.
Maana
slide or skid without control
Miunganiko ya maneno
slither on ice
|slither across the road
|slither down the slope
|slither down a bank
|slither sideways
|slither out of control
|slither towards
|slither over gravel
|slither on wet leaves
|slither downhill
Visawe
skid (Common for vehicles; focuses on loss of traction.)
|
slide (More general; may be controlled or intentional.)
Vinyume
grip (To hold the surface firmly rather than slipping.)
Mada
transport
|movement
|weather
Ufafanuzi
To slide in an uncontrolled way, often on something slippery.
To slide or skid in a way that is hard to control, often because a surface is steep, slippery, or unstable.
NOMINO
C1
4
Muundo wa matumizi:
a slither (of [something])
With a soft slither, the snake vanished into the undergrowth.
Halk surrogással a kígyó eltűnt az aljnövényzetben.
She heard the slither of something moving in the leaves behind her.
Hallotta valaminek a surrogását a háta mögötti levelek között.
Kosa la kawaida:
Don’t confuse *slither* with *sliver* (a thin piece).
Maana
a snake-like sliding movement
Miunganiko ya maneno
with a slither
|a sudden slither
|a quiet slither
|the slither of a snake
|hear a slither
|a slither through the grass
Visawe
wriggle (Emphasizes twisting, often without smooth forward sliding.)
|
slide (More general and usually lacks the snake-like idea.)
Vinyume
stillness (The absence of movement.)
Mada
movement
|animals
|nature
Ufafanuzi
A slither is a smooth, twisting sliding movement.
A smooth, twisting sliding movement like that of a snake; an instance of slithering.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
slither
IPA
GB/slˈɪðɚ/
US/slˈɪðɚ/
Silabi na mkazo
slith - er (silabi 2)
Stress on 1st syllable (slith)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: slither
- 3rd Person Singular: slithers
- Present Participle: slithering
- Past: slithered
Semi
slither away
1/slˈɪðɚ əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
leave quietly and sneakily
To leave quietly, often so people don’t notice.
Mifano
- When the questions started, he slithered away toward the door.
- The rumor didn’t go away; it just slithered away for a while and came back later.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He slithered away before anyone could stop him.
slither down
1/slˈɪðɚ dˈaʊn/
fixed phrase
slide down something slippery
To slide down in a way that is hard to control.
Mifano
- We slithered down the muddy bank to the river.
- The van slithered down the hill when the road turned icy.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- They slithered down the hill.
slither into
1/slˈɪðɚ ˈɪntu/
fixed phrase
enter quietly and smoothly
To go into a place quietly and smoothly.
Mifano
- She slithered into the back row after the film had started.
- Cold air slithered into the room through the gap under the door.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He slithered into the room.
slither out of
1/slˈɪðɚ ˈaʊt əv/
phrasal verb
avoid responsibility or escape
To avoid doing something you should do, in a sneaky way.
Mifano
- He tried to slither out of paying by claiming he’d forgotten his wallet.
- Don’t let them slither out of responsibility for the mistake.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- She slithered out of doing the work.
slither up to
1/slˈɪðɚ ˈʌp tə/
fixed phrase
approach in a creepy way
To come close to someone quietly in a way that feels creepy or sneaky.
Mifano
- He slithered up to her and started asking personal questions.
- A man in a dark coat slithered up to the counter and whispered to the clerk.