What does "frog" mean?

1. (amphibian) a small, cold-blooded animal with long back legs for jumping that lives both in water and on land. 2. (clothing fastener) an ornamental loop and button used to fasten the front of a coat or jacket. 3. (offensive term for French person) an insulting and offensive word for a French person. 4. (horse's hoof part) the soft, V-shaped part on the bottom of a horse's hoof. 5. (violin bow part) the part of a violin bow that the player holds. 6. (to unravel knitting) to pull apart a piece of knitting because you made a mistake.

How do you use "frog"?

The term comes from the sound 'rip it, rip it', which sounds like a frog's 'ribbit'.

frog

n. · v.

US //ˈfɹɑɡ// UK //fɹˈɒɡ// frog

1 amphibian (n.)
A2 Elementary Science

a small, cold-blooded animal with long back legs for jumping that lives both in water and on land.

any of various tailless amphibians of the order Anura, characterized by long hind limbs adapted for leaping and a semi-aquatic lifestyle.

Example

The children watched a small green frog hop into the pond.

Example

Biologists use the presence of certain frog species as an indicator of the overall health of the local wetland ecosystem.
- amphibian
- toad
2 clothing fastener (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

an ornamental loop and button used to fasten the front of a coat or jacket.

an ornamental braided loop and spindle-shaped button used as a fastener on garments, particularly military or traditional uniforms.

Example

The vintage jacket was decorated with silk frogs instead of regular buttons.

Example

The historical costume designer spent hours recreating the intricate gold frogs that adorned the hussar's ceremonial tunic.
- fastener
- toggle

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3 offensive term for French person (n.)
C2 Proficiency Vulgar Slang

an insulting and offensive word for a French person.

a derogatory ethnic slur directed at French people or French-speaking individuals.

Example

He was criticized for using an offensive term like frog during the argument.

Example

The use of such xenophobic epithets as 'frog' is strictly prohibited under the organization's code of conduct regarding hate speech.
4 horse's hoof part (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

the soft, V-shaped part on the bottom of a horse's hoof.

a triangular, elastic horny pad in the middle of the sole of a horse's hoof that acts as a shock absorber and assists blood circulation.

Example

The farrier checked the frog of the horse's hoof for any signs of infection.

Example

Proper maintenance of the frog is essential for the equine's hoof health, as it provides necessary traction and cushioning during movement.
5 violin bow part (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Music

the part of a violin bow that the player holds.

the device at the lower end of a stringed instrument's bow that holds the hair and adjusts its tension.

Example

He gripped the frog of the bow firmly before starting the concerto.

Example

The luthier carefully adjusted the screw in the frog to ensure the horsehair had the perfect amount of tension for the performance.
- heel
6 to unravel knitting (v.)
C1 Advanced Informal

to pull apart a piece of knitting because you made a mistake.

to rip out or unravel rows of knitting, often to correct an error or reuse the yarn.

Example

I had to frog the entire sweater because I missed a stitch in the first row.

Example

After realizing the gauge was incorrect, she decided to frog the entire sleeve and start over with smaller needles.

Usage

The term comes from the sound 'rip it, rip it', which sounds like a frog's 'ribbit'.
- unravel
- rip out
- knit

Idioms2 entries