sap
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to slowly take away someone's strength, energy, or confidence.
v.to gradually weaken or destroy a person's strength or a system's foundations. Transitive; often used with abstract objects like 'energy', 'will', or 'confidence'.
Simple“The long, hot walk in the sun started to sap my energy.”
In context“Years of internal conflict and corruption served to sap the nation's economic vitality, leaving it vulnerable to external shocks.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the liquid that carries food through a plant or tree.
n.the fluid, consisting of water and dissolved nutrients, that circulates through the vascular system of a plant.
Simple“Maple syrup is made by boiling the sap collected from maple trees.”
In context“In early spring, the rising sap provides the necessary nutrients for the dormant buds to begin their seasonal growth.”
UsageUncountable in most botanical contexts.
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a person who is too kind or easy to trick. You might call someone this if they believe a lie very easily.
n.a person regarded as weak, overly sentimental, or easily deceived. Informal and slightly dated in register.
Simple“I felt like a total sap for believing his excuse about the car.”
In context“He was a bit of a sap when it came to romance, always falling for the most obvious sob stories.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is somewhat old-fashioned; modern speakers might use 'pushover' or 'sucker' instead.
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a small, heavy tool used as a weapon to hit someone.
n.a short, heavy, often leather-covered club used as a bludgeon. Primarily American English usage.
Simple“The detective in the old movie carried a sap in his pocket for protection.”
In context“The assailant was apprehended while attempting to conceal a lead-filled sap beneath his coat.”
Teacher's tipMostly found in mid-20th-century crime fiction and film noir.
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a very large German company that makes software for businesses.
n.A major multinational software corporation (SAP SE) specialising in enterprise resource planning software.
Simple“Our company is switching to SAP to manage our payroll and inventory.”
In context“The implementation of the new SAP module was delayed due to unforeseen compatibility issues with the existing legacy database.”
UsageUsually pronounced as individual letters (S-A-P).
Teacher's tipIn business contexts, this is almost always the intended meaning.
“It blocks the flow of sap in trees, causing them to wilt and die within months.”
“The starting point is the same as for an ordinary balloon: natural latex derived from the sap of the rubber tree, native to the Amazon.”
Abbreviation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.