# sap

/ˈsæp/ (US) · /sˈæp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sap
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to weaken or drain

verb · CEFR B2

to slowly take away someone's strength, energy, or confidence.

For teachers: 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'.

- The long, hot walk in the sun started to sap my energy.
- Years of internal conflict and corruption served to sap the nation's economic vitality, leaving it vulnerable to external shocks.

### 2. plant liquid

noun · CEFR B2

the liquid that carries food through a plant or tree.

For teachers: the fluid, consisting of water and dissolved nutrients, that circulates through the vascular system of a plant.

- Maple syrup is made by boiling the sap collected from maple trees.
- In early spring, the rising sap provides the necessary nutrients for the dormant buds to begin their seasonal growth.

Usage: Uncountable in most botanical contexts.

### 3. a foolish person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who is too kind or easy to trick. You might call someone this if they believe a lie very easily.

For teachers: a person regarded as weak, overly sentimental, or easily deceived. Informal and slightly dated in register.

- I felt like a total sap for believing his excuse about the car.
- He was a bit of a sap when it came to romance, always falling for the most obvious sob stories.

Teaching tip: This sense is somewhat old-fashioned; modern speakers might use 'pushover' or 'sucker' instead.

### 4. a weapon

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Informal

a small, heavy tool used as a weapon to hit someone.

For teachers: a short, heavy, often leather-covered club used as a bludgeon. Primarily American English usage.

- The detective in the old movie carried a sap in his pocket for protection.
- The assailant was apprehended while attempting to conceal a lead-filled sap beneath his coat.

Teaching tip: Mostly found in mid-20th-century crime fiction and film noir.

### 5. software company

noun · CEFR B2

a very large German company that makes software for businesses.

For teachers: A major multinational software corporation (SAP SE) specialising in enterprise resource planning software.

- Our company is switching to SAP to manage our payroll and inventory.
- The implementation of the new SAP module was delayed due to unforeseen compatibility issues with the existing legacy database.

Usage: Usually pronounced as individual letters (S-A-P).

Teaching tip: In business contexts, this is almost always the intended meaning.

## Examples

- He is such a sap for romantic movies.
- The con artist targeted him because he looked like a total sap who would believe any sad story.
- While his colleagues remained cynical about the merger, he was enough of a sap to believe the CEO's promises of job security for everyone.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.