tripping
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to catch your foot on something and almost fall while walking or running.
v.the present participle of 'trip', describing the act of catching one's foot on an obstacle and losing balance.
Simple“He wasn't looking where he was going and ended up tripping over a loose rug.”
In context“Tripping over the uneven pavement, the courier narrowly avoided dropping the fragile package he was carrying.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.acting in a strange, foolish, or irrational way.
adj.behaving in an irrational, overly emotional, or nonsensical manner. Informal in register.
Simple“You're tripping if you think I'm going to pay fifty dollars for a sandwich.”
In context“His friends told him he was tripping when he suggested quitting his stable job to become a full-time professional gamer without any savings.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is very common in modern American English to call out someone for being unrealistic or dramatic.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.experiencing the effects of a drug that makes you see or hear things that aren't there.
adj.experiencing a drug-induced hallucination or altered state of consciousness.
Simple“The main character in the movie spent the whole night tripping in the desert.”
In context“The medical staff had to calm the patient down because he was tripping on an unknown substance and couldn't follow instructions.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
adj.moving with quick, light, and graceful steps.
adj.characterised by light, nimble, or rhythmic movement, often used in a poetic or descriptive context.
Simple“She moved with a tripping gait across the garden to greet her guests.”
In context“The poet described the tripping rhythm of the stream as it flowed over the smooth river stones.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the physical act of catching your foot and stumbling.
n.the action of losing one's footing or the event of stumbling over an object.
Simple“The athlete's sudden tripping cost him the lead in the final lap of the race.”
In context“Safety inspectors noted that the tripping of employees was a frequent occurrence due to the poorly maintained warehouse floors.”
Synonymsstumblemisstep
“McDonald looked over at Davis at one point, saying, "talk to your lawyer man, this dude is tripping".”