stiffstiff1 /stɪf/ ●●○ S3 adjective (comparative stiffer, superlative stiffest) 
Her legs were stiff from kneeling.stiff with Her fingers were stiff with cold.stiff neck/back/joint etc Alastair woke with a stiff neck. I never felt stiff after training until I was in my thirties. The next morning I was as stiff as a board (=very stiff).► see thesaurus at painful2material/substance firm, hard, or difficult to bend: a shirt with a stiff collar► see thesaurus at hard3mixture a stiff mixture is thick and almost solid, so that it is not easy to mix: Beat the egg whites until stiff. a stiff dough4difficult difficult to do or deal with: a stiff teststiff competition/opposition Graduates face stiff competition in getting jobs.5severe a stiff punishment is great or severestiff sentence/penalty/fine calls for stiffer penalties for rapists6door/drawer etc British English difficult to move, turn, or open: Pull hard – that drawer’s very stiff.7unfriendly if someone’s behaviour is stiff, they behave in a very formal or unfriendly way: Their goodbyes were stiff and formal. Parsons gave a stiff performance in the main role.8price a stiff price etc is high, especially higher than the price etc of similar things: a stiff tax on cigarettes9stiff wind/breeze a fairly strong wind etc10stiff drink/whisky etc a very strong alcoholic drink11stiff upper lip the ability to stay calm and not show your feelings in a difficult or upsetting situation: Men were taught to keep a stiff upper lip.—stiffly adverb—stiffness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINstiff1
Origin:
Old English stifEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a stiff piece of cardboard
- After a twelve hour plane ride, my back was stiff and sore.
- As you get older, your muscles become stiffer.
- For crimes involving the use of guns, the sentences are particularly stiff.
- I felt really stiff after playing basketball last week.
- I woke up with a stiff neck this morning.
- In the extreme cold my wet shoes became frozen stiff.
- Magistrates now have the power to impose stiff penalties on the parents of children who fail to turn up for school.
- Motorists who do not obey the rules will face stiff fines of up to £3000.
- My legs are stiff from going running last night.
- She gives the impression of being rather stiff and unfriendly, but I think that's because she's basically shy.
- The collar of his shirt felt stiff and uncomfortable.
- The leaves of the anubias plant are very stiff.
- The sheets outside on the washing line had gone stiff in the frost.
- Their good-byes were stiff and formal.
- To make the picture, you will need a sheet of stiff card.
- I tried to smile back, but my face that day was curiously stiff.
- Rarely, a subarachnoid bleed can present with high fever, stiff neck, and headache masquerading as meningitis.
- The dress didn't suit her, it was too stiff and smart, it looked as if she was trying too hard.
- The tremolo would probably need setting up properly because it feels stiff and uneven in use.
- Whether the high jumper can requalify against stiff competition depends in large part upon the other big change: her takeoff.
- With slow wrinkling his stiff face relaxed now and then into a feminine tender smile.
THESAURUSwhen a part of your body hurts
used for describing a part of the body that hurts: · Her leg is still painful where she broke it.· painful joints· She was suffering from painful stomach cramps.
painful when touched: · The skin around the wound is very tender.
painful and difficult to move: · I’ve got a stiff neck.· Her body was stiff from sitting in the car for so long.
painful as a result of a wound, infection, or too much exercise: · sore muscles· a sore throat· The wound was sore and red.
difficult to press down, break, or cut, and not at all soft: · I fell onto the hard stone floor.· The clay gets harder as it dries.
not completely hard, but not easy to press or bend – used especially when this seems a good thing: · I like to sleep on a firm mattress.· exercises to make your stomach muscles nice and firm· The pears were firm and juicy.
difficult to bend and not changing shape: · a piece of stiff cardboard· The collar of his shirt felt stiff and uncomfortable.
made of a thick hard material and not hollow: · a solid oak door· The floor felt strong and solid beneath her feet.
having a structure that is made of a material that is difficult or impossible to bend: · The tent is supported by a rigid frame.· Carry sandwiches in a rigid container.
used about food that is pleasantly hard, so that it makes a noise when you bite it – often used about things that have been cooked in thin slices until they are brown: · Bake the cookies until they are crisp and golden.· crispy bacon
food that is crunchy makes a noise when you bite on it – often used about things that are fresh, for example fruit, vegetables, and nuts: · a crunchy breakfast cereal· The carrots were still nice and crunchy.· a crunchy salad· crunchy peanut butter
meat that is tough is too hard and is difficult to cut or eat: · The meat was tough and flavourless.
too hard and bending like rubber rather than breaking – used especially about meat: · The chicken was all rubbery.
Longman Language Activatornot easy to bend a substance such as cloth or paper that is stiff is hard and is difficult to bend: · The leaves of the plant are very stiff.· a stiff piece of cardboardfrozen stiff: · In the extreme cold my wet shoes became frozen stiff.
an object or structure that is rigid is strong and will not bend or change its shape: · The framework of the aircraft must be rigid yet light.· About a dozen large rigid plates make up the Earth's crust.
when something does not change its shape or bend · That night I had to sleep on a hard stone floor.· I wish this chair wasn't so hard and uncomfortable.· Diamond is probably the hardest substance known to man.· As people age, their skin becomes harder and less supple.rock- hard (=very hard) · After several weeks without rain, the ground was rock-hard.as hard as something · A tiled floor in the kitchen is as hard as stone, and very cold beneath your feet.
something that is solid is made of thick hard material, is not hollow, and is difficult to damage or break: · The door was made of solid steel.· During winter the lake became a solid block of ice.
something that is firm is not completely hard, but does not change shape much when you press it - use this about things that are sometimes soft, for example fruit, muscles, or the ground: · I find I sleep better on a firm mattress.· These exercises are good for making your stomach muscles nice and firm.
something that is stiff keeps its shape and is not easy to bend: · To make the picture, you will need a sheet of stiff card.· The collar of his shirt felt stiff and uncomfortable.go stiff British: · The sheets outside on the washing line had gone stiff in the frost.
a material that is rigid is difficult or impossible to bend, and is often used to support something else: · The tent is made of strong canvas attached to a rigid frame.· Spoon the ice-cream into a rigid plastic container and freeze.
when it is difficult to move something especially spoken if you can't move , you are unable to move, for example because you are injured: · Elsie was so frightened that she couldn't move.can't move something: · I can't move my leg - I think it's broken.
someone or something that is stuck is fixed or trapped in a particular position or place and cannot move or be moved: · I can't open the window - it's stuck.stuck in/at/between etc: · The elevator was stuck between two floors.get stuck (=become stuck): · They tried to drive through the snow, but the car got stuck.stuck in traffic: · Sorry I'm late. I got stuck in traffic.
something that is jammed cannot be moved because it is trapped between two surfaces or trapped between parts of a machine: · The drawer's jammed - I can't get it open.jammed in/under/between etc: · The paper has got jammed in the printer again.
if your fingers, back, neck, legs etc are stiff , it is difficult and usually painful for you to move them: · I woke up with a stiff neck this morning.· After a twelve hour plane ride, my back was stiff and sore.feel stiff: · I felt really stiff after playing basketball last week.
British /paralyzed American when it is difficult or impossible to move your body: completely/partially paralyzed: · A car crash in 1997 left him completely paralysed.paralysed with: · Deborah stood at the side of the stage, paralyzed with fear.
unable to move or be moved from a place: · After the flood, hundreds of stranded vehicles lined the roads.stranded on/in/at etc: · Whales occasionally swim too close to shore and become stranded in the shallow water.leave somebody stranded: · My car broke down, and I was left stranded by the side of the road.
also caught up British if two or more things are entangled or caught up , they are completely twisted together so that they cannot move or separate: entangled in: · His hands were entangled in the ropes.· My glasses were caught up in my hair and I couldn't take them off.become/get entangled/caught up (in): · A child swimming in the river had become entangled in the weeds and been drowned.· Our umbrellas got caught up as we tried to squeeze past each other.
if something won't budge , or you can't budge it, you cannot move it even though you try very hard: · Could you give me a hand with this box? It won't budge.· The dresser was so heavy that I couldn't even budge it.not budge (something) an inch: · I tried to raise the window, but it wouldn't budge an inch.
behaving in a very polite and formal way · Our boss is very formal - he doesn't call anyone by their first name.· A lot of people found my father rather formal and aloof, particularly when they first met him.· You shouldn't use "Yours faithfully" - it's much too formal for this kind of letter.
strictly following all of the rules of polite and formal behaviour, even when this is not necessary: · Andrew's marriage proposal was very correct and proper.· One must be correct about these things, mustn't one?
very formal and difficult to talk to, in a way that makes other people feel uncomfortable: · She gives the impression of being rather stiff and unfriendly, but I think that's because she's basically shy.· Their goodbyes were stiff and formal.
punishments/criticism use this to describe a punishment or criticism that is very strict: · There are very severe penalties for drug dealing.· Many people feel the punishment should have been more severe.· The organization has been the subject of severe criticism for the way it treated its staff.
use this to describe a punishment that is strict: heavy fine: · Companies that continue to cause pollution will now face heavy fines.heavy penalty: · There are heavy penalties for anyone caught in possession of counterfeit money.
use this to describe an official punishment that is more strict than usual: stiff fine: · Motorists who do not obey the rules will face stiff fines of up to £3000.stiff penalty: · Magistrates now have the power to impose stiff penalties on the parents of children who fail to turn up for school.stiff sentence: · For crimes involving the use of guns, the sentences are particularly stiff.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Alastair woke with a stiff neck. I never felt stiff after training until I was in my thirties. The next morning I was as stiff as a board (=very stiff). a stiff test Graduates face stiff competition in getting jobs. calls for stiffer penalties for rapists Their goodbyes were stiff and formal. Men were taught to keep a stiff upper lip.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Alastair woke with a stiff neck. I never felt stiff after training until I was in my thirties. The next morning I was as stiff as a board (=very stiff). a stiff test Graduates face stiff competition in getting jobs. calls for stiffer penalties for rapists Their goodbyes were stiff and formal. Men were taught to keep a stiff upper lip. (=extremely bored)· Patti was bored stiff with small-town Massachusetts life.
· There was a good stiff breeze, just right for sailing.
(=strong competition)· There is stiff competition for places at the best universities.
(=a drink with a lot of strong alcohol)· He was in need of a stiff drink to calm himself down.
(=strong opposition)· It is certain that there will be fierce opposition to the changes.
· There were calls for stiffer penalties for killers of police officers.
(=strong resistance)· The city government is facing some stiff resistance.
informal (=extremely scared)· I was scared stiff of going down those cellar steps.
(=a long time in prison)· Police officers are demanding stiffer sentences for offenders.
(=extremely worried)· Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick!
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Doubtless there were a few stiff backs and aching muscles to contend with after it was all finished.· She didn't need to see that stiff back to know all was not well.· His knee-joints cracked with the effort and he stretched his stiff back, feeling old, spent.· I find myself doing this when I have a tired or stiff back.
· The next day was bright and cold, with a stiff breeze blowing straight down the field.· Put in on a shoe and it will wipe off in a stiff breeze.· Daylight broke, a stiff breeze struck up and the sky clouded over.· A stiff breeze riffles the brush.· The mastheads of beached yachts tinkled in a stiff breeze.· A stiff breeze shoves broken clouds across the moon.· The skill is running down the beach with all your equipment often in a stiff breeze.
· John Kerry beat back a stiff challenge from Republican Gov.· But what the Bears get Saturday might be their stiffest challenge.· For seat No. 3, incumbent Provencio faces stiff challenges from Sandoval and White, both veterans of the campaign trail.
· He wore pince-nez spectacles, a round-ended stiff collar, and a moustache.· He dressed like a dandy in a Prince Albert coat, derby hat, and stiff collar.· He was also more formal than she had ever seen him, his suit and stiff collar making him look quite different.· He scratched his neck under his stiff collar, smoked cigarettes, and sucked mints to make his breath smell good.· The men had taken off their stiff collars, but were still uncomfortable in waistcoats and tight trousers and big boots.· Oh yes! and stiff collars.· He was of the old school, complete with stiff collar and bowler hat, and he was a good all-rounder.
· For the male, it is a stiff competition, but even the strongest can be unwittingly foiled.· Superior products would evolve and stiff competition would sprout up as Roundup patent protections expired around the globe.· A spokesman for Cuff Roberts said the scheme offered nationwide expertise from Liverpool and stiff competition to Manchester firms.· Whether the high jumper can requalify against stiff competition depends in large part upon the other big change: her takeoff.· The planned deregulation has bred concern that Petron will face stiffer competition and an erosion of its 42 percent market share.· But he says it has some stiff competition from a consortium of Eastern universities and industry.· The company was facing stiff competition and losing market share.
· Calm your nerves by deep breathing, not by having a stiff drink.· When he got home he'd have a stiff drink and a long bath, followed by another stiff drink.· A good shower helped, but she would have liked to go down and search for a stiff drink.· I poured myself a stiff drink and tossed it down.· Many people would rather have a stiff drink to help them sleep, than take a sleeping tablet for their insomnia.· A couple of stiff drinks and a bowl of soup afterwards was about all I could cope with.
· Under the rules, the Aintree executive could have faced stiff fines.
· Oh, hello, guys; stiff lip, stiff lip....
· The stiff neck is a way of controlling feeling as are the rigid shoulders and the pulled-in gut.· Rarely, a subarachnoid bleed can present with high fever, stiff neck, and headache masquerading as meningitis.· Sore throat with swollen glands and a stiff neck.· In the morning he woke up with a painful stiff neck.· A stiff neck for a few weeks after a bump was tolerated in the past.· Can you watch television without getting a stiff neck?· She was suffering from a stiff neck which gave her pain whenever she turned her head.· Other signs of tension and fear are a tight mouth, stiff neck, and flared nostrils.
· He is called upon both to defend his faith against stiff opposition and to spread it among his friends.· But that idea has run into stiff opposition.· Union leaders warned that the group's attempt to cut jobs could face stiff opposition.· It is likely to face stiff opposition from trade unions, including the teachers' union, if it does so.
· At the moment, they face fines of £400, but there are moves afoot to introduce stiffer penalties.· There was a stiff penalty if a young lass's loaf fell during baking: one year of bad luck.· Those who did not could face stiff penalties, including a $ 2,000 fine and up to five years in prison.· The stiffer penalties announced by Mason were of limited value by themselves.· The vote would ask approval of stiffer penalties for corruption, including barring convicted officials from office.· In some cases LEAs operating such patrols are pressing magistrates to impose stiff penalties on parents of truants.· The plan calls for stiffer penalties for offences and increased government resources to investigate more incidents.· Conventional mortgages often contain stiff penalties for borrowers who want to redeem all or part of the loan before its end.
· These conditions were expected to meet stiff resistance in the Legislative Assembly.· A bipartisan drive to change the rules for financing federal campaigns is running into stiff resistance from veteran members of Congress.· The hierarchy, however, mounted stiff resistance and publicly denounced any attack on ecclesiastical privileges and property.· Investors had mixed views of how bonds would react if the bailout plan met stiff resistance in the Diet.· A stiff resistance might well increase the pressure on Washington to end the war on Southern terms.
· Gave him a stiff sentence in a House of Correction to teach him better ways.· Alan Eastwood, who represents more than a hundred thousand rank and file officers, wants more police powers and stiffer sentences.
· Stirrup Cup, unbeaten in six races this season, faces much his stiffest test.· Liphook is the perfect example of a short course which still presents a stiff test of a golfer's skills.· An uncertain outcome to the election and pressure from Britain's currency partners will be a stiff test for the pound.
· But after an hour or so of trudging into the stiff wind, a slight feeling of despair crept over me.· Within minutes a stiff wind was blowing over the harbor.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- A stiff breeze riffles the brush.
- A stiff breeze shoves broken clouds across the moon.
- Daylight broke, a stiff breeze struck up and the sky clouded over.
- Put in on a shoe and it will wipe off in a stiff breeze.
- The mastheads of beached yachts tinkled in a stiff breeze.
- The next day was bright and cold, with a stiff breeze blowing straight down the field.
- The skill is running down the beach with all your equipment often in a stiff breeze.
- Within minutes a stiff wind was blowing over the harbor.
- A couple of stiff drinks and a bowl of soup afterwards was about all I could cope with.
- A good shower helped, but she would have liked to go down and search for a stiff drink.
- Calm your nerves by deep breathing, not by having a stiff drink.
- Come on, you need a stiff drink.
- I poured myself a stiff drink and tossed it down.
- Many people would rather have a stiff drink to help them sleep, than take a sleeping tablet for their insomnia.
- When he got home he'd have a stiff drink and a long bath, followed by another stiff drink.
- All he could produce was a stiff upper lip, while young Lady C cast meaningful looks at sturdy gamekeeper Mellors.
- Election losers, for instance, are traditionally expected to keep a stiff upper lip and not let their disappointment show.
- Paul didn't keep a stiff upper lip because that was the way that he thought that Christians should behave.
- So please, leave the stiff upper lip to one side, at home at least.
- The stiff upper lip is a barrier against the trembling which could lead to tears.
- The Ulster Unionist security spokesman maintained a stiff upper lip as he had his moustache shaved off - for charity.
- A blue sponge of Holy Water in its receptacle just inside the door was frozen solid.
- Assets abroad were frozen by the U. N. These events set into motion the erasure of the middle class.
- Bacon should be kept refrigerated and although it can be frozen, freezing is not recommended because the product loses quality.
- By the time she turned around, Paula Engado was frozen in space like a china figurine.
- It's been predicted that the number of places on courses is likely to be frozen this year.
- The cooked meat can be frozen for one month.
- The extra pancakes may be frozen.
- The lake is frozen solid, but its shape is clearly drawn, absolutely flat in the undulating landscape.
- Said he was as stiff as a ramrod and would get nowhere, but he's pretty hard on people anyway.
WORD FAMILYnounstiffnessstiffadverbstiffstifflyadjectivestiffverbstiffen
1body if someone or a part of their body is stiff, their muscles hurt and it is difficult for them to movestiff from doing something Her legs were stiff from kneeling.stiff with Her fingers were stiff with cold.stiff neck/back/joint etc Alastair woke with a stiff neck. I never felt stiff after training until I was in my thirties. The next morning I was as stiff as a board (=very stiff).► see thesaurus at painful2material/substance firm, hard, or difficult to bend: a shirt with a stiff collar► see thesaurus at hard3mixture a stiff mixture is thick and almost solid, so that it is not easy to mix: Beat the egg whites until stiff. a stiff dough4difficult difficult to do or deal with: a stiff teststiff competition/opposition Graduates face stiff competition in getting jobs.5severe a stiff punishment is great or severestiff sentence/penalty/fine calls for stiffer penalties for rapists6door/drawer etc British English difficult to move, turn, or open: Pull hard – that drawer’s very stiff.7unfriendly if someone’s behaviour is stiff, they behave in a very formal or unfriendly way: Their goodbyes were stiff and formal. Parsons gave a stiff performance in the main role.8price a stiff price etc is high, especially higher than the price etc of similar things: a stiff tax on cigarettes9stiff wind/breeze a fairly strong wind etc10stiff drink/whisky etc a very strong alcoholic drink11stiff upper lip the ability to stay calm and not show your feelings in a difficult or upsetting situation: Men were taught to keep a stiff upper lip.—stiffly adverb—stiffness noun [uncountable]