hiccup1 nounhiccup2 verb
hiccuphic‧cup1, hiccough /ˈhɪkʌp, -kəp/ noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINhiccup1
Origin:
1500-1600 From the soundEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The airline industry's troubles are a mere hiccup in an otherwise upward growth trend.
- There was a slight hiccup when I couldn't find my car keys, but finally we set off.
- There were a few minor hiccups in the space shuttle launch.
- A hiccup, possibly, but no decent restaurant should produce one of that size.
- But he also assumes that the economy will keep chugging along with barely a hiccup of a recession.
- My training is going very well apart from the slight hiccup with the railway line.
- Nausea, vomiting and hiccup with aversion to warm food and desire for cold food.
- Our job today is just a hiccup in time.
- That was the only hiccup in Llanelli's 10-try victory, although they were not the highest scorers of the day.
- The event started with a slight hiccup when it was discovered that the batteries were in the wrong way round.
- The sales drive was interrupted by a legal hiccup.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that causes difficulties
a bad situation that must be dealt with, because it is causing harm or inconvenience, or it is stopping you from doing what you want to do: have a problem: · If you have any problems, give me a call.problem with: · Sue's had a lot of problems with her neighbours recently.cause/create problems: · The new traffic system is causing problems for everyone.solve a problem (=find a way to deal with it): · Scientists still have not solved the problem of what to do with nuclear waste.the drug/crime etc problem: · Federal laws have almost no effect on the crime problem that concerns most people - crime on the streets.problem of: · The problem of substance abuse in high school is widespread.big/serious problem: · Our biggest problem is lack of money.· Whiteflies can be a serious problem that affects produce grown in California and other states.
a problem that makes it more difficult to do something that you are trying to do: · I don't expect major difficulties, although there are still differences to be worked out.difficulty with: · The main difficulty with this method is that it takes twice as long.have difficulty with (doing) something: · Youngsters may have difficulty applying the paint because of its thin consistency.get into difficulty/difficulties (=start to have problems in a situation): · Credit cards make it extremely easy to get into difficulty with debt.economic/financial difficulty: · The nation faces severe economic difficulties.language/technical/legal etc difficulty: · Police officers in most Californian cities need to be able to cope with language difficulties and cultural differences.face/experience difficulty: · Some parents experienced difficulty when they tried to move their children to other schools.be in difficulty/difficulties (=be in a situation that has problems): · Manchester United won easily, and never seemed to be in any difficulty.difficulty of doing something: · The difficulties of counting whales makes most population figures extremely unreliable.
a problem or several problems that make something difficult, spoil your plans etc: · The trouble was caused by a loose connection in the fuse box.· If you used the same tape later and had no sound trouble, the problem is in the video recorder, not the tape.trouble with: · The pilot reported trouble with both engines.have trouble: · We have had a lot of trouble with the car this year.have trouble doing something: · Norris had trouble finding work and is still unemployed.cause trouble: · Snow and freezing temperatures caused trouble at many airports.the trouble with something (=the one feature of something that is a problem): · The trouble with lasagne is that it takes so long to make.
informal a problem or a series of problems that are annoying because they involve a lot of work, arguing, inconvenience etc: · The airline doesn't make seat assignments, which can be a hassle for travelers, but it saves money.· Shopping by mail avoids the hassles of crowded stores at Christmastime.legal/bureaucratic etc hassles: · Byrd says he settled the claim to avoid legal hassles.it's too much hassle: · I don't want to organize a big party - it's too much hassle.
an additional problem that makes a situation even harder to deal with than it already is: · One complication is that the meals also need to be suitable for children of Islamic or Jewish faiths.· Legal and financial complications have made it impossible for the two companies to complete the deal on time.
a small problem within a long process: · The plan has a hitch: drilling holes for the owls in the trees will kill the trees. without a hitch (=without any problems): · The parade went off without a hitch, despite concern about protestors.· The shuttle landed without a hitch at Edwards Air Force Base.there's a hitch: · There was a hitch - about half the employees did not want to move to a different city.hitch in: · Nelson refused to comment on reports of a last-minute hitch in the negotiations.technical hitch: · There's been a slight technical hitch, so we'll have to postpone the video until later.
a small problem which is not very important compared to other things: · There was a slight hiccup when I couldn't find my car keys, but finally we set off.· The airline industry's troubles are a mere hiccup in an otherwise upward growth trend.
a small problem or disadvantage in something which is mainly good and satisfactory: · The cleanup effort was delayed for a few days by some technical snags and equipment problems.hit a snag/run into a snag: · The case hit a snag in October when the judge handling it had to be replaced.last-minute snag: · The House worked out some last-minute snags in the legislation.
a hidden problem or disadvantage in an offer that seems very good - use this especially when you think the problem has been deliberately hidden to trick people: there's a catch: · You get free meals and accommodation, but there's a catch -- you have to look after the children.with a catch: · Many of the best deals come with a catch: they are only good through early summer.the catch is (that): · The catch is that you can't enter the contest unless you have spent $50 in the store.
British small problems that a new company, product, system etc has at the beginning: · After a few teething troubles, the new car worked perfectly.· The disagreement was just one of the teething problems of the partnership.
WORD SETSAB, nounabdomen, nounaccommodation, nounAchilles tendon, nounAdam's apple, nounadaptation, nounadenoids, nounadrenalin, nounairway, nounambidextrous, adjectiveanatomical, adjectiveankle, nounantibody, nounantigen, nounanus, nounanvil, nounaorta, nounappendix, nounarch, nounarmpit, nounarterial, adjectiveartery, nounatrium, nounbaby tooth, nounback, nounbackbone, nounbandy, adjectivebarrel-chested, adjectivebeat, verbbelly, nounbelly button, nounbicep, nounbig toe, nounbikini line, nounbile, nounbiological clock, nounbiorhythms, nounbiped, nounbladder, nounblind spot, nounblink, verbblink, nounblood count, nounblood group, nounblood pressure, nounbloodstream, nounblood type, nounblood vessel, nounBO, nounbody clock, nounbody odour, nounbone, nounbone marrow, nounbowel, nounbow legs, nounbrain, nounbrainwave, nounbreast, nounbreastbone, nounbristly, adjectivebronchial, adjectivebronchial tube, nounbrow, nounbuck teeth, nounbullnecked, adjectiveburp, verbbust, nounbuttock, nouncanine, nouncapillary, nouncardiac, adjectivecardio-, prefixcardiovascular, adjectivecarotid artery, nouncartilage, nouncentral nervous system, nouncerebellum, nouncerebral, adjectivecervical, adjectivecervix, nounchamber, nounchange of life, nouncheek, nouncheekbone, nounchest, nounchin, nouncirculation, nounclavicle, nouncleavage, nounclitoris, nounclose-set, adjectivecoccyx, nouncochlea, nouncock, nouncollarbone, nouncolon, nouncolour, nouncolour-blind, adjectiveconception, nouncone, nounconnective tissue, nouncoordination, nouncornea, nouncortex, nouncough, verbcough, nouncowlick, nouncranium, nouncrook, verbcrotch, nouncrow's feet, nouncrutch, nouncry, verbcuticle, noundandruff, noundeep-set, adjectivedefecate, verbdefence mechanism, noundental, adjectivedentine, nounderrière, noundiaphragm, noundigit, noundigital, adjectivedimple, noundisc, noundominant, adjectivedouble-jointed, adjectivedribble, verbdrool, verbduct, nounduodenum, nounear, nouneardrum, nounearhole, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbelbow, nounenamel, nounendocrine, adjectiveentrails, nounepidermis, nounepiglottis, nounerect, adjectiveerection, nounerogenous zone, nounexcrement, nounexcreta, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexpectorate, verbextremity, nouneye, nouneyebrow, nouneyelash, nouneyelid, nouneyesight, nouneye tooth, nounface, nounfallopian tube, nounfart, verbfart, nounfemur, nounfibre, nounfibula, nounfigure, nounfingernail, nounfingertip, nounfist, nounfive o'clock shadow, nounflat-chested, adjectivefoetal position, nounfolic acid, nounfollicle, nounforearm, nounforefinger, nounforehead, nounforeskin, nounframe, nounfunny bone, noungall bladder, noungallstone, noungastric, adjectivegenital, adjectivegenitals, noungland, nounglottis, noungonad, noungrey matter, noungroin, nounG-spot, noungullet, noungum, nounhair, nounhairless, adjectivehairy, adjectivehammer, nounhamstring, nounhand, nounhand-eye co-ordination, nounhandlebar moustache, nounhead, nounheart, nounheel, nounhiccup, nounhiccup, verbhip, nounHomo sapiens, nounhumerus, nounhymen, nounimmune, adjectiveimmune system, nounimmunity, nouninbred, adjectiveincisor, nounindex finger, nouninherit, verbinstep, nounintestine, nounin vitro fertilization, nouniris, nounIVF, nounjaw, nounjawbone, nounjowl, nounkidney, nounknee, nounknee cap, nounknuckle, nounlap, nounlarge intestine, nounlarynx, nounlash, nounlaugh lines, nounlaughter lines, nounleft-handed, adjectivelefty, nounlens, nounlid, nounlifeblood, nounligament, nounlip, nounlittle finger, nounliver, nounlobe, nounlong-sighted, adjectivelumbar, adjectivelung, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmammary, adjectivemammary gland, nounmanual, adjectivemarrow, nounmasticate, verbmatrix, nounmelanin, nounmelatonin, nounmember, nounmenopause, nounmenses, nounmenstrual, adjectivemenstrual period, nounmenstruate, verbmiddle ear, nounmiddle finger, nounmidget, nounmidriff, nounmilk tooth, nounmind, nounmolar, nounmucous membrane, nounmuscle, nounnail, nounnape, nounnasal, adjectivenavel, nounnervous, adjectiveneurology, nounneuron, nounniacin, nounnipple, nounnode, nounnodule, nounnostril, nounocular, adjectiveoesophagus, nounoral, adjectiveovary, nounoverbite, nounoviduct, nounpalate, nounpalm, nounpalpitate, verbpalpitations, nounpancreas, nounpassage, nounpatella, nounpectorals, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenetrate, verbpepsin, nounperiod, nounperiod pain, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphallus, nounpharynx, nounphlegm, nounphysical, adjectivephysiognomy, nounphysiology, nounphysique, nounpigeon-toed, adjectivepit, nounpituitary, nounplacenta, nounplasma, nounplatelet, nounpore, nounpotbelly, nounpremenstrual, adjectiveprepubescent, adjectivepressure point, nounprimal, adjectiveprivate parts, nounprognathous, adjectiveprostate, nounpuberty, nounpubescent, adjectivepubic, adjectivepudendum, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulse, nounpupil, nounquad, nounquadruplet, nounquin, nounquintuplet, nounradius, nounreceptor, nounrecessive, adjectiverectal, adjectiverectum, nounred blood cell, nounREM sleep, nounrenal, adjectiveretina, nounRhesus factor, nounRH factor, nounrib, nounrib cage, nounright, adjectiveright-handed, adjectiveright-hander, nounrigor mortis, nounring finger, nounrod, nounRoman nose, nounround-shouldered, adjectiverun, verbsalivary gland, nounsallow, adjectivescalp, nounscaly, adjectivescapula, nounsciatic, adjectivescrotum, nounsemen, nounseminal, adjectivesense, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectivesextuplet, nounshank, nounshin, nounshinbone, nounshoulder, nounshoulder blade, nounside, nounsinew, nounsinus, nounskeletal, adjectiveskull, nounsleep, verbsleep, nounsmall intestine, nounsneeze, verbsneeze, nounsnub nose, nounsnub-nosed, adjectivesoft palate, nounsolar plexus, nounsole, nounsphincter, nounspinal, adjectivespinal column, nounspine, nounspit, verbspit, nounspittle, nounspleen, nounspotty, adjectivesputum, nounsternum, nounsteroid, nounstirrup, nounstomach, nounstool, nounstubble, nounsubcutaneous, adjectivesuck, verbsuckle, verbsuckling, nounsweat gland, nounsystem, nountailbone, nountan, verbtan, nountanned, adjectivetarsus, nountartar, nountaste bud, nountear, nounteardrop, nounteat, nountemple, nountendon, nountestes, nountesticle, nountestis, nountestosterone, nounthickset, adjectivethigh, nounthorax, nounthroat, nounthumb, nounthumbnail, nounthyroid, nountibia, nounticklish, adjectivetoe, nountoenail, nountongue, nountonsil, nountooth, nountorso, nountouch, nountrachea, nountriceps, nountrunk, nountympanum, nounulna, nounumbilical cord, nounurethra, nounuterus, nounuvula, nounvagina, nounvascular, adjectivevein, nounvenous, adjectiveventricle, nounvessel, nounvestibule, nounvital, adjectivevocal cords, nounvoice box, nounvulva, nounwaist, nounwall-eyed, adjectivewax, nounwhite, nounwhite blood cell, nounwindpipe, nounwisdom tooth, nounwomb, nounwrinkle, verbwrist, nounyawn, verbyawn, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
1[usually plural] a sudden repeated stopping of the breath, usually caused by eating or drinking too fastget/have hiccups British English, get/have the hiccups American English British English, get/have the hiccups American English
Don’t drink so fast – you’ll get hiccups.
Don’t drink so fast – you’ll get hiccups. Don’t drink so fast – you’ll get hiccups.2a small problem or delayhiccup in a hiccup in the negotiationshiccup1 nounhiccup2 verb
hiccuphiccup2 verb (past tense and past participle hiccupped, present participle hiccupping) [intransitive] to have hiccups