neck1 nounneck2 verb
neckneck1 /nek/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 
WORD ORIGINneck1
Origin:
Old English hneccaEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Bud wrapped a scarf around his neck.
- My neck is so sore.
- The neck's too low on this shirt.
- Butcher Tom picked her up, and I could see that her neck was broken.
- Fairly large, long-necked, long-legged wading birds, habitually flying with neck outstretched: a useful distinction from herons.
- Fifi and Carmencita watched while Mundin unwrapped the snake from around his neck and poked one end at his little sister.
- If the resultant hollow in the neck is really severe it might require a form of heat treatment to rectify the situation.
- The neck is made from maple, which was a surprise, because I was expecting mahogany.
- Then you start fanning your tail feathers and puffing your neck in and out.
- We chat about the lumbering, and the latest antics at Mount Blue, in my neck of the woods.
Longman Language Activatormaking you angry
· Jason is one of the most annoying people I have ever met.· Just as I stepped into the shower the phone rang. It was so annoying.
annoying, especially because something keeps happening that makes you a little angry: · Sammy has an irritating habit of leaving the refrigerator door open while he's fixing something to eat.· It's so irritating how Ellen always tries to finish people's sentences for them.
also maddening especially British making you very angry and impatient: · Jill's attitude towards the people who work under her is infuriating.· I can't believe she's been reading our mail. How infuriating!
also be a pain in the ass/butt especially American informal to be very annoying. Be a pain in the ass/butt are impolite expressions: · It's such a pain in the neck to have to drive downtown every day.· Bobby's being a real pain in the butt today. I wish he'd just go home.
informal used when you are talking about something that makes you feel very annoyed or impatient, for example because it does not work properly: · I have to stay late and finish this stupid report.· The stupid gate won't open properly.
a situation that is frustrating is annoying and makes you feel very impatient by making it impossible for you to do what you want: · It's so frustrating when you're in a hurry and the traffic isn't moving.· Learning a new language can be a frustrating experience.
a busy person having a lot of things you should do: · She's very busy -- it's her daughter's wedding next week.· Angela was becoming more and more unhappy, but her husband was too busy to notice.· Not now Stephen, I'm busy.busy doing something: · Critics say the mayor is too busy campaigning to do his job properly.busy with: · She was busy with business matters so we decided not to burden her with our problems.keep somebody busy: · He's retired now, but his work for the youth club keeps him busy.
to have to do a lot of things, and need to hurry or work hard: · I'm sorry I can't talk -- I have a lot to do before my wife gets home.an awful lot to do (=used to emphasize you have a lot to do): · Let's get started. We have an awful lot to do and not much time to do it.
British have a lot going on American to be busy, especially because you have arranged to do a lot of things during a short period: · He says he'll try and see you as soon as possible, but he has a lot going on this afternoon.· We've got so much on at work I couldn't possibly go on holiday now.
especially British, spoken to be very busy and always in a hurry, because you have a lot of things to do: · It's my son's birthday party tomorrow. I've been absolutely rushed off my feet getting ready for it.· All the sales assistants are run off their feet. The shop ought to take on more staff.
especially spoken to be extremely busy because you have a lot of work to do in your job: · I'm sorry I can't talk to you now -- I'm up to my neck in paperwork.· Teachers nowadays are up to their ears in administration and don't have much time for teaching.
to be very busy, especially because other people are making you work hard, or because you have to do something by a particular time: · Jerry says he's under a lot of pressure at the moment from his boss.work under pressure: · Some people don't work well under pressure.
especially British to be extremely busy and hardly able to deal with all the work you have to do: · Don't expect any help from them -- they're snowed under at the moment.be snowed under with: · Since the hurricane, builders and roofers have been snowed under with work.
spoken to be very busy for a period of time, especially when this makes you tired: · I've been on the go all week -- I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend now.· She's always on the go. I don't know how she does it.
to be busy because you have to deal with a lot of different jobs or problems, so that you do not have time to do anything else: · I'm sorry I can't help you -- I have my hands full right now.have your hands full with: · You must have your hands full with all this work to do and the children to look after.have your hands full doing something: · The Mexican government had its hands full fighting a war on three fronts.
to do something that may hurt or kill you to do something very dangerous, especially in order to help someone, when you know that you may get killed because of your action: · Every day firefighters risk their lives in the course of their duty.risk your life to do something: · She risked her life to save the drowning child.
if you do something at your own risk , you must accept that it is dangerous and that it is your own fault if you are injured or killed: · Anyone who swims in this part of the river does it at their own risk.
informal to do something very dangerous in order to help someone - use this especially when you think the action is unnecessary: · Don't do it. It's not worth risking your neck.risk your neck to do something: · "Come back!" Ned shouted. "You can't risk your neck to save a dog!"
to do something that could have a very dangerous or harmful result: · Failure to stick to the safety rules is simply playing with fire.· These men are criminals. If you get involved with them, you'll be playing with fire.
informal to put yourself in a situation in which you may get killed, especially when it is a situation which you cannot control: · The teenager took his life in his hands in trying to avoid being caught by police.· You'll be taking your life in your hands if you let Eric drive you home!
to deliberately do something that is so dangerous that you may easily get killed, especially when you do it for excitement: · When young people experiment with drugs, they're dicing with death.
formal if you warn someone that they do something at their peril , you mean that it would be very dangerous for them to do it: · Any climber who neglects these simple precautions does so at their peril.· Ignore this warning at your peril.
to be in an equal position in a game, competition etc if two of the competitors in a game or competition tie , they get the same number of points: be tied: · The two teams are tied with two games a piece.tie for: · Woosnam and Lyle tied for fourth place on 264.tie with: · I won the first competition and tied with Wilson in the second.
British two teams or competitors that are level at a particular moment in a game or competition have the same number of points: · They scored in the eighth minute but four minutes later we were level.· If the scores are level after 90 minutes, extra time will be played.be level with: · Thanks to today's victory they are level with their main rivals, AC Milan, at the top of the Italian league.draw level (=get enough points to be level): · Brazil were in the lead, until Argentina drew level at the half-time whistle.
also be level pegging British informal use this when two people, horses etc are doing equally well in a race or competition, so that it is impossible to guess who will win: · The two horses are running neck and neck.· For three miles now both yachts have been neck and neck.· The Republicans and Democrats are neck and neck in the opinion polls.· The poll shows the two main parties level pegging, with 33% of the vote each.
especially British a game in which both opponents or teams have equal points at the end, so that neither wins: · Neither side has scored. It looks as if it's going to be another draw.· Last week's draw was a bad result for Arsenal, putting Manchester United ahead of them in the league.end in a draw (=finish with scores equal): · If the final ends in a draw, the game will be decided on penalties.
British to finish a game with the same number of points as your opponent, so that neither of you wins: · "Did you win?'' "No, we drew.''draw with: · Real Madrid drew with Barcelona in the last game of the season.draw a game/match: · The Australian rugby team drew the first game of their European tour, sixteen-all against France at Lyon.
spoken say this when both players or teams have two points, four points etc in a game: · It's two all at the moment, but Germany seems the better team.· "What was the final score?" "One all."
a finish to a race between horses, dogs, or people that is very nearly equal so that it is extremely difficult to say who has won: · It's a photo finish -- we'll have to bring in the judges to decide the winner.· After a very close-run race, it ended in a photo finish.
if the result of a competition, election, race etc is too close to call , the people taking part in it are equally successful, so there is no clear winner: · The exit polls suggest that the election may well be too close to call.
to force someone to do something · You don't have to come if you don't want to. Nobody's forcing you.force somebody to do something · Women's organizations are trying to force the government to appoint more women to senior positions.force somebody into doing something · Her parents are trying to force her into marrying a man she hardly knows.force somebody into something · I had never thought of buying an insurance policy, and I wasn't going to be forced into it by some young salesman.force somebody out of · Eddie feels that he was forced out of his job in order to make way for a younger man.
to force someone to do something that they do not want to do. Make is less formal than force: · I really didn't want to go, but she made me.make somebody do something: · I wanted to watch the film, but Dad made me do my homework.· Karen made him promise never to discuss the subject again.
to keep trying to persuade someone to do something, for example by saying that it is their duty or that it will help other people: put pressure on somebody to do something: · Our parents were putting pressure on us to get married.· Advertising puts pressure on parents to work long hours, in order to buy things that their children don't need.
also pressurise British, /pressure American to try to make someone do something by persuading them very strongly and making them feel that they should do it: · I'll get this done as soon as I can -- just don't pressure me, OK!· If she feels you're trying to pressurize her, she won't do it.pressurize/pressure somebody into doing something: · School children are often pressurized into studying very hard from an early age by their parents.· The committee pressured him into resigning.pressure somebody to do something: · Her boyfriend is pressuring her to have an abortion.
to strongly encourage someone to do something: push somebody to do something: · My parents keep pushing me to get a good job.push somebody into doing something: · Don't let them push you into a making a decision before you're ready.push somebody into something: · Are you sure you want to marry me? I don't want to push you into anything.
to force someone to do what you want them to do by repeatedly asking them to do it until they finally agree: · The salesman tried browbeating me but it didn't work.browbeat somebody into (doing) something: · The miners were browbeaten into working in a part of the mine that the company knew to be dangerous.· I really didn't want to make this speech -- I was browbeaten into it by my colleagues.
an attempt to force someone to do something, by making them feel guilty for not doing it: · She's always using emotional blackmail and playing on other people's feelings.· Any relationship that has to depend on emotional blackmail can't be a healthy one.
informal if someone is breathing down your neck about something, they keep asking you to do it in order to make you do it sooner: · I'm already really busy today, and now Paul's breathing down my neck saying he wants the Paris deal completed.have somebody breathing down your neck: · We'd better start sending out those letters soon -- I've had the sales manager breathing down my neck about it all week.
informal to be trying to make someone do something they do not want to do, especially by telling them several times to do it: · Nick knew that the coach would be on his back if he missed another training session.be on sb's back about: · Aunt Mimi was always on his back about him "wasting time playing that silly guitar".
to owe a lot of money to owe a lot more money than you can pay: · When my father died we discovered that he was heavily in debt.· A disastrous attempt to expand left the airline deep in debt.be deep/heavily in debt to: · The country is already heavily in debt to foreign banks.
informal to owe very large sums of money that you cannot pay: · Knowing that I was up to my ears in debt, Edwin offered to help me out.· When their business failed, they found themselves up to their necks in debt.
to do something even though there is a risk to decide to do something, even though you know that something bad or harmful might happen as a result: · I knew we were taking a risk when we lent him the money.· Nobody is successful in business without taking a few risks.· Climbers like the thrill that taking risks gives them.take a calculated risk (=decide to do something after thinking very carefully about the risks): · Most investors study the market and take calculated risks.
also chance it informal to decide to do something even though there is a risk, because you think that you will succeed: · Victor took a chance and set up his own company, which has been very successful.· Isaacs chanced it with a long three-point shot at goal in the last minute of the game.take a chance on (=hope that something happens): · He persuaded the record company to take a chance on the band, and it became a huge hit.take chances (=always be ready to take a chance, especially in your work): · There are a lot of people in the movie industry who are afraid to take chances and do new things.
to do something that you know might have a harmful or negative result: · He risked a cautious glance over the wall, and saw a group of guards standing by the gate.risk doing something: · I decided to risk looking for a place to stay when I got there, rather than booking in advance.risk it: · Road conditions were supposed to be pretty bad, but we decided to risk it.
informal to do something or give your opinion about something, even though you know there is a risk that you are wrong or will be criticized: · The evidence is good, but I won't stick my neck out until all the data is in.· Look, I'll stick my neck out and say it'll be finished by tomorrow evening.
to finally decide to do something important but which involves some risk, after thinking about it very carefully: · Forsyth took the plunge into politics in 1996.· "Are you two getting married?" "Yes. We've decided to take the plunge."
if you do something at your own risk , it will be your own fault if something bad happens - used especially on official signs and notices to warn people: · Visitors who park their cars in the corner lot do so at their own risk.· Journalists were allowed into the area, but only at their own risk.
spoken say this when what you are going to say or do might make someone angry, upset etc: · A school has to be able to make rules about students' dress, even at the risk of upsetting parents.· At the risk of sounding like your mother, you'd better dress up warm.· This is a point which -- at the risk of being boring -- I must emphasize once again.
when people deliberately take risks in order to achieve something - use this especially about actions in business or dangerous sports: · The culture in Silicon Valley values risk-taking and entrepreneurship.· Risk-taking has long been a feature of the theatre company's productions, which have tackled many difficult issues.
WORD SETSaerobic, adjectiveafterbirth, nounalgae, nounalimentary canal, nounamber, nounameba, nounamino acid, nounamoeba, nounanaconda, nounanaerobic, adjectiveandrogynous, adjectiveantibody, nounantigen, nounantitoxin, nounappendage, nounarm, nounarmour, nounasexual, adjectiveassimilation, nounatrophy, verbaviary, nounbacteria, nounbacteriology, nounbarnacle, nounbile, nounbinocular vision, nounbio-, prefixbiochemistry, nounbiodegradable, adjectivebiodiversity, nounbiohazard, nounbiological, adjectivebiological clock, nounbiology, nounbiomass, nounbiome, nounbiosphere, nounblind, nounbrain, nounbreathe, verbbreed, verbbreed, nounbreeding, nounbristle, nounbulb, nouncapsule, nouncarbohydrate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarnivore, nouncell, nouncellular, adjectivecellulose, nouncentral nervous system, nouncervical, adjectivecholesterol, nounchromosome, nouncirculation, nouncirculatory, adjectiveclass, nounclone, nouncold-blooded, adjectiveconceive, verbconch, nounconnective tissue, nouncopulate, verbcoral reef, nouncornea, nouncoronary, adjectivecorpuscle, nouncortex, nouncortisone, nouncowrie, nouncrab, nouncrawfish, nouncrayfish, nouncreature, nouncross, verbcrossbreed, nounculture, nouncytoplasm, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdefecate, verbdenizen, noundextrose, noundiaphragm, noundigest, verbdigestion, noundigestive, adjectiveDNA, noundorsal, adjectivedry rot, nounduct, noundwarf, noundwarf, adjectiveecological, adjectiveecology, nounecosystem, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbembryo, nounembryonic, adjectiveenzyme, nounepidermis, nounevolution, nounevolutionary, adjectiveexcrement, nounexcrescence, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexhale, verbexoskeleton, nounextinction, nounfaeces, nounfamily, nounfang, nounfat, nounfatty acid, nounfauna, nounfeces, nounfeed, verbfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferment, verbferment, nounfertile, adjectivefertility, nounfertilize, verbfission, nounflank, nounflatulence, nounflesh, nounfleshy, adjectiveflightless, adjectiveflora, nounfoetal, adjectivefoetus, nounfoliage, nounfossil, nounfreak, nounfreshwater, adjectivefructose, noungamete, nounganglion, noungene, noungene pool, noungenera, genetic, adjectivegenetic code, noungenetic engineering, noungenetic fingerprinting, noungenetics, noungenome, noungenus, noungestation, noungland, nounglandular, adjectiveglucose, noungluten, noungonad, noungrass snake, noungrow, verbgrowth, nounhabitat, nounhaemoglobin, nounhearing, nounheart, nounhemisphere, nounherbivore, nounhereditary, adjectiveheredity, nounhermaphrodite, nounhibernate, verbhistamine, nounhoming, adjectivehormone, nounhost, nounimpregnate, verbimpulse, nounincubate, verbindigenous, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveinfertile, adjectiveinfest, verbingest, verbinhale, verbinseminate, verbinsensate, adjectiveinsulin, nounintegument, nounintercourse, nouninterferon, nounintestine, nouninvertebrate, nouninvoluntary, adjectiveiris, nounjaw, nounjelly, nounkidney, nounkrill, nounlactate, verblactation, nounlactic acid, nounleech, nounleg, nounlesser, adjectivelichen, nounlife, nounlife cycle, nounlife form, nounligament, nounlimb, nounlimpet, nounlipid, nounliver, nounliving fossil, nounlocomotion, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmale, adjectivemale, nounmammal, nounmandible, nounmate, nounmate, verbmembrane, nounmetabolism, nounmetabolize, verbmetamorphosis, nounmicrobe, nounmicrobiology, nounmicroorganism, nounmicroscopic, adjectivemigrate, verbmigratory, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmolar, nounmorphology, nounmotor, adjectivemould, nounmouth, nounmucous membrane, nounmucus, nounmulticellular, adjectivemuscle, nounmuscular, adjectivemutant, nounmutate, verbmutation, nounnatural history, nounnatural selection, nounnature, nounneck, nounnectar, nounnerve, nounnervous, adjectivenervous system, nounneural, adjectiveneuro-, prefixneurology, nounnode, nounnose, nounnostril, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounnutriment, nounoesophagus, nounoestrogen, nounolfactory, adjectiveoptic, adjectiveorgan, nounorganic, adjectiveorganic chemistry, nounorganism, nounorifice, nounossify, verbosteo-, prefixoutgrowth, nounova, ovary, nounoverwinter, verboviduct, nounoviparous, adjectiveovulate, verbovum, nounparasite, nounpathogen, nounpedigree, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenile, adjectivepenis, nounpepsin, nounperiod, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphotosynthesis, nounphylum, nounpigment, nounpigmentation, nounplankton, nounplasma, nounpollinate, verbpostnatal, adjectivepregnancy, nounpregnant, adjectivepremature, adjectiveprenatal, adjectiveproduct, nounproliferation, nounpropagate, verbprotein, nounprotoplasm, nounprotozoan, nounpuberty, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulsation, nounputrefy, verbputrid, adjectivered blood cell, nounregurgitate, verbrenal, adjectivereproduce, verbreproduction, nounreproductive, adjectiverespiration, nounrespiratory, adjectiverespire, verbretina, nounroot, nounrot, verbrot, nounruff, nounsac, nounsaliva, nounsalivary gland, nounsalivate, verbsaltwater, adjectivescale, nounscallop, nounscaly, adjectivesebaceous, adjectivesecrete, verbsecretion, nounsemen, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectiveserum, nounsex, nounsex, verbsexless, adjectivesexual intercourse, nounsheath, nounshell, nounsibling, nounskeletal, adjectiveskeleton, nounskin, nounskull, nounspasm, nounspasmodic, adjectivespecies, nounspecimen, nounsperm, nounspiderweb, nounspinal cord, nounspine, nounspineless, adjectivestarch, nounstem cell, nounstimulate, verbstimulus, nounstrain, nounsubject, nounsubspecies, nounsucker, nounsucrose, nounsweat, verbsweat, nounsweat gland, nounsymbiosis, nounsystemic, adjectivetail, nountaxonomy, nounteeth, testosterone, nountest-tube baby, nountissue, nountrachea, nountube, noununicellular, adjectiveurethra, nounuric, adjectiveurinate, verburine, nounvariety, nounvector, nounvein, nounvenom, nounvenomous, adjectiveventricle, nounvertebra, nounvertebrate, nounvivisection, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewean, verbwildlife, nounwindpipe, nounyolk, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
She had a mass of golden hair, which she wore in a coil at the nape (=back)of her neck. The dog picked up the puppy and carried it by the scruff (=back)of the neck into the house. a navy V-necked sweaterCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He craned his neck above the crowd to get a better view. He was getting a crick in his neck from leaning out of the window for so long. a permanently damaged knee joint the soft warm nape of her neck I’m not going to risk my neck (=risk my life) just to save a common criminal. Alastair woke with a stiff neck.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
She had a mass of golden hair, which she wore in a coil at the nape (=back)of her neck. The dog picked up the puppy and carried it by the scruff (=back)of the neck into the house. a navy V-necked sweater (=a brace that supports the neck etc) He was being fitted for a back brace.
He was being fitted for a back brace. He craned his neck above the crowd to get a better view. He was getting a crick in his neck from leaning out of the window for so long. a permanently damaged knee joint (=risk something bad happening to you) I’ve already put myself on the line for you once, and I’m not going to do it again.
I’ve already put myself on the line for you once, and I’m not going to do it again. the soft warm nape of her neck I’m not going to risk my neck (=risk my life) just to save a common criminal. Alastair woke with a stiff neck.· The ostrich, anxious to join in the fun again, craned his long neck well forward over the boundary fence.· The older woman had a lean face, a long neck, and an aquiline nose.· Show your legs at every opportunity Or your upper arms, your long neck or be taken in by fashion.· I held Ellie in my peripheral vision, watching her long neck and the swell of her chest from across the room.· Her oval face with its large dark eyes and high forehead was set on a long, graceful neck.· Her Dose is slender, aquiline, her long neck elegant, chin delicate.· Use the remaining marzipan to model a head with a long neck.· I stare at them and see her beautiful body, her long, slender neck and arms.
· It had been split open from neck to crotch.· He was wearing an open neck designer type long sleeve shirt and dark trousers.· Her silk blouse is open at the neck, showing two strands of pearls.· There was no tie, but a dark red silk scarf was tucked into the open neck of the shirt.· Above the open neck of his white cotton shirt, a few dark hairs curled.
· Design: round neck, long sleeve top and long johns, women's and men's designs available.· With its pretty round neck, softly padded shoulders and front-pocket detail, it looks great worn with a skirt or trousers.· A simple round neck style with wrist length sleeves it makes the perfect foil for a favourite scarf or piece of jewellery.· A Crêpe-de-chine T-Top blouse with cap sleeves and a round neck bound in self cloth.· For a round neck, join one shoulder seam before estimating.· For a round neck, the band can be single or double thickness but a V-neck band can only be single thickness.· She had tried to soften the effect of long sleeves and a high round neck with a pair of pearl stud earrings.· Knit two rows and bind off for a round neck or cast off for a V-neck.
· 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.
NOUN· Several congressmen went home with black eyes and serious neck injuries.· Lancashire will make a late fitness check on Orrell hooker Neil Hitchen, who is recovering from a neck injury.· Those taken to hospital were suffering from neck injuries caused by whiplash.· Mr Quinn, 55, suffered 33 rib fractures, serious damage to internal organs and severe head and neck injuries.· The lorry driver suffered serious leg and neck injuries.· Pilot Stephen Grey was unhurt apart from a minor neck injury which hospitalised him for a short period.
· A neat touch is the central laminate of the maple necks.· The maple neck has 22 frets inlaid in a rosewood fingerboard.
· At the same time she could feel her neck muscles being strained.· Surgical therapy has been attempted by section of various neck muscles or the accessory nerve.· Gosse had been watching all in silence, his jaw clenched, his neck muscles taut.· Tony smiled and without moving his left knee dodged the blows, his torso jinking, neck muscles popping.· Francesca's neck muscles tensed every time she took a breath and her nostrils dilated.· The high rate of acceleration strained her neck muscles.· This exercise relaxes the neck muscles and relieves tension.· We stood there a long time watching, heads tipped back, neck muscles beginning to ache.
VERB· Diane 37 broke her neck in a fall from a horse and it was feared she might never walk again.· The star of nearly 400 Western movies lay dead of a broken neck.· This was where Jackson's enemies needed to break the neck of his campaign.· I thought I was going to break my neck before I ever hit the ground.· Tolby said nothing about Arabella because Lorton threatened to break his neck if he did.· He yelled at us when we ran downstairs, believing we would fall and break our necks and die on the landing.· Eventually, Lennie's strength becomes too much for him, and he breaks a woman's neck accidentally.· Then 4 seasons ago, he broke his neck in a club game.
· As they rounded the last corner the leaders had the main field breathing down their necks.· At last Nahat was up against the backdrop with the spotlight breathing down his neck.· It was a troubled film, directed by Sam Peckinpah who constantly had the Columbia Studio brass breathing down his neck.· To have some one breathing down your neck in your senior year is not a happy prospect.· I've got Rawlinson breathing down my neck already, as well as brigade orders every day.· Some of us need bosses and editors breathing fire down our necks.· Labour and the Liberal Democrats are breathing down his neck.· To shoot birdies like that with Nicklaus breathing down your neck - - twice!
· The ostrich, anxious to join in the fun again, craned his long neck well forward over the boundary fence.· By craning his neck, Gao Yang caught a glimpse of sky through a fork in the branches.· The rest of the audience cranes its collective neck to spot the guilty party.· A boy pushed his head through the opening and craned his neck to see into the room.· A small crowd had gathered, craning their necks towards David, and muttering.· I say, craning my neck from the corner.· They stood in a tight bunch and craned their necks to see what was causing the commotion.· Grover craned his solid neck up, then down.
· A jade-green pendant on a chain was hanging around her neck.· It comes with a gold medal that kids can hang around their necks.· They shuffled forward in a dazed manner holding hands, their labels hanging round their necks.· From time to time, she fingered the heart pendant and religious medallion that now hang around her neck.· Harrison didn't exactly avoid us, but he made it clear that we were not to hang around his neck.· Rincewind looked down at the iconograph, still hanging around his neck.· I certainly don't want you hanging around my neck, if that's what's worrying you.· But don't underestimate the impact of the sartorial noose that hangs around your neck.
· His badge of office, a large gold key, hung round his neck on a silk ribbon.· The deer had cooled and now hung disrobed, its neck taught, snout averted as though having heard its name.· She wore a flowered smock, and her spectacles hung round her neck on a cord.· Her spectacles still hung from her neck.· When I climbed the magnolia I'd hung it round my neck for safety.· It hung from my neck secured by a length of dressing-gown cord.· Every morning the monocle is hung round my neck and remains there until bedtime.· Her hand strayed to the key that hung around her neck.
· He murmured small endearments as he kissed her neck and nuzzled her ears.· For Norricker walked behind her and kissed her on the neck and shoulders.· I let him loosen my tie and kiss my neck.· After emerging from customs he dropped his bags, took his woman by the waist and hungrily kissed her mouth and neck.· Jay penned her in, one hand on each arm rest and kissed her neck.· She kissed him on the neck.
· It is years since I risked my neck.· On another occasion Moore, notoriously edgy about risking his neck, had to film with crocodiles in the Everglades.· With prize money declining, he laments that most of the time jump jockeys risk their necks for £150.
· We then make the necessary economies and redundancies in their company, and save Sarah Chester's neck.· Did he give it to save his own neck?· The coward choked out that you were still alive and hadn't been harmed, but it didn't save his neck.· That I tell lies, Fran, to save my neck?· I find that totally objectionable from a Government who are shaping up to borrow and spend to save their necks.
· You don't have to stick your neck out in meetings.· The experts avoid sticking their own necks out.· He'd stuck his neck out all right, but not as much as he'd led Holman to believe.· She listened to his ideas, had even stuck her neck out to champion some of his more radical plans.· And many economists are reluctant to stick their necks out.· Let Bixby stick his neck out for once, he thought as he stared wearily at his folded hands.· So I have decided to stick my neck out and to make some predictions for the next 30 years.· I want to stick my neck out and help her.
· People before have stretched their necks towards them, like you, wonder-gazing children not able to sleep.· His smallest robot is bigger than a man; the largest is two-stories high when it stretches its neck.· When the man stepped back he trotted, stretching his neck to the ground.· The chickens were walking around loose, stretching out their necks, pulling them back.· Habit of appearing to stand on tiptoe, stretching the neck.· Some held their chins high, stretching necks, their expressions agonized, like martyrs in paintings.· As it is, I've stretched my neck out by ordering a full alert in the West Country.
· I took the self-belt off the tunic and tied it around my neck in an exotic knot.· It seemed to be tied to his neck.· It was supplied in plastic bags, carefully wrapped up and tied at the neck with string.· The noose was tied around his neck and strung over the beam.· One end of a string was tied around the neck of each mouse and the other end to the truck.· A red silk scarf was tied around the bloated neck.· Or how about the model with four pastel fuzzy sweaters tied around neck, torso and waist?
· When big round collars came in these were worn outside the neck.· She attached a cord and started wearing them around her neck.· Some of them had plaited scraps of cloth in their long black hair and all wore beads around their necks.· You know the pendant she always wears round her neck, shaped like a heart?· He wore round his neck a scrimshaw on a silver chain.· He was wearing an open neck designer type long sleeve shirt and dark trousers.· The Fellowship wore medallions around their necks.· I have never worn Chunni over my head so I just wore it round my neck.
· No wonder he looked as if he wanted to wring her neck.· Alma was strong enough to continue wringing the live necks herself.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► get it in the neckPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► put your head/neck on the block► rick your back/neck► save somebody’s skin/neck/bacon► wring something’s neck
1part of the body [countable] the part of your body that joins your head to your shoulders, or the same part of an animal or birdaround somebody’s neck- Our horse won by a neck.
- Although tying up, she battled on well to hold off Flying Speed by a neck.
- But things have now improved and sales in comparable shops are currently ahead of last year, if only by a neck.
- The springing swan-bows, neck by neck, would slide homing into the sand-flats like silk.
- He was a skinhead, and had a line of swastikas tattooed around his neck.
- She attached a cord and started wearing them around her neck.
- The Doctor hooked the handle of his umbrella over his top pocket and pulled his paisley scarf from around his neck.
- The king wore it on a ribbon around his neck on ceremonial occasions.
- The lead Hunter appeared to have a mane around its neck.
- Until my first New York winter rain, when the fake fur matted around my neck, wrists and knees.
- We were up to our necks in problems with the Apollo program.
- Like Patsy Kensit, I was up to my neck in oasis.
- The party is up to its neck in a scandal over alleged illegal purloining of confidential police files on rivals.
- Du Pont and others are neck and neck with us.
- He and Yeltsin are neck and neck in the polls.
- It's neck and neck with Madonna.
- Sailing: Leaders neck and neck.
- The two main parties are still neck and neck, pointing to a hung Parliament.
- We don't get much snow in our neck of the woods.
- What are you doing in this neck of the woods?
- The project became a financial albatross for the city.
- But what began as an enlightened innovation has become an albatross around the neck of the free enterprise system.
- Their wingspan exceeds that of an albatross.
- I'm already really busy today, and now Paul's breathing down my neck saying he wants the Paris deal completed.
- I can't work with you breathing down my neck.
- We'd better start sending out those letters soon -- I've had the sales manager breathing down my neck about it all week.
- He would be breathing down your neck all the time.
- Labour and the Liberal Democrats are breathing down his neck.
- Maybe the Assistant Commissioner's wife was breathing down Maxham's neck.
- The staff is breathing down your neck.
- This particular heritage may be a millstone around the neck of scientific natural history.
- Carla can be a pain sometimes, but she's been a good friend to me.
- Everyone thinks he's a pain in the neck.
- It's such a pain to have to drive downtown.
- Little brothers are such a pain in the neck!
- I hate the IVs, they hurt and are a pain.
- I imagined myself traveling the world, giving succor wherever there was pain and suffering.
- Instead all she could feel was pain.
- Just the starting it is a pain and the tipping it to get it started is a pain.
- She felt her strength returning, but there was pain in her eyes, chest and throat.
- When I entered it, I was pained with the cold.
- It just caught me by the scruff of the neck and practically hammered my guts out.
- One had hold of the other by the scruff of the neck and had fetched blood.
- Three were dragged back on to the train and taken by the scruff of the neck from station to police car.
- Your eyes narrow against the claws gripping you by the scruff of the neck until you let your hook of anger go.
- Look, I'll stick my neck out and say it'll be finished by tomorrow evening.
- The evidence is good, but I won't stick my neck out until all the data is in.
- And many economists are reluctant to stick their necks out.
- He'd stuck his neck out all right, but not as much as he'd led Holman to believe.
- I want to stick my neck out and help her.
- It was a place for people who wanted to stick their necks out.
- Let Bixby stick his neck out for once, he thought as he stared wearily at his folded hands.
- She listened to his ideas, had even stuck her neck out to champion some of his more radical plans.
- So I have decided to stick my neck out and to make some predictions for the next 30 years.
- You don't have to stick your neck out in meetings.
- When Dean gets home, I'm going to wring his neck.
Jean wore a string of pearls around her neck. Mike rubbed the back of his neck. You have a lot of tension in your neck muscles. He patted his horse’s neck. She had a mass of golden hair, which she wore in a coil at the nape (=back) of her neck. The dog picked up the puppy and carried it by the scruff (=back) of the neck into the house.2clothing [countable] the part of a piece of clothing that goes around your neckneck of The neck of his shirt was open. The sweater has a round neck and long sleeves.V-necked/open-necked etc a navy V-necked sweater → crew neck, polo neck, scoop neck, turtleneck, V-neck3narrow part [countable] the narrow part of something, usually at the topneck of Lara put the cork back in the neck of the bottle. a crack in the neck of the violin4be up to your neck in something a)to be very busy with something: She’s up to her neck in work. b)to be in a difficult situation that is hard to escape from: Jim’s up to his neck in debt.5neck and neck (with somebody) informal if two competitors or groups are neck and neck in a competition or race, they are level with each other: Opinion polls show the two main parties are running neck and neck.6in this/somebody’s neck of the woods informal in a particular area or part of the country: I haven’t been in this neck of the woods for years.7get it in the neck British English spoken to be punished or criticized: If we don’t make some changes we’ll all get it in the neck.8by a neck informal if a race, especially a horse race, is won by a neck, the winner is only a very short distance in front: Our horse won by a neck.9attitude [uncountable] (also brass neck) British English informal a confident attitude that makes you able to do unreasonable or shocking things without feeling embarrassed SYN nerve, cheek: I don't know how they have the neck to charge that much!10land [countable] a narrow piece of land that comes out of a wider part: a neck of land between a lake and the sea11(hang) around your neck if something hangs around your neck, it keeps causing you problems → be breathing down somebody’s neck at breathe(5), → I’ll wring somebody’s neck at wring(6), → pain in the neck at pain1(3), → risk your neck at risk2(1), → save somebody’s neck at save1(11), → stick your neck out at stick outneck1 nounneck2 verb
neckneck2 verb [intransitive usually in progressive] informal VERB TABLE
neck
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | neck |
| he, she, it | necks | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | necked |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have necked |
| he, she, it | has necked | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had necked |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will neck |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have necked |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am necking |
| he, she, it | is necking | |
| you, we, they | are necking | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was necking |
| you, we, they | were necking | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been necking |
| he, she, it | has been necking | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been necking |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be necking |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been necking |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Jemma found her friends necking in the back of the car.
- He reverted to the stage of church camp necking.
- On these drives, they usually end up parking somewhere, only to neck and stuff, according to Fifi.
- Samantha starts necking Bob, and then starts necking me.
- The two kids stayed by the doors, necking.
- They went out in the backyard and necked with us.
- We started necking on the sofa, and she undressed, and suggested the bedroom.
Longman Language Activatorwhen two people kiss each other
· They kissed briefly, then he left the house.· They were on the sofa, curled up together, kissing.
British informal if two people, especially young people, snog , they kiss each other for a long time in a sexual way - used especially humorously: · Frances left the two of them snogging in a dark corner and went back to the dance floor.· Who's that guy snogging Fiona?
informal if two people, especially young people, are necking , they are kissing and touching each other in a sexual way: · Jemma found her friends necking in the back of the car.
informal if two people are smooching , they are kissing and holding each other in a romantic way: · In the semi-darkness, couples were smooching to sentimental love-songs.· The sales manager and the boss's wife were smooching in full view of everyone.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He craned his neck above the crowd to get a better view. He was getting a crick in his neck from leaning out of the window for so long. a permanently damaged knee joint the soft warm nape of her neck I’m not going to risk my neck (=risk my life) just to save a common criminal. Alastair woke with a stiff neck.
(=a brace that supports the neck etc) He was being fitted for a back brace.
He was being fitted for a back brace. He craned his neck above the crowd to get a better view. He was getting a crick in his neck from leaning out of the window for so long. a permanently damaged knee joint (=risk something bad happening to you) I’ve already put myself on the line for you once, and I’m not going to do it again.
I’ve already put myself on the line for you once, and I’m not going to do it again. the soft warm nape of her neck I’m not going to risk my neck (=risk my life) just to save a common criminal. Alastair woke with a stiff neck.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► put your head/neck on the block► rick your back/neck► save somebody’s skin/neck/bacon► wring something’s neck
if two people are necking, they kiss for a long time in a sexual way—necking noun [uncountable]- The project became a financial albatross for the city.
- But what began as an enlightened innovation has become an albatross around the neck of the free enterprise system.
- Their wingspan exceeds that of an albatross.
- I'm already really busy today, and now Paul's breathing down my neck saying he wants the Paris deal completed.
- I can't work with you breathing down my neck.
- We'd better start sending out those letters soon -- I've had the sales manager breathing down my neck about it all week.
- He would be breathing down your neck all the time.
- Labour and the Liberal Democrats are breathing down his neck.
- Maybe the Assistant Commissioner's wife was breathing down Maxham's neck.
- The staff is breathing down your neck.
- This particular heritage may be a millstone around the neck of scientific natural history.
- Carla can be a pain sometimes, but she's been a good friend to me.
- Everyone thinks he's a pain in the neck.
- It's such a pain to have to drive downtown.
- Little brothers are such a pain in the neck!
- I hate the IVs, they hurt and are a pain.
- I imagined myself traveling the world, giving succor wherever there was pain and suffering.
- Instead all she could feel was pain.
- Just the starting it is a pain and the tipping it to get it started is a pain.
- She felt her strength returning, but there was pain in her eyes, chest and throat.
- When I entered it, I was pained with the cold.
- It just caught me by the scruff of the neck and practically hammered my guts out.
- One had hold of the other by the scruff of the neck and had fetched blood.
- Three were dragged back on to the train and taken by the scruff of the neck from station to police car.
- Your eyes narrow against the claws gripping you by the scruff of the neck until you let your hook of anger go.
- Look, I'll stick my neck out and say it'll be finished by tomorrow evening.
- The evidence is good, but I won't stick my neck out until all the data is in.
- And many economists are reluctant to stick their necks out.
- He'd stuck his neck out all right, but not as much as he'd led Holman to believe.
- I want to stick my neck out and help her.
- It was a place for people who wanted to stick their necks out.
- Let Bixby stick his neck out for once, he thought as he stared wearily at his folded hands.
- She listened to his ideas, had even stuck her neck out to champion some of his more radical plans.
- So I have decided to stick my neck out and to make some predictions for the next 30 years.
- You don't have to stick your neck out in meetings.
- When Dean gets home, I'm going to wring his neck.