dip

dip — verb

1. to place an object underwater for a brief moment and lift it out again, often to

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to place an object underwater for a brief moment and lift it out again, often to make it wet or to cover it with a thin layer of something.

例句

Yael dipped her brush into the blue paint before starting the mural.

dip + object + into + liquid

Hamza dipped his biscuit in his tea and took a quick bite.

dip + food + in + drink

同義詞
  • dunk

    implies a more thorough or playful immersion, often of food

  • plunge

    suggests a more forceful or sudden movement into liquid

  • immerse

    more formal; often means leaving something under the surface for longer

文法句型

dip + object + in/into + liquid

用法筆記

Often used with 'in' or 'into' to specify the liquid. The action is typically brief.

常見錯誤

❌I dipped the brush on the paint.
✅I dipped the brush into the paint.
💡The correct prepositions are 'in' and 'into', not 'on'.

2. to become lower in position, amount, or degree — for example, when temperatures

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to become lower in position, amount, or degree — for example, when temperatures fall, a road slopes, or sales shrink for a short period.

例句

Temperatures dipped below zero last night, leaving frost on the cars.

dip below + measurement (intransitive)

The sun dipped behind the mountains as the family sat down for dinner.

同義詞
  • drop

    a more general word for any downward movement, often faster

  • fall

    suggests a larger or uncontrolled movement down

  • decline

    more formal; often used for gradual decreases in statistics

  • sink

    suggests going down into something soft or liquid

反義詞
  • rise

    to move upward

  • climb

    to increase or move upward steadily

文法句型

dip (no object)

dip + object

用法筆記

Frequently intransitive (prices dip, the road dips). The transitive form (dip something: dip a flag, dip a wing) is less common.

常見錯誤

❌The price of rice has dipped under ten dollars.
✅The price of rice has dipped below ten dollars.
💡'Below' is the standard preposition for thresholds in measurements.

3. to put farm animals such as sheep into a bath of chemical liquid that kills harm

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to put farm animals such as sheep into a bath of chemical liquid that kills harmful insects or parasites on their skin or fur.

例句

The farmer dips his sheep twice a year to protect them from ticks.

dip + animal (farming context)

Femi took his dog to the vet for dipping because of fleas in its fur.

同義詞
  • treat

    a more general word for applying medicine to animals

  • bathe

    general cleaning; lacks the chemical-treatment meaning

文法句型

dip + animal + in + chemical liquid

用法筆記

Almost always used for farm animals, especially sheep. The noun form 'sheep dip' (sense 4 under noun) refers to the liquid itself.

常見錯誤

❌I dipped my cat in the bathtub.
✅I gave my cat a bath.
💡'Dip' for animals usually refers to a special chemical treatment for farm animals, not a regular pet bath.

4. to change the angle of a vehicle's front lights so they point downward, to avoid

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to change the angle of a vehicle's front lights so they point downward, to avoid blinding drivers coming from the opposite direction.

例句

Sofie dipped her headlights as a car approached from the opposite direction.

dip + headlights (British driving term)

Drivers should dip their high beams when they see traffic coming toward them.

同義詞
  • dim

    the standard American English equivalent; also refers to reducing brightness

  • lower

    a more general word that can replace 'dip' but is less idiomatic

文法句型

dip + headlights/lights/beams

用法筆記

Chiefly British English. In American English, the equivalent expressions are 'dim your lights' or 'switch to low beams'.

常見錯誤

❌I dipped my headlight to the left.
✅I dipped my headlights.
💡Dipping means pointing downward, not sideways.

5. to take money from a supply you had set aside, such as savings or a special fund

5.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to take money from a supply you had set aside, such as savings or a special fund, usually because you need it.

例句

Ignacio had to dip into his savings to pay for the unexpected car repairs.

dip into + savings

The company dipped into its emergency fund to cover the flood damage.

dip into + fund/reserves

同義詞
  • withdraw

    more formal; focuses on the act of taking money out of an account

  • draw on

    suggests using a resource gradually rather than all at once

反義詞
  • save

    to put money aside rather than use it

  • deposit

    to put money into an account

文法句型

dip into + savings/reserves/fund

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'into'. The object is typically a fund of money (savings, reserves, pension) rather than a cash amount.

常見錯誤

❌I dipped my savings to buy a new phone.
✅I dipped into my savings to buy a new phone.
💡The phrasal verb 'dip into' requires 'into' before the object.

6. to read or look at small parts of a book, subject, or piece of writing without s

6.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to read or look at small parts of a book, subject, or piece of writing without studying it deeply or completely.

例句

Élise dipped into the first few chapters before deciding the novel was not for her.

dip into + book/chapter

Constanza dipped into the report during her lunch break.

同義詞
  • browse

    suggests looking at items in no particular order, often in a shop or library

  • skim

    focuses on reading quickly to get the main ideas

  • sample

    suggests trying a small amount to test quality or interest

反義詞
  • study

    to learn something in a thorough, focused way

  • devour

    informal; to read something very eagerly and completely

文法句型

dip into + topic/book/subject

用法筆記

Always takes 'into' before the object. Implies a casual, incomplete approach — different from thoroughly reading or studying.

常見錯誤

❌I dipped into the book from start to finish.
✅I dipped into the book to see if it was interesting.
💡'Dip into' means reading small parts, not the whole thing.

dip — noun