paw
paw — noun
1. the soft padded foot of cats, dogs, bears, and similar creatures, with claws at
the soft padded foot of cats, dogs, bears, and similar creatures, with claws at the tip of each toe
Nila's puppy left tiny paw prints across the freshly washed floor.
collocation: paw prints
The cat lifted a muddy paw and tapped the window until it opened.
A large bear paw had left deep marks in the soft ground near the river.
Christopher gently dried his dog's wet paws with an old towel after the walk.
The lioness licked her cub's paw until the thorn came out of the skin.
- hoof
the hard foot of horses, cows, and deer — opposite in texture and structure
文法句型
[animal]'s paw
paw + print / mark
常見錯誤
2. an informal and disapproving or humorous word for a person's hand, used when it
an informal and disapproving or humorous word for a person's hand, used when it is too big, dirty, or is being used in a rough way
Yan laughed and told his little sister to keep her paws off his new bicycle.
informal: 'paws' for hands
Take your grimy paws off my laptop, Harper shouted at her younger brother.
The old builder's hands were so rough and calloused they looked like paws.
Eli wiped his paws on his jeans before shaking hands with the teacher.
文法句型
[possessive] + paws
keep/take/get your paws off [something/someone]
用法筆記
Only use this sense in informal situations with people you know well. In neutral or formal contexts, always use 'hand' instead — using 'paws' for human hands can sound rude.
常見錯誤
paw — verb
1. if an animal paws something or paws at it, it touches, rubs, or hits it repeated
if an animal paws something or paws at it, it touches, rubs, or hits it repeatedly with its front foot
The excited dog pawed at the back door until Hoa let it inside.
intransitive: paw at [something]
Hugo's cat pawed the wool blanket before going to sleep on the sofa.
transitive: paw [something]
The horse pawed the ground nervously while waiting for the rider to return.
A small bear cub pawed at the fallen tree, looking for insects to eat.
文法句型
[animal] + paw + [object]
[animal] + paw at + [object]
用法筆記
The intransitive form with 'at' ('paw at something') emphasises repeated or insistent action. The transitive form ('paw something') describes a single or general action.
常見錯誤
2. to touch a person or their belongings in a rough, rude, or sexually unwanted way
to touch a person or their belongings in a rough, rude, or sexually unwanted way, using your hands
A drunk man on the train pawed at Renata's shoulder until she moved away.
informal disapproving: unwanted touching of a person
Tariq angrily told his friend to stop pawing his camera without asking first.
Nkechi snapped at the stranger who kept pawing her arm during the concert.
Eleni's little cousin kept pawing her phone, so she put it in her pocket.
- caress
gentle, affectionate touch — opposite in intention and quality
文法句型
[person] + paw + [person/object]
[person] + paw at + [person/object]
用法筆記
Subject is always a person, not an animal. This sense always expresses disapproval of the toucher — the action is unwelcome to the person being touched. The non-sexual variant (roughly grabbing someone's belongings) is less common but still carries a negative tone.