jaw
(dʒɔː )
Word forms: jaws
1. countable noun [usually singular] B2
Your jaw is the lower part of your face below your mouth. The movement of your jaw is sometimes considered to express a particular emotion. For example, if your jaw drops, you are very surprised.
He thought for a moment, stroking his well-defined jaw.
Meg's jaw dropped in amazement.
His jaw was set, but his voice sounded thin and unsure.
2. countable noun B2
A person's or animal's jaws are the two bones in their head which their teeth are attached to.
...a forest rodent with powerful jaws.
3. plural noun
If you talk about the jaws of something unpleasant such as death or hell, you are referring to a dangerous or unpleasant situation.
A family dog rescued a newborn boy from the jaws of death. [+ of]
...caught in the jaws of world recession.
4. to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory phrase [VERB inflects]
If someone snatches victory from the jaws of defeat, they win when it seems that they are certain to lose. If someone snatches defeat from the jaws of victory, they lose when it seems that they are certain to win. [journalism]
5. to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
Vocabulary Builder
FACE hair eye ear nose jaw forehead cheek mouth chin Collocations:
jaws of victory powerful jaws slack jaw square jaw strong jaw wire a jaw
Being blunt about it, they plucked defeat from the jaws of victory.
Times, Sunday Times
There was one thing missing on this tour — a defeat from the jaws of victory.
The Sun
Just having to address the issue of being a choker means you are doubly likely to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory.
Times, Sunday Times
He reflected on that epic day and revealed how the pain of defeat, sprung from the jaws of victory, has never gone away.
The Sun
Above all the belief that here was another opportunity for their team to pluck defeat from the jaws of victory.
The Sun
Pliosaurs had short necks and huge, crocodile-like heads that contained powerful jaws and a set of huge, razorsharp teeth.
Times, Sunday Times
The beetles make a screeching noise by rubbing their legs together to warn off predators and have large, powerful jaws capable of biting through wood.
Times, Sunday Times
Its features suggest a diet of tough vegetable matter, ground with powerful jaws.
Times, Sunday Times
Sharks have the most powerful jaws on the planet.
Times, Sunday Times
The fearsome reptiles - with razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaws and claws - grow up to 9ft long.
The Sun
Besides, psychoanalysis isn't easy with a slack jaw.
Times, Sunday Times
The center image has closed eyes, hollowed cheeks, a slack jaw and a protruding tongue.
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Cue stony silence and slack jaws all around.
Times, Sunday Times
Slack jaws at the ready as the traveller community welcomes viewers back into their unique world for a new series.
Times, Sunday Times
Wide-eyed and slack jawed, he usually wore a service station uniform and a baseball cap with an upturned bill; a handkerchief dangled from his back pocket.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
I might draw a line at a very square jaw but that would be it, honest.
Times, Sunday Times
He knew he'd got plenty of these media gigs partly because of his curly hair, square jaw and commanding voice.
Times, Sunday Times
With your prominent cheekbones and square jaw, you need to soften your look by avoiding glasses that are sharp and angular.
Times, Sunday Times
His square jaw, chin dimple and flashing blue eyes are pure matinee idol.
Times, Sunday Times
They made abovechance judgments using 'straying' features including square jaw, strong brow and wide nose.
The Sun
They have a lot of energy and a strong jaw.
The Sun
His was a surprisingly benign face despite the strong jaw.
Times, Sunday Times
He has a strong jaw, hazel eyes and thick blond hair that seems perpetually windswept.
Times, Sunday Times
He has a strong jaw and a raucous trucker's laugh.
Times, Sunday Times
The two groups share a swift, efficient hunting style, a strong jaw, and the ability to build instant shelters for their young.
Times, Sunday Times
He recorded a single with his jaw wired shut.
The Sun
One has his jaw wired up and the other has physio, and soon both are back home continuing to melt hearts.
Times, Sunday Times
He almost had to have his jaw wired shut as a result.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
He then had to have his jaw wired shut for two weeks for healing.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
He was admitted to hospital where he underwent surgery to have his jaw wired back together.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Translations:
Chinese: 颚
Japanese: あご
- calm deliberation
- calm demeanour
- calm down
- calm exterior
- calm fears
- calming
- calming effect
- calming influence
- calmly
- calmly
- calm manner
- calmness
- calm ocean
- calm reflection
- calm sea
- calm surface
- calm tensions
- calm the mind
- calm the nerves
- calm the situation
- calm voice
- calm water
- calm weather
- Calor gas
- caloric