chivy

verb

ˈchi-vē

variants or chivvy

chivied or chivvied; chivying or chivvying

transitive verb

: to tease or annoy with persistent petty attacks

: to move or obtain by small maneuvers

chivy an olive out of a bottle

Did you know?

Chivy, which is also spelled chivvy, became established in our language in the 19th century and, at first, meant "to harass or chase." Early usage examples are of people chivying a chicken around to catch it and of a person chivying around food that is frying. The verb comes from a British noun chivy meaning "chase" or "hunt." That chivy is believed to be derived from Chevy Chase—a term for "chase" or "confusion" that is taken from the name of a ballad describing the 1388 battle of Otterburn between the Scottish and English. (A chase in this context is an unenclosed tract of land that is used as a game preserve.)

Example Sentences

a boss with a reputation for chivying his workers about every little thing

Recent Examples on the Web For smaller losses, says David Gluckman, Lumkani’s boss, policyholders often have to be chivvied into claiming.

The Economist, 22 Aug. 2019 But radium was rare and costly, with tiny quantities hoarded and chivvied between nations for experiments.

New York Times, 28 Aug. 2019 After becoming prime minister in 2014, Narendra Modi chivvied bankers to open accounts for everyone.

The Economist, 6 June 2019 Abloh had booked a club and chivvied the throng to get down there.

Luke Leitch, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2019 The rich world should focus its attention—and resources, including charity—on chivvying them along.

The Economist, 1 Mar. 2018

chivy

verb

variants or chivvy

as in to bother

to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation a boss with a reputation for chivying his workers about every little thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

bother
annoy
pester
irritate
disturb
worry
vex
bug
bedevil
exasperate
beleaguer
harass
aggravate
irk
rile
nettle
dog
roil
torment
intrude (upon)
chafe
trouble
rankle
dun
beset
grate
besiege
perturb
devil
afflict
distress
antagonize
gall
inconvenience
pique
gnaw
provoke
obtrude
persecute
infuriate
fret
rasp
anger
butt in
agitate
plague
peeve
enrage
inflame
outrage
encroach
madden
hassle
invade
trespass
incense
put out
get
infringe
enflame
cut in (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ignore
forget
slight
disregard
leave
placate
oblige
appease
gratify
disarm
mollify
satisfy
please
conciliate
delight
content
console
comfort
gladden

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of chivy are badger, bait, heckle, hector, and hound. While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

chivied the new student mercilessly

The words badger and chivy can be used in similar contexts, but badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

badgered her father for a car

While the synonyms bait and chivy are close in meaning, bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

baited the chained dog

The words heckle and chivy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

drunks heckled the stand-up comic

While in some cases nearly identical to chivy, hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

football players hectored by their coach

In some situations, the words hound and chivy are roughly equivalent. However, hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

hounded by creditors

单词	chivy
释义	chivy verb ˈchi-vē variants or chivvy chivied or chivvied; chivying or chivvying transitive verb 1 : to tease or annoy with persistent petty attacks 2 : to move or obtain by small maneuvers chivy an olive out of a bottle Did you know? Chivy, which is also spelled chivvy, became established in our language in the 19th century and, at first, meant "to harass or chase." Early usage examples are of people chivying a chicken around to catch it and of a person chivying around food that is frying. The verb comes from a British noun chivy meaning "chase" or "hunt." That chivy is believed to be derived from Chevy Chase—a term for "chase" or "confusion" that is taken from the name of a ballad describing the 1388 battle of Otterburn between the Scottish and English. (A chase in this context is an unenclosed tract of land that is used as a game preserve.) Synonyms bother bug disturb intrude (upon) pester See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences a boss with a reputation for chivying his workers about every little thing Recent Examples on the Web For smaller losses, says David Gluckman, Lumkani’s boss, policyholders often have to be chivvied into claiming. The Economist, 22 Aug. 2019 But radium was rare and costly, with tiny quantities hoarded and chivvied between nations for experiments. New York Times, 28 Aug. 2019 After becoming prime minister in 2014, Narendra Modi chivvied bankers to open accounts for everyone. The Economist, 6 June 2019 Abloh had booked a club and chivvied the throng to get down there. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2019 The rich world should focus its attention—and resources, including charity—on chivvying them along. The Economist, 1 Mar. 2018 Word History Etymology chivy, noun, chase, hunt, probably from English dialect Chevy Chase chase, confusion, from the name of a ballad describing the battle of Otterburn (1388) First Known Use 1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1 chivy verb variants or chivvy as in to bother to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation a boss with a reputation for chivying his workers about every little thing Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance bother annoy pester irritate disturb worry vex bug bedevil exasperate beleaguer harass aggravate irk rile nettle dog roil torment intrude (upon) chafe trouble rankle dun beset grate besiege perturb devil afflict distress antagonize gall inconvenience pique gnaw provoke obtrude persecute infuriate fret rasp anger butt in agitate plague peeve enrage inflame outrage encroach madden hassle invade trespass incense put out get infringe enflame cut in (on) Antonyms & Near Antonyms ignore forget slight disregard leave placate oblige appease gratify disarm mollify satisfy please conciliate delight content console comfort gladden See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of chivy are badger, bait, heckle, hector, and hound. While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging. chivied the new student mercilessly The words badger and chivy can be used in similar contexts, but badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy. badgered her father for a car While the synonyms bait and chivy are close in meaning, bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim. baited the chained dog The words heckle and chivy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker. drunks heckled the stand-up comic While in some cases nearly identical to chivy, hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering. football players hectored by their coach In some situations, the words hound and chivy are roughly equivalent. However, hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing. hounded by creditors
随便看	let dab let de cham let down let down easy let down gently let down one's guard let fly let go let go of let have it let in let in for let in on let in on something let it all hang out let it be known let it go let it go at that Let Jer let know let loose let me see let me think let nature take its course let off

chivy

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

verb

Synonym Chooser