nip

Universal Words verb, noun verb (-pp-) 1 ~ (at sth) to give sb/sth a quick painful bite or PINCH: [VN] He winced as the dog nipped his ankle. * [V] She nipped at my arm. 2 ~ (at sth) (of cold, wind, etc.) to harm or damage sth: [V] The icy wind nipped at our faces. * [VN] growing shoots nipped by frost 3 [V+adv./prep.] (BrE, informal) to go somewhere quickly and/or for only a short time: He's just nipped out to the bank. * A car nipped in (= got in quickly) ahead of me. IDIOMS nip sth in the bud to stop sth when it has just begun because you can see that problems will come from it PHRASALVERBS nip sth<->off to remove a part of sth with your finger or with scissors, etc. noun 1 the act of giving sb a small bite or PINCH (= squeezing their skin between your finger and thumb): The dog gave her a painful nip on the leg. 2 (informal) a feeling of cold: There was a real nip in the air. seealsoNIPPY 3 (informal) a small drink of strong alcohol: a nip of brandy IDIOMS nip and tuck (especially AmE) = neck and neck at NECK