Definition of the word neck

Pronunciation of vocabulary neck

necknoun

cổ

/nɛk/

Definition of the word <b>neck</b>

Origin of the word neck

The word "neck" has its roots in Old English. The earliest recorded usage of the word dates back to around the 9th century. The Old English word "néce" (pronounced "nay-kah") referred to the neck or throat area, as well as the act of stretching or extending something, such as a neck or a beam. This Old English word is thought to be derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*nekiz," which is also the source of the Modern German word "Hals." This Proto-Germanic word is believed to have been imitative of the sound of a dog's neck stretching or being extended, much like the Old English word for "dog" was "*hundiz," also meaning "stretching" or "bending." Over time, the spelling and meaning of the word "neck" evolved, but its origins can be traced back to this ancient Old English word.

Vocabulary summary neck

typenoun

meaningneck (human, animal; bottle, jar)

exampleto break one's neck

exampleto have a stiff neck

examplethe neck of a bottle

meaningneck meat (lamb)

meaningconstriction, narrowing (of something)

typetransitive verb

meaning(US, slang) hug; cuddle, caress

exampleto break one's neck

exampleto have a stiff neck

examplethe neck of a bottle

Example of vocabulary necknamespace

meaning

the part of the body between the head and the shoulders

phần cơ thể giữa đầu và vai

  • He tied a scarf around his neck.

    Anh buộc một chiếc khăn quanh cổ.

  • I woke up with a stiff neck.

    Tôi thức dậy với cái cổ cứng ngắc.

  • Giraffes have very long necks.

    Hươu cao cổ có cổ rất dài.

  • She craned (= stretched) her neck to get a better view.

    Cô ấy nghển cổ (= kéo dài) cổ để nhìn rõ hơn.

  • He broke his neck in the fall.

    Anh ấy bị gãy cổ vào mùa thu.

  • Somebody's going to break their neck (= injure themselves) on these steps.

    Ai đó sẽ bị gãy cổ (= tự làm mình bị thương) trên những bậc thang này.

  • The hairs on the nape of my neck stood on end.

    Tóc gáy tôi dựng đứng.

Extra examples:
  • I craned my neck to see what was happening at the front.

    Tôi nghểnh cổ lên xem chuyện gì đang xảy ra ở phía trước.

  • I cricked my neck playing tennis and now I can't turn round properly.

    Tôi bị vẹo cổ khi chơi quần vợt và bây giờ tôi không thể xoay người bình thường được.

  • I had a crick in my neck from staring up at the sky so long.

    Tôi bị vẹo cổ vì nhìn lên bầu trời quá lâu.

  • I keep the key on a string around my neck.

    Tôi đeo chìa khóa vào một sợi dây quanh cổ.

  • The hairs on the back of my neck prickled with fear.

    Tóc gáy tôi dựng lên vì sợ hãi.

meaning

the part of a piece of clothing that fits around the neck

phần của một mảnh quần áo vừa vặn quanh cổ

  • He wore a casual shirt with an open neck.

    Anh mặc một chiếc áo sơ mi giản dị có cổ hở.

  • Her dress had three buttons at the neck undone.

    Chiếc váy của cô ấy có ba nút ở cổ được cởi ra.

  • What neck size do you take?

    Bạn lấy cỡ cổ bao nhiêu?

meaning

having the type of neck mentioned

có loại cổ được đề cập

  • a round-necked sweater

    một chiếc áo len cổ tròn

meaning

a long narrow part of something

một phần hẹp dài của một cái gì đó

  • the neck of a bottle

    cổ chai

  • the narrow neck of land between the lake and the sea

    phần đất hẹp giữa hồ và biển

  • the neck of a guitar

    cổ của một cây đàn guitar

meaning

the neck of an animal, cooked and eaten

cổ của động vật, nấu chín và ăn

  • neck of lamb

    cổ cừu

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary neck

Idioms of vocabulary neck

be up to your neck in something
to have a lot of something to deal with
  • We're up to our neck in debt.
  • He's in it (= trouble) up to his neck.
    • brass neck
    (British English, informal)a combination of confidence and lack of respect
  • I didn't think she would have the brass neck to do that.
    • breathe down somebody’s neck
    (informal)to watch closely what somebody is doing in a way that makes them feel anxious and/or annoyed
  • I can’t get any work done with you breathing down my neck.
    • by a neck
    if a person or an animal wins a race by a neck, they win it by a short distance
    by the scruff of the/somebody’s neck
    roughly holding the back of an animal’s or person’s neck
  • She grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him out.
  • The cat picked up her kitten by the scruff of its neck.
    • get it in the neck
    (British English, informal)to be shouted at or punished because of something that you have done
    a millstone around/round your neck
    a difficult problem or responsibility that it seems impossible to solve or get rid of
  • My debts are a millstone around my neck.
  • Unemployment was an economic millstone around the country’s neck.
    • neck and neck (with somebody/something)
    level with somebody in a race or competition
  • The cyclists were neck and neck as they approached the final lap.
    • neck of the woods
    (informal)a particular place or area
  • He's from your neck of the woods (= the area where you live).
  • What are you doing in this neck of the woods?
    • a pain in the neck
    (informal)a person or thing that is very annoying
  • That man's a pain in the neck!
    • put/lay your head/neck on the block
    to risk losing your job, damaging your reputation, etc. by doing or saying something
  • It's not a matter that I'm prepared to put my head on the block for.
    • risk your neck
    to risk being killed or injured in order to do something
  • I'm not going to risk my neck playing rugby with you!
    • save somebody’s bacon/neck
    (informal)to rescue somebody from a very difficult situation
  • He's out to save his own political neck.
    • save your (own) skin/hide/neck
    to try to avoid death, punishment, etc., especially by leaving others in an extremely difficult situation
  • To save his own skin, he lied and blamed the accident on his friend.
    • stick your neck out
    (informal)to do or say something when there is a risk that you may be wrong
  • I’ll stick my neck out and say that Bill is definitely the best candidate for the job.
    • wring somebody’s neck
    (informal)when you say that you will wring somebody’s neck, you mean that you are very angry or annoyed with them
  • When he was late again I wanted to wring his neck.

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