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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Trip Over: Definition, Examples, and Usage Tips (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：stumble over (Trip over)

Trip over 🔊

/trɪp ˈoʊvər/

phr.v.

To stumble or fall because your foot hits something on the ground.

Person tripping over garden hose losing balance illustration

stumble over 🔊

➕

/ˈstʌmbəl ˈoʊvər/

phr.v.

To hit something with your foot and lose balance, often resulting in a fall.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'trippian' (step) + 'over' (across), literally 'to step across and fall'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine tripping over a rock and also over your own words! Two kinds of stumbles.

📖 Example

While helping in the garden, I almost tripped over a watering hose left on the path. 🔊 While helping in the garden, I almost tripped over a watering hose left on the path.

🔗 Collocations

trip over a cable – to stumble because of a cable on the floor

trip over a stone – to stumble because of a stone in the way

trip over a rug – to stumble because of a rug that is not flat

🔄 Synonyms

stumble (v.) – To miss a step and lose balance, nearly falling.

trip (v.) – To catch one's foot on something and fall or stagger.

stagger (v.) – To walk unsteadily, often as if about to fall.

🚫 Antonyms

stand firm (phr.) – To remain stable and not lose balance.

balance (v.) – To keep steady without falling.

🌱 Derivatives

tripper (n.) – A person who trips or stumbles

📖 Cultural Story

Evolved from Middle English 'trippen' (to dance lightly). The figurative use for speech errors appeared in the 19th century, now common in casual speech.

Meaning 2：stutter in speech (Trip over)

Trip over 🔊

/trɪp ˈoʊvər/

phr.v.

To make a mistake when speaking, often by hesitating or saying words unclearly.

Nervous speaker stumbling over words at podium

stutter in speech 🔊

➕

/ˈstʌtər ɪn spiːtʃ/

phr.v.

To make a mistake when speaking, hesitating or saying words unclearly.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

In her first job interview, she tripped over her words when asked about her strengths. 🔊 In her first job interview, she tripped over her words when asked about her strengths.

🔗 Collocations

trip over one's tongue – to have difficulty speaking clearly due to nervousness or haste

trip over a sentence – to make a mistake while reading or speaking a sentence

trip over a name – to mispronounce or forget a name when introducing someone

🔄 Synonyms

stutter (v.) – To repeat sounds or syllables involuntarily while speaking.

stammer (v.) – To speak with involuntary pauses or repetitions, often due to nervousness.

falter (v.) – To hesitate or lose confidence in speech.

🚫 Antonyms

speak fluently (phr.) – To speak smoothly and without hesitation.

articulate clearly (phr.) – To pronounce words distinctly and without errors.