See Also: nudge(dictionary)
nudge(dictionary)

nudge (iou)



nudge verb & noun. L17.
[Perh. rel. to Norwegian dial. nugga, nyggja push, rub, and in much earlier use.]
A. verb.
verb trans. Touch or prod (a person) gently, esp. with the elbow, to attract attention etc.; push gently or gradually. L17.
L. R. Banks I opened my mouth to say yes but Connie nudged me. F. Raphael Pamela and Miriam were nudging the trolley over..the carpet.
b. fig. Coax or pressurize gently into something; give a gentle reminder to. Also, approach, come near to, (freq. as nudging ppl adjective). M19.
A. MacVicar I was big, nudging six feet two. W. Raeper He talked..to his father who tried to nudge him into the ministry.
verb intrans. Give a gentle push or prod; fig. move up, ahead, etc., slightly or by gradual pushing. E19.
A. T. Ellis Younger..they would have nudged, giggled and snorted. Daily Telegraph Interest rates in the London money market nudged up about 1 / 16 per cent.
b. noun. An act of nudging; a gentle push or prod, esp. with the elbow; fig. a gentle reminder. M19.
nudge, nudge, wink, wink (a) interjection & adverb used to imply a sexual innuendo in the preceding phr. or clause; (b) (with hyphens) sexually suggestive.
L. Hudson The poet..relies on nudges and hints to control..his reader.
nudger noun (a) a person who nudges; (b) dial. a bowler hat: E20.