Topic: SPORT
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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | stacker 'to stagger' (13-19 centuries), from Old Norse stakra, from staka 'to push' |
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stag‧ger1
1 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to walk or move unsteadily, almost falling over [= stumble]: He managed to stagger home. She staggered back a step. The old man staggered drunkenly to his feet.
He managed to stagger home.She staggered back a step.The old man staggered drunkenly to his feet.2 [transitive] to make someone feel very surprised or shocked [= amaze]: What staggered us was the sheer size of her salary.
What staggered us was the sheer size of her salary.3 [intransitive] also stagger onDS to continue doing something when you seem to be going to fail and you do not know what will happen : He staggered on for another two years.
He staggered on for another two years.4 [transitive] to arrange people's working hours, holidays etc so that they do not all begin and end at the same time : Jim and his wife stagger their work hours so one of them can be at home with the kids.
Jim and his wife stagger their work hours so one of them can be at home with the kids.5 [transitive] to start a race with each runner at a different place on a curved track
WORD FOCUS: walk WORD FOCUS: walk
stroll in a relaxed way for pleasure
wander with no aim or direction
stride in a confident or angry way
march soldiers
hike for long distances in the countryside or the mountains
tiptoe very quietly
wade through water
stagger in an unsteady way because you are drunk or injured
limp with difficulty because one leg is painful or injuredwalk
➔ See also walk
WORD FOCUS: walk stroll in a relaxed way for pleasure
wander with no aim or direction
stride in a confident or angry way
march soldiers
hike for long distances in the countryside or the mountains
tiptoe very quietly
wade through water
stagger in an unsteady way because you are drunk or injured
limp with difficulty because one leg is painful or injuredwalk
➔ See also walk
