drawstring

Everyday

A drawstring is a cord threaded through the top of a bag or the waist or hood of clothes, which you pull to make it tighter. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life PE bags, swimming bags, tracksuit bottoms and hoodies often have drawstrings. In school children carry a drawstring PE bag. In safety advice, long drawstrings on hoods can catch on playground equipment or bus doors, so they should be short or removed for young children. Phrases: «drawstring bag», «pull the drawstring», «drawstring waist».

Examples

• I keep my PE kit in a drawstring bag. tree →
• Pull the drawstring to close the bag. tree →
• My shorts have a drawstring waist. tree →
• The drawstring came out of my hood. tree →
• Tie the drawstring so your trousers stay up. tree →
• Long drawstrings can catch on slides. tree →
• She tightened the drawstring on her hood in the wind. tree →
• Thread the drawstring back with a safety pin. tree →

Note

Countable, one word: draw (pull) + string. Here «draw» means «pull», not «make a picture». Safety: hood drawstrings can catch and pull at the neck — tuck them in or remove them.