gulp

Everyday

1. To swallow food or drink quickly in big mouthfuls. tree →
2. To swallow suddenly because you are nervous, scared or surprised. tree →
3. (noun) A big swallow or mouthful: «a gulp of water». tree →
4. To breathe in air quickly: «gulp air». tree →

In the lessons

In stories «He gulped» shows a character is nervous or afraid. In health lessons: eat and drink slowly and do not gulp your food. Phrases: «gulp down», «in one gulp», «gulp for air». In comics «Gulp!» is the sound of a nervous swallow.

Examples

• He gulped down his milk and ran out of the door. tree →
• Don't gulp your food; chew it properly. tree →
• She drank the water in one gulp. tree →
• I gulped when the teacher called my name. tree →
• The swimmer came up and gulped air. tree →
• Take a big gulp of air before you go under. tree →
• Gulp! The giant was looking right at me. tree →
• And holding the glass with his two hands, he swallowed the medicine at one gulp. tree →

Note

Regular verb: gulped. «Gulp» is fast and big; «sip» is slow and small (the opposite). Gulping drinks too fast can give you hiccups or make you choke.