hiccup

Everyday

1. A hiccup is a sudden, short "hic" sound you make when a muscle under your lungs jumps by itself. tree →
2. Hiccups (or the hiccups) is having many of these one after another. tree →
3. (informal) A hiccup is a small problem or delay: "a small hiccup in our plans". tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons hiccups are explained: the diaphragm muscle tightens suddenly and the voice box snaps shut. In everyday life people try holding their breath or sipping water to stop hiccups. In stories and news, "a hiccup" is a minor setback. Phrases: get the hiccups, have hiccups, a slight hiccup, a minor hiccup.

Examples

• I got the hiccups after drinking fizzy pop too fast. tree →
• Hold your breath to stop your hiccups. tree →
• The baby hiccuped after her milk. tree →
• "Hic!" went the hiccup in the middle of the quiet test. tree →
• There was a small hiccup: the bus was late. tree →
• Apart from one hiccup, the play went perfectly. tree →

Note

Pronounced "HIK-up". The spelling hiccough is old-fashioned but still said the same way. "Have the hiccups" (plural) for the condition; "a hiccup" for one. Giving someone a fright does not reliably stop hiccups — the idea that it always works is a myth.