mow

Everyday

1. To mow grass means to cut it short with a machine called a lawnmower or with a long blade. tree →
2. To mow down people or things means to knock them down or kill many of them quickly (used in war or accident reports). tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and safety mowing the lawn is a common garden job; children must keep away from a running mower because the blades are very sharp and can throw stones. In farming hay is mown and dried for animals. Phrases: «mow the lawn», «freshly mown grass», «mow down».

Examples

• Dad mows the lawn every Saturday in summer. tree →
• I love the smell of freshly mown grass. tree →
• Keep away from the mower when it is running. tree →
• The farmer mowed the field to make hay. tree →
• My big sister earns pocket money by mowing neighbours' lawns. tree →
• Wear shoes when you are near someone mowing. tree →
• The grass needs mowing; it is too long. tree →
• In the story the giant mowed down the trees with his sword. tree →
• The King did not fail asking of the mowers, to whom the meadow they were mowing belonged. tree →

Note

Past «mowed»; past participle «mowed» or «mown» («a mown field»). Homophone trap: «mow» rhymes with «go», not with «cow» (a «mow» rhyming with «cow» is an old word for a pile of hay). Person: «mower»; machine: «lawnmower».