sniffle

Everyday

1. verb: To sniff again and again, because you have a cold or because you are crying quietly. tree →
2. noun «the sniffles» (informal): A mild cold with a runny nose. tree →
3. noun: The sound of sniffling. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, «he's got the sniffles» means a mild cold — usually he can still go to school. In stories, a character sniffling shows they are sad or trying not to cry. Health: use a tissue, catch it, bin it, kill it. Phrases: «the sniffles», «sniffle into a tissue».

Examples

• I've got the sniffles, but I can still go to school. tree →
• She sniffled quietly after the sad film. tree →
• Use a tissue instead of sniffling. tree →
• We heard a little sniffle from behind the door. tree →
• The puppy sniffled around the garden. tree →
• Winter brings coughs and sniffles. tree →

Note

Past «sniffled». Related: sniff, snuffle. «The sniffles» is always plural in this sense. Health tip: wash hands to stop colds spreading.