stuff

Everyday

1. Things in general, when you do not need to name them: "Put your stuff in your bag." tree →
2. A material or substance: "What is this sticky stuff?" tree →
3. To fill something tightly: "stuff a pillow", "stuff a turkey". tree →
4. To push something quickly into a small space: "He stuffed the letter into his pocket." tree →
5. Informally, "I'm stuffed" means I have eaten too much. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life "stuff" is a very common, informal word; at school a teacher might say "Get your stuff ready". In cooking, people stuff peppers or a chicken. In writing lessons, pupils are told to use more exact words instead of "stuff" and "things". Phrases: and stuff, stuffed animal, stuffed toy, I'm stuffed, know your stuff.

Examples

• Put your stuff away before lunch. tree →
• What is this green stuff on the bread? tree →
• She stuffed her clothes into the suitcase. tree →
• We stuffed the turkey for Christmas dinner. tree →
• I'm stuffed, I couldn't eat another bite. tree →
• My teddy is a stuffed toy. tree →
• Our science teacher really knows her stuff. tree →
• "Cucumbers stuffed with pearls!" exclaimed the princess. tree →

Note

The noun is uncountable: "a lot of stuff", never "stuffs" or "a stuff". It is informal; in careful writing use "things", "belongings" or the exact name. "Stuffing" is the food put inside a chicken or the soft material inside a toy. Safety: mouldy green stuff on bread means it has gone bad; throw it away.

In Jewish tradition

Here it can mean cloth or fabric, or a person's goods and belongings. In the Prophets it also means a person's baggage, as when Ezekiel carries out his stuff like someone going into exile.

Interpretation. "Mingled stuff" is the law of shatnez, which forbids wearing wool and linen woven together. Tradition counts it as a command with no stated reason, which we keep as God's decree. Ezekiel's acting out of exile is read as a sign given to warn the people of what was coming.

Examples

• Thou shalt not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together. (Torah DEU.22.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Whereas thou hast felt about all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? (Torah GEN.31.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• Also regard not your stuff; for the good things of all the land of Egypt are yours.' (Torah GEN.45.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it grieved me sore; therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. (Writings NEH.13.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• She shall be led unto the king on richly woven stuff; the virgins her companions in her train being brought unto thee. (Writings PSA.45.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And thou shalt bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for exile; and thou shalt go forth thyself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile. (Prophets EZK.12.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

The noun is uncountable: "a lot of stuff", never "stuffs" or "a stuff". It is informal; in careful writing use "things", "belongings" or the exact name. "Stuffing" is the food put inside a chicken or the soft material inside a toy. Safety: mouldy green stuff on bread means it has gone bad; throw it away.