wink

Everyday

1. (verb) To close and open one eye quickly, often to show a joke, a secret or friendliness. tree →
2. (verb) Of a light: to flash on and off. tree →
3. (noun) The act of winking. tree →
4. (informal) «Not sleep a wink» means not sleep at all; «forty winks» means a short nap. tree →

In the lessons

In stories: a wink tells the reader a character shares a secret or is joking. In everyday talk: «I didn't sleep a wink.» In safety: a stranger's wink or a secret should be told to a trusted adult if it makes you uneasy.

Examples

• Grandpa gave me a wink and slipped me a sweet. tree →
• The lights on the tree winked on and off. tree →
• I didn't sleep a wink before the trip. tree →
• Dad had forty winks on the sofa. tree →
• She winked to show she was only joking. tree →
• The emoji with a wink means «just kidding». tree →

Note

Regular verb: winked. Countable noun. Not the same as «blink» (closing both eyes, usually without meaning to).

In Jewish tradition

In Job and Psalms, winking with the eye is a sign of scorn or secret malice. In the primary lessons: In stories: a wink tells the reader a character shares a secret or is joking. In everyday talk: «I didn't sleep a wink.» In safety: a stranger's wink or a secret should be told to a trusted adult if it makes you uneasy.

Examples

• And why do thine eyes wink? (Writings JOB.15.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. (Writings PSA.35.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb: winked. Countable noun. Not the same as «blink» (closing both eyes, usually without meaning to).