wobbly

Everyday

1. Something wobbly moves or shakes from side to side because it is not firm or steady: a wobbly table, a wobbly tooth. tree →
2. If your legs or voice are wobbly, they are shaky because you are tired, ill, scared or upset. tree →
3. A wobbly line is not straight or neat. tree →
4. (informal, UK, Australia, NZ) To throw a wobbly means to suddenly get very angry or upset. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life: wobbly teeth, wobbly chairs, wobbly jelly, wobbly first bike rides. In safety lessons a wobbly ladder or shelf is a danger sign. In stories, a character's wobbly voice shows they are nervous or about to cry. Phrases: «a wobbly tooth», «wobbly legs», «throw a wobbly».

Examples

• My front tooth is wobbly. tree →
• This table is wobbly, so put a book under the leg. tree →
• The jelly was red and wobbly. tree →
• Her legs felt wobbly after the long run. tree →
• His voice went wobbly when he said goodbye. tree →
• I rode my bike, but I was a bit wobbly at first. tree →
• Don't stand on that wobbly chair! tree →
• My little brother threw a wobbly when the ice cream fell. tree →

Note

From the verb «wobble». Spelling: wobblier, wobbliest (y becomes i). Americans usually say «loose tooth» rather than «wobbly tooth». A wobbly ladder or chair is unsafe — tell an adult.