zing

Everyday

1. (informal) Zing is energy, excitement or liveliness. tree →
2. (informal) Zing is a sharp, fresh, tangy taste, as from lemon or ginger. tree →
3. A zing is a high, ringing or whistling sound, like something flying fast. tree →
4. To zing is to move very fast with a high sound; (informal, US) to zing someone is to make a cheeky joke at them. tree →

In the lessons

In cooking and everyday talk zing describes lively flavours. In stories it is a sound word for fast movement, like arrows or bullets. In writing lessons, adding «zing» means making something more lively and interesting. Phrases: add some zing, full of zing.

Examples

• A squeeze of lime adds zing to the salsa. tree →
• The new paint gave the classroom some zing. tree →
• The arrow zinged past the knight's ear. tree →
• Grandpa is still full of zing at eighty. tree →
• This lemonade has a real zing! tree →
• The ball zinged off the bat and over the fence. tree →
• Your story needs more zing at the start. tree →

Note

Informal word; in formal writing use «energy» or «flavour». Verb forms zinged, zinging. Related: zingy (tangy, lively). Do not confuse with «sing» or «zinc».