Ways of walking

Quickly:

Dart/dt/: Move quickly and suddenly in specified direction. She darted away when I came in.Dash

Lope/lp/: Run with long steps. The man loped off after the ball.

Lollop/ll p/: Run with long awkward steps. The dog lollopped down the path.

Nip/np/: to go somewhere quickly and/or for only a short time. He's just nipped out to the bank.

Pace/pes/: Walk with regular steps. He paced up and down the platform waiting for the train.

Prance/prns/: walk with high steps or large movements in a confident way. She pranced around her room,
pretending to be an actress.

Run/rn/: to move using your legs, going faster than when you walk. They turned and ran when they saw us
coming. Synonyms: Trot

Rush/r/: Hurry; move quickly because you need to get somewhere soon. She was late so she decided to
rush off down the hall.

Scamper/ skmp /: run quickly and playfully. The children were scampering up the steps.

Scurry/ skr i/: to run with quick short steps because you are in a hurry. She said goodbye and scurried back to work.

Skip/skp/: move forward with quick steps and jumps. The child skipped with joy towards his father.

Stride/strad/: walk with long steps. She strode across the fields.

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Tear/te/: run or move quickly in a dangerous or careless way. When the storm started, they tore back into the
house.

With regular steps:

March/mt/: Walk with regular steps of equal length. Demonstrator marched through the street of the city.

Parade/p red/: Walk or march together to celebrate or protest. Officers will parade
through the town centre.

Slither/sl /: to move somewhere in a smooth, controlled way, often close to the

ground. The soldiers slithered across the rocks.

Frog march/fr mt/: Force sb to walk by holding his arms tightly by his side, usually because of bad
behaviour. The prefect frog marched the boy to the detention room.

With difficulty

Crawl/krl/: Move slowly with the body close to the ground or on hands and knees. A baby
crawls before he can walk.

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Grope/ rp/: to try and reach a place by feeling with your hands because you can't see clearly. She groped
through the darkness towards the door.

Flounder/fland /: Stagger helplessly or clumsily in water or mud. He was floundering about in the shallow
offshore waters.

Hobble/hb l/: walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury. Johnson was still
hobbled slightly by an ankle injury.

Limp/lmp/: Walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury. Paul limped off during
Saturdays game

Hop/hp/: Move by jumping on one foot. The man hopped down the road after hurting his
foot.

Shamble/m bl/: to walk in an awkward or lazy way, dragging your feet along the ground. The old porter
shambled along behind her.

Scuff/skf/: to drag your feet along the ground as you walk.

Shuffle/fl/: Walk very slowly and noisily without lifting ones feet off the ground. His legs were aching so
much that he shuffled to bed.

Toddle/td l/: when a young child who has just learnt to walk toddles, he/she walks with short, unsteady
steps. I have to watch him all the time now that he's toddling.

Scramble/skrm bl/: Climb up or down, or over sth quickly and with difficulty. They had to scramble up to the
top of the hill to see the view.
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Stagger/st /: Walk with great difficulty, unsteadily as if about to fall. He was so drunk that he staggered all
the way home.

Totter/tt /: move without being stable, as if threatening to fall. The rising fumes seemed to affect my head
more than usual in that confined space, and I tottered a little as I worked

Wade/wed/: walk through relatively shallow water for pleasure without shoes or socks. The children were
paddling in the lake.

Aimlessly:

Meander/mi nd /: To move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course. As I was sitting in the
park I watched as couples seems to meander around happily.

Roam/rm/: move about or travel aimlessly or unsystematically, especially over a wide

area. Tigers once roamed over most of Asia.

Wander/wnd /: move without a fixed purpose or destination. I wandered through the narrow streets.

With heavy noisy steps:

Clump/klmp/: to put your feet down noisily and heavily as you walk. The children clumped down the stairs.

Lumber/lm b/: Move heavily or clumsily. Here I am lumbering along to catch up, while she has so much
energy, Walker says.

Plod/pld/: Walk with heavy steps or with difficulty. Labourers plodded home through the
muddy fields.

Trudge/trd/: walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically because of exhaustion or harsh conditions. We were
very tired after trudging through the deep snow for two hours.
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Stomp/stamp/stump /stmp/: walk stiffly and noisily. They stumped up the hill.

Tramp/trmp/: to walk with heavy or noisy steps, especially for a long time. We tramped across the wet grass
to look at the statue.

Trample/trmp l/: to step heavily on something or someone so that you harm crush it with your feet. He was
trampled to death by a runaway horse.

Quietly (in order not to be seen or heard)

Creep/krip/: Move slowly and quietly with the body closed to the ground. The cat
crept silently towards the bird.

Pad/pd/: Walk softly and quietly. The child padded barefoot down the stairs.

Scuttle/sktl/: move quickly with short steps because youre afraid or dont want to be noticed. The mouse
scuttled off when we entered the room.

Slide/slad/: Move smoothly over a surfa

Skulk/sklk/: Move stealthily. Judas, smitten already with remorse, skulks along clutching his bag of silver.

Sneak/snik/: Go quietly and secretly in order to avoid being seen or heard. The boy sneaked in without
paying.

Tiptoe/ tp t/: walk on the tips of ones toe. She tiptoed to the bed so as not to wake the baby.

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With a purpose:

Bustle/bs l/: to move around in a busy way or to hurry sb in a particular direction. She bustled around in the
kitchen.

Dodge/dd/: move quickly and suddenly to one side in order to avoid sb/sth. He ran across the road, dodging
the traffic. Synonyms: Sidestep, Weave

Prowl/pral/: to move around quietly in a place trying not to be seen or heard, such as when hunting. There
have been reports of a masked man prowling in the neighbourhood.

Sidestep/sad step/: avoid (someone or something) by stepping sideways. He sidestepped a defender and
crossed the ball.

Stalk/stk./: (stride+strut) walk in a proud or angry way with long steps. The teacher turned and stalked out of
the classroom.

Stride/strad/: to walk with long steps in a particular direction. She came striding
along to meet me.

Weave/wiv/: twist and turn from side to side while moving somewhere in order to avoid obstructions. He had
to weave his way through the crowds.

Freestyle:

Jaywalk/de wk/: to walk along or across the street illegally or without paying
attention to the traffic. Sally jaywalked across the avenue talking on her cellphone.

Falter/flt /: Move hesitatingly, as if about to give way. He gives no hint of faltering and drawing back.

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 Moonwalk/mun wk /: to do a dance movement which consist of moving
backwards, sliding the feet smoothly over the floor. Michael Jackson moonwalked
on stage.

Paddle (GB), wade (US)/ pd l/: to walk or stand with no shoes or socks in shallow water in the sea, a lake,
etc. The children have gone paddling

Slide/ slad/: to move easily over a smooth or wet surface; to make somebody move in this way. I was sliding
on the ice.

Sleepwalk/ slip wk /: to walk around while you are asleep Slip/slp/: Slide
accidentally. She slipped on the ice and broke her leg.

Slowly and carefully

Edge/ed/: Move gradually with small movements. Paul decided to edge away from the crowd.

Hedge/hed /: moving slowly and carefully because of lack of space. They hedged their way along the narrow
corridor.

Prowl/ pral/: to move quietly and carefully around an area, especially with the intention of committing a
crime. A man was seen prowling around outside the factory just before the fire started.

For pleasure or experience:

Amble/m bl/: Walk at a slow, leisurely pace. Nearby, an elderly

couple ambles along.

Jog/d/: To run at a slow, regular speed, especially as a form of exercise. She goes jogging every day.

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 Hike/hak/:Take a long walk in the mountain or countryside as an adventure. The group hiked
up to the top of the hill.

Ramble/rm bl/: move about aimlessly or without any destination. He likes rambling around in the country.

Saunter/snt /: Walk for pleasure (stroll). They sauntered around the park.

Trek/trek/: (hike) make a long, difficult journey on foot. For ten days she trekked across the mountains of
China.

Stroll/strl/: walk leisurely. They strolled around the city.

Proudly:

Sashay/s e/: Walk in a confident way, moving the body from side to side especially
so that people look at you. The models sashayed down the aisle showing their clothes.

Strut/strt/: to walk with a lofty proud gait, with the chest out, and trying to look important, often in an attempt to
impress others. He strutted past us, ignoring our greetings.

Swagger/sw /: walk proudly (strut). After winning the first prize the player swaggered about proudly.
Slowly (because you are tired)

Trudge/ trd/: to walk slowly or with heavy steps, because you are tired or carrying sth heavy. He trudged the
last two miles to the town. Synonyms: plod.

Traipse/ treps/: to walk somewhere slowly when you are tired and unwilling. My mum made me go shopping
and I traipsed because I didn't want to.

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In an unsteady way:

Careen/k rin/: Pitching dangerously to one side. Bryant was trying to grab a pass when he careened out of
bounds.

Stagger/ st /: to walk with weak unsteady steps, as if you are about to fall. He was so drunk that he
staggered all the way home. Synonyms: totter

Stumble/stm bl/: trip or momentarily lose ones balance; almost fall. Her foot caught in the rug and she
stumbled.

Toddle/tdl/: walk with shot and unsteady steps. Her two-year-old son toddled into the room.

Types of walkers:

Crawler
Hiker
Jaywalker
Jogger
Pedestrian
Prowler Runner
Somnambulist / sleepwalker
Sprinter
Stalker
Stroller
Toddler
Wanderer

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Ways of looking

Behold/ bi hld /: old use of the verb to see. Behold the king!

Blink/ blk/: shut and open the eyes quickly. How long can you stare without blinking?

Browse/ braz/: look through the pages of a book or magazine; look at the goods in a shop without really
wanting to buy anything. Sheila spent all the afternoon browsing the boutiques.

Eyeball/ a bl /: look directly or closely. Francis eyeballed a beautiful woman at the party.

Frown/ fran/: look in a worried or angry way, moving down the eyebrows together. He read the
telegram, frowning at its contents.

Gape/ ep/: look at something with one's mouth open. She gaped at him in surprise.

Gawk/ k /: stare impolitely. Many people gathered to gawp at the crashed car.

Gaze/ ez/: look at something for a long time, in surprise or admiration. She gazed at him in disbelief when he
told her the news.

Glance/ lns /: have a quick look at something. She glanced at her watch.

Glare/ le/: stare angrily or fiercely. She didn't answer, but just glared silently at me.

Glimpse/ lmps/: have a passing view of something or someone. Usually used in the expression to catch a
glimpse of. He could catch a glimpse of the president among the crowd.

Goggle/ u l/: look with the eyes wide open in surprise or shock. (old-fashioned) People were goggling at
her as if she were from another planet.

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 Look/ lk /: give attention to what one is seeing; turn the eyes and see in a certain direction.
Look at that cute baby!

Leer/ l /: look in an unpleasant way, suggesting ill will or lust. The man leered at the young girl.

Observe/ b zv /: watch carefully. The police observed the man entering the bank.

Ogle/ l /: look or stare (at a woman) suggesting sexual interest. Most women hate being ogled at.

Peer/ p /: look very carefully, as if not able to see well. He peered at me over his spectacles.

Peep/ pip/: look quickly and cautiously. He was caught peeping through the keyhole.

Peek/ pik/: look quickly and secretively. She found her brother peeking at her diary.

Scan/ skn/: look quickly at something without careful reading. He scanned the newspaper over breakfast.

Scowl/ skal/: frown angrily. She was very angry and scowled at him while she talked.

Scrutinize/ skrut naz /: examine thoroughly and carefully. John scrutinized the painting at the museum.

See/ si/: use the power of sight. See! Here she comes!

Sight/ sat /: see for the first time. The men in the ship finally sighted land.

Squint/ skwnt/: look with eyes half shut or turned sideways, or through a narrow opening. She squinted
through the letter-box and saw an envelope.

Spot/ spt /: recognize someone suddenly among many others. He was spotted by the police boarding a plane
for Berlin.

Stare/ ste /: look at something for a long time with the eyes wide open. She was staring into space.

View/ vju/: (technical) look thouroughly; regard, consider. That film hasn't been viewed by the censor yet.
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Watch/ wt /: look at some activity or event; keep one's eyes fixed on something. The boys watched television
all the afternoon.

Wink/ wk/: close one eye briefly, as a signal to somebody. He winked at me to show that he
was just joking.

Idioms (Ways of Looking)______________________________

Take a gander at something: (informal) look at something.

Cast an eye on/over something: look at something, examine something.

Within walking distance

Close enough to walk to. Is the train station within walking distance? My office is within walking distance from here.

Be floating/walking on air

To be very happy and excited because something very pleasant has happened to you When the doctor told me I was
going to have a baby, I was walking on air.

Be walking/treading on eggshells
If you are walking on eggshells, you are trying very hard not to upset someone
Usage notes: An eggshell is the hard outside covering of an egg which breaks very easily.
It was like walking on eggshells with my father. The smallest thing would make him angry.

Dirty look
Fig. an angry face or a frown. Anne gave me a dirty look. I got a dirty look from the teacher when I cracked a joke in
class.

I'll look you up when I'm in town.

Fig. I will try to visit you or contact you the next time I am in town. Bill: I hope to see you again sometime. Mary: I'll look
you up when I'm in town. Andrew: Good-bye, Fred. It's been nice talking to you. I'll look you up when I'm in town. Fred:

12
See you around, dude.

If looks could kill

a catchphrase said when someone makes a frown at someone or when someone casts a dirty look. Did you see the
way she looked at me? If looks could kill... If looks could kill... What a nasty glare she gave me.

Look/feel (like) a million dollars (British, American & Australian) also look/feel (like) a million bucks (American
To look or feel extremely attractive You look like a million dollars in that dress!

Look alive!
Act alert and responsive! "Come on, Fred! Get moving! Look alive!" shouted the coach, who was not happy with Fred's
performance. Bill: Look alive, Bob! Bob: I'm doing the best I can.

Look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth

Fig. to appear to be cold and unfeeling (despite any information to the contrary). Sally looks as if butter wouldn't melt in
her mouth. She can be so cruel. What a sour face. He looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

Look daggers at someone

Fig. to give someone a dirty look. Tom must have been mad at Ann from the way he was looking daggers at her. Don't
you dare look daggers at me! Don't even look cross-eyed at me!

Look fit to kill

Fig. [Dressed up] to look very fancy or sexy. Mary put on her best clothes and looked fit to kill.John looked fit to kill in hi
new tuxedo.

Look somebody in the eye/eyes

To look directly at someone without fear or shame Look me in the eyes and tell me the truth. I felt so embarrassed - I
just couldn't look him in the eye.

Look like the cat that swallowed the canary

Fig. to appear as if one had just had a great success. After the meeting John looked like the cat that swallowed the
canary. I knew he must have been a success. Your presentation must have gone well. You look like the cat that
swallowed the canary.

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Look lively! (British & Australian informal, old-fashioned)
Something you say to tell someone to hurry Look lively - we've got to be there in half an hour!

Look on the bright side

Fig. Considers the positive aspects of a negative situation. Look on the bright side. Things could have been much wors
than they are.

Look who's here!

An expression drawing attention to someone present or who just arrived at a place. Bill: Look who's here! My old friend
Fred. How goes it, Fred? Fred: Hi, there, Bill! What's new? Bill: Nothing much. Bill: Look who's here! Mary: Yeah. Isn't
that Fred Morgan?

Look who's talking!

Fig. You are guilty of doing the same thing that you have criticized someone else for doing or that you accused
someone else of doing. Andy: You criticize me for being late! Look who's talking! You just missed your flight! Jane: Wel
nobody's perfect. Mary: You just talk and talk, you go on much too long about practically nothing, and you never give a
chance for any one else to talk, and you just don't know when to stop! Sally: Look who's talking!

Stop, look, and listen

To exercise caution, especially at street corners and railroad crossings, by stopping, looking to the left and to the right,
and listening for approaching vehicles or a train. Sally's mother trained her to stop, look, and listen at every street
corner. It is a good practice to stop, look, and listen at a railroad crossing.

Posture:

Curl /kl/

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 [intransitive, transitive] to form or make something form into a curve
shape (+ adverb/preposition)

E.g. The curled into a ball and went to sleep.

curl something (+ adverb/preposition)

E.g. The girl curled her legs up under her.

Slouch /slat/

To stand, sit or move in a lazy way, often with your shoulders and
head bent forward.

E.g.

Peter and Susan were slouching against the wall.

Sit up straight! Don't slouch.

Tom slouched across the room and collapsed in a chair.

Cross-legged /krs led/ or /krs led/

To bi sitting on the floor with your legs pulled up in front of you and with one leg or foot over the
other.

E.g. You don't need to be in a

cross-legged position to meditate.

Lean / lin/

[INTRANSITIVE] to bend or move from a vertical position

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E.g. I leaned back in my chair.

[INTRANSITIVE] to rest on or against something for support

E.g. There were several teenagers leaning against

the wall in a carefree manner.

Kneel /nil/

To be in or move into a position where your body is

supported on your knee or knees

E.g. Sometimes people kneel to pray.

Go down on one knee (idiom)

To propose: to ask someone if they will marry you

E.g. Peter went down on one knee and proposed to Betty.

Lie /la/

[intransitive] (of a person or an animal) to be or put yourself in a flat or horizontal position so that you are not

standing or sitting

E.g. The couple was lying by the fire.

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Handstand /hndstnd/

A movement in which you balance on your hands and put your legs straight up in the air

E.g. Can you do headstands?

Bolt /blt/

[intransitive] If an animal, especially a horse, bolts, it suddenly runs away because it is frightened.

[intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) (of a person) To run away, especially in order to escape.

E.g. Peter bolted upright when he heard his name being called.

Hunch /hnt/

[intransitive, transitive] to bend the top part of your body forward and

raise your shoulders and back

E.g. Tommy hunched his shoulders and thrust his hands deep into his

pockets, wishing he could disappear.

Languid /lwd/ Languidly /lwdli/

Moving slowly in an elegant manner, not needing energy or effort.

E.g. Peter moved languidly across the room.

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Slumped /slmpt/

Sitting with your body leaning forward, for example because you are asleep or unconscious.

E.g. The students were slumped in their chairs.

Yoga postures:

18
Exercises

WAYS OF WALKING

1) For each sentence choose the suitable option

1) I hurt my foot in town and ______ all the way home.

A slipped B limped C strolled D meandered

2) I love _________ around looking in the shops when I have the time.

A dashing B slipping C strolling D sliding

3) He was ________ on his hands and knees, looking for a lost contact lens

A squatting B crawling C staggering D hopping

4) I broke my wrist when I _______ on some ice and fell over.

A slipped B crawled C hurt D skidded

5) The crowd watched in silence as the soldiers _______ past them on their way to the war memorial.

A marched B limped C dashed D strolled

6) At midnight, everyone _________ home from the pub. It was clear that they'd all had too much to drink.

A slipped B staggered C marched D skidded

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7) I can't keep up with you. Slow down. Your ______ is much longer than mine.

A walk B step C stride D pace

8) Before they built a bridge, we used to have to ____ across the river to reach the picnic area.

A step B wade C pace D stroll

9) It looks like he's injured. He's _______ off the pitch with a trainer.

A stepping B limping C crawling D dragging

10) We _______ through the snow. In places, it was over a metre deep, and it took us a long time to get back
to the building.

A marched B strolled C waded D trudged

11) When we heard the sound of guns we ________ for cover behind some rocks.

A walked B sprinted C paced D staggered

12) After she injured her foot, she ______ across the garden on the other leg until she reached the house
where she telephoned for an ambulance.

A walked B strolled C hopped D march

WAYS OF LOOKING

2) MATCH THESE VERBS WITH THEIR CORRECT DEFINITION

A. To face F. To gape K. To look up to

B. To watch G. To peep (at) L. To peer

C. To notice H. To ogle (at) M. To leer (at)

D. To stare (at) I. To glare (at) N. To gaze (at)

E. To glance (at) (through) J. To look down on

1. Deal with (something or somebody unpleasant) head on

2. Detect and remember; perceive with the mind

3. Feel admiration for

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4. Look at and follow all (or part of) something being shown or performed/ Look attentively

5. Look at with fixed eyes

6. Look furtively

7. Look suggestively with a sly, immodest, or malign expression

8. Look with amazement; look stupidly open-mouthed

9. Regard with contempt

10. Take a brief look at

11. To look with difficulty, or as if searching for something

12. To stare angrily

13. To stare at (someone or something), especially impertinently, amorously

14. Look at something with fixed eyes admiring it

2) FILL THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE VERBS FROM THE BOX ABOVE IN THE CORRECT TENSE.

1. As he had forgotten to bring his glasses, the old man _____________________ at the letter.

2. He _____________________ the terrible consequences of his mistakes.

3. He likes sitting in the garden and ________________ the birds.

4. He _____________________ people who are lower classes.

5. He _____________________ his grandparents, who are really great people.

6. He _____________________ at the woman through the window.

7. He was ___________________ a basketball game on TV.

8. I decided to turn round and ___________________ the man who was following me.

9. I didn't ___________________ there was someone in the room.

10. I was in a hurry this morning. I only had time to ______________ at the newspaper headlines before breakfast.

11. I was on a diet. I couldn't stop _________________ at those cakes.

12. She ______________ high levels of lead in her drinking water.

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13. The boss ____________________ at him when he saw him come in late for work again.

14. The dirty old man kept _________________ at the young girl.

15. The girl _________________ at the man who tried to make a pass at her.

16. The men _____________________ at the young women at the beach.

17. The new neighbour _________________ us because our house is very modest.

18. The students __________________ at the teacher with amazement.

19. There he was ________________ through the keyhole at the man who was ringing the bell.

20. We _________________ into the back of the shop to see whether a salesman was around.

21. When I came into the room unexpectedly, he __________________ at me speechless.

22. You shouldn't _______________ at people. It's rude.

23.Young children tend to __________________ their older brothers or sisters.

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Bibliography

Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, Oxford University Press, new 8th edition.
Collins Phrasal Verb Dictionary
Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, 2006
http://www.michellehenry.fr/walking.htm
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary.php

23
Index
_______________________________________________________________________________________

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