Definition of cling

clingverb

bám

/klɪŋ//klɪŋ/

The word "cling" has an Old English origin. In Anglo-Saxon times, the word "clingen" meant "to be attached or joined" and was related to the Old English word "clífe", meaning "a slope" or "a cliff". This sense of being attached or clinging to something was likely developed from the idea of something sticking to or being attached to a slope or cliff. Over time, the meaning of "cling" expanded to include the idea of holding tight to something, often in a physical sense. This could be a person holding onto something for support, or an object stuck to another object. In modern English, "cling" is often used in idiomatic expressions such as "to cling to someone" (to hold onto them for emotional support) or "to cling to something" (to hold onto it tightly).

namespace

to hold on tightly to somebody/something

giữ chặt ai/cái gì đó

Example:
  • survivors clinging to a raft

    những người sống sót bám vào một chiếc bè

  • Leaves still clung to the branches.

    Lá vẫn bám vào cành.

  • She clung on to her baby.

    Cô bám chặt vào đứa con của mình.

  • Cling on tight!

    Bám chặt vào!

  • They clung together, shivering with cold.

    Họ ôm nhau run rẩy vì lạnh.

Extra examples:
  • I clung closely to my mother's arm.

    Tôi bám chặt vào cánh tay mẹ.

  • She clung fiercely to him.

    Cô bám chặt lấy anh.

  • She clung onto my arm.

    Cô ấy bám chặt vào cánh tay tôi.

  • The children clung together in fear.

    Bọn trẻ sợ hãi bám chặt vào nhau.

  • houses clinging precariously to sheer cliffs

    những ngôi nhà bám bấp bênh vào vách đá dựng đứng

  • She clung tightly to her baby.

    Cô ôm chặt đứa con của mình.

  • Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.

    Những người sống sót bám vào những mảnh vụn trôi nổi.

  • The ground mist clung closely to the bushes.

    Sương mù mặt đất bám chặt vào bụi cây.

to stick to something

dính vào cái gì đó

Example:
  • a dress that clings (= fits closely and shows the shape of your body)

    một chiếc váy bám vào (= vừa khít và cho thấy hình dáng cơ thể của bạn)

  • The wet shirt clung to his chest.

    Chiếc áo ướt dính chặt vào ngực anh.

  • The smell of smoke still clung to her clothes.

    Mùi khói vẫn bám vào quần áo cô.

  • Her hair clung to her hot damp skin.

    Mái tóc cô dính chặt vào làn da ẩm ướt nóng bỏng.

to stay close to somebody, especially because you need them emotionally

ở gần ai đó, đặc biệt là vì bạn cần họ về mặt tình cảm

Example:
  • After her mother's death, Sara clung to her aunt more than ever.

    Sau cái chết của mẹ, Sara gắn bó với dì hơn bao giờ hết.

Idioms

have/want none of something
to refuse to accept something
  • I offered to pay but he was having none of it.
  • They pretended to be enthusiastic about my work but then suddenly decided they wanted none of it.
  • none but
    (literary)only
  • None but he knew the truth.
  • none the less
    despite this fact
    none other than
    used to emphasize who or what somebody/something is, when this is surprising
  • Her first customer was none other than Mrs Obama.