Definition of deftly

deftlyadverb

khéo léo

/ˈdeftli//ˈdeftli/

"Deftly" comes from the Old English word "dæft," meaning "fit," "suitable," or "apt." Over time, "dæft" evolved into "deft," which initially referred to something that was "well-suited" or "appropriate." The addition of the "-ly" suffix, indicating manner, transformed "deft" into "deftly," signifying "in a skillful or clever manner." So, the origin of "deftly" lies in the concept of something being well-suited or appropriate, highlighting the skillful and efficient nature of the action being described.

Summary
typephó từ
meaningkhéo léo
namespace

with movements that are quick and show skill

với những động tác nhanh nhẹn và thể hiện sự điêu luyện

Example:
  • I threw her a towel which she deftly caught.

    Tôi ném cho cô ấy một chiếc khăn và cô ấy đã khéo léo bắt được.

in a way that shows skill

theo cách thể hiện kỹ năng

Example:
  • They deftly avoided answering my questions.

    Họ khéo léo tránh trả lời các câu hỏi của tôi.

Related words and phrases

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.