lip
lip — adjective
1. said or done just to please someone, without any real feeling or honest intentio
said or done just to please someone, without any real feeling or honest intention behind it.
The government's promises to help small businesses were just lip service.
collocation: lip service
Dario paid lip service to the new rules but kept doing things his own way.
collocation: pay lip service to
The apology felt like pure lip service to Hyun and the other volunteers.
Rather than pay lip service, the charity actually used the money to help poor families.
- lip service
- pay lip service to
- hypocritical
more formal and broader in use (not limited to 'service')
- insincere
general term; 'lip' is more informal and fixed in phrase
Grammar Patterns
lip + noun (primarily 'lip service')
Usage Note
This adjective is almost always used before the noun 'service' in the fixed phrase 'lip service' or 'pay lip service to [something]'.
Common Mistakes
lip — noun
1. the soft, movable tissue on either side of a person's mouth, forming the outer e
the soft, movable tissue on either side of a person's mouth, forming the outer edges that are used in eating, speaking, and showing emotion.
David bit his lower lip nervously while waiting for the interview to start.
collocation: bite one's lip (show anxiety)
The little girl's lips were dry and chapped after playing outside in the cold wind.
collocation: chapped lips
Élise applied lip balm before going up the mountain where the air was very dry.
collocation: lip balm
Roya licked her lips when she saw the fresh fruit on the kitchen table.
collocation: lick one's lips (show anticipation)
His upper lip was sunburned from spending the whole morning at the beach.
- bite your lip
- lick your lips
- chapped lips
- upper lip
- lower lip
- lip balm
- lipstick
- full lips
- thin lips
Usage Note
Often used in the plural ('lips') because the upper and lower lip are typically referred to together. Singular ('upper lip', 'lower lip') is used when specifying one part.
Common Mistakes
2. the rim of a container, especially one shaped to let liquid flow out cleanly whe
the rim of a container, especially one shaped to let liquid flow out cleanly when you pour.
Water dripped slowly from the lip of the old stone fountain in the garden.
pattern: the lip of [container]
Folake poured the tea carefully, making sure nothing dripped down the lip of the teapot.
A small crack near the lip of the glass made it unsafe to drink from.
Wren tilted the pitcher so the water ran along the lip without spilling.
- the lip of the cup
- the lip of the jug
- the lip of the bottle
- the lip of the pitcher
Grammar Patterns
the lip of [container]
Usage Note
Always used with 'the lip of + [container noun]'. Not used for the top edge of a box or drawer — only containers that hold liquids.
Common Mistakes
3. rude or disrespectful speech, especially in reply to someone in authority.
rude or disrespectful speech, especially in reply to someone in authority.
The coach sent Hyun off the field for giving the referee lip during the match.
collocation: give [someone] lip
Adina's mother warned her that she would not take any lip from a teenager.
collocation: take lip from [someone]
I welcome discussion, but I will not accept lip in my classroom.
Tariro's father told him to watch his lip or leave the dinner table.
- give someone lip
- take lip from someone
- a lot of lip
- none of your lip
- respect
polite speech is the opposite of lip
Grammar Patterns
give someone lip
take lip from someone
Usage Note
Commonly used in informal spoken English, especially between parents and children or teachers and students. Almost always appears in the phrases 'give [someone] lip' or 'take lip from [someone]'.
Common Mistakes
pay lip service to
idiomto say that you support or agree with something without actually doing anything to show it.
Many politicians pay lip service to protecting the environment, but few change their policies.
bite your lip
idiomto stop yourself from saying something that might upset someone or cause trouble.
Owen wanted to argue with his boss, but he bit his lip and stayed quiet.
to stop talking or to keep a secret.
Button your lip about the surprise party — we don't want Tariro to find out.
stiff upper lip
idiomthe ability to stay calm and not show your emotions when you are in pain or in a difficult situation.
Joshua kept a stiff upper lip throughout the funeral, though everyone knew how sad he was.
pass someone's lips
idiom(usually used in the negative) to eat or drink something; or to say something.
Not a single drop of alcohol has passed my lips since the doctor's warning last year.
read my lips
idiomused to tell someone to listen very carefully to what you are saying because you mean it seriously.
Read my lips: I am not lending you any more money — ever.
smack your lips
idiomto make a short loud noise with your lips as a sign of enjoyment, especially when eating or thinking about food.
The children sat around the campfire, smacking their lips as they ate the roasted marshmallows.
on everyone's lips
idiombeing talked about by many people; the topic of widespread discussion.
The name of the new CEO was on everyone's lips at the company party.
lick your lips
idiomTo move your tongue across your lips, often because you are excited about eating something tasty.
Mia licked her lips when she saw the chocolate cake.
Why are you licking your lips? Is dinner almost ready?
my lips are sealed
idiomA promise to keep a secret and not tell anyone.
Don't worry, my lips are sealed about your surprise party.
When Sara told me her secret, I said, 'My lips are sealed.'
not pass your lips
idiomTo not say anything about a particular subject.
The name of our new project must not pass your lips.
Did the secret pass your lips? I hope not.
on everyone’s lips
idiomSomething that many people are talking about at the same time.
The new movie is on everyone's lips this week.
Why is that rumor on everyone's lips at school?
To stay calm and not show your emotions when you are upset or in pain.
Even after losing the game, Brian kept a stiff upper lip.
My grandmother always kept a stiff upper lip during hard times.
Used to say that many things can go wrong before a plan is completed, so nothing is certain until it actually happens.
He was sure he'd win, but there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.
Remember, there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip, so don't celebrate yet.
lip — verb
1. to press or move your lips lightly against something or someone, usually as a ge
to press or move your lips lightly against something or someone, usually as a gentle sign of love or respect.
Beatriz gently lipped her grandmother's forehead before leaving for the airport.
pattern: lip + body part (forehead, cheek)
Jenna gently lipped her daughter's cheek before tucking her into bed.
pattern: lip + body part (cheek, forehead)
The mother lipped her baby's cheek and whispered goodnight.
Gita lipped her grandmother's forehead and whispered a blessing before the ceremony.
Grammar Patterns
lip + object (a person or thing)
Usage Note
This sense is less common in everyday speech; speakers usually say 'kiss' or 'brush [one's] lips against' instead. It appears more often in literary or formal descriptions.
Common Mistakes
2. to speak words, especially in a quiet, barely audible way.
to speak words, especially in a quiet, barely audible way.
Too tired to argue, Dario merely lipped a quiet apology and turned away.
pattern: lip + direct speech (apology, prayer, words)
The old man lay in bed, lipping a prayer that only he could hear.
Folake lipped a few words of thanks before running onto the stage.
Joshua stood in the back, lipping the lyrics to his favorite song.
- shout
opposite volume of speech
Grammar Patterns
lip + speech / words
Usage Note
This sense is rare and primarily found in literary or poetic writing. In everyday English, speakers use 'murmur', 'whisper', or 'mouth' instead.
Common Mistakes
lip — combining form
1. relating to fat or fatty tissue in the body; used in medical and scientific term
relating to fat or fatty tissue in the body; used in medical and scientific terms about fat removal or fat processing.
Owen decided to have liposuction to remove extra fat from his stomach area.
example compound: liposuction
Tomás asked the doctor whether the lipolysis in his blood test meant his fat cells were shrinking.
example compound: lipolysis
Anong's eyes widened when the nurse showed her how lipoproteins had built up in her arteries.
example compound: lipoproteins
A lipoma is a harmless lump of fatty tissue that grows under the skin.
example compound: lipoma
Grammar Patterns
lip- + noun (medical term)
Usage Note
This combining form comes from Greek 'lipos' meaning 'fat'. It is unrelated to the English word 'lip' (mouth part). It appears in medical terms such as liposuction (fat removal surgery), lipolysis (fat breakdown), lipoma (a fatty lump), and lipoprotein (a fat-protein molecule).
Common Mistakes
Word family
- lipsplural nounA2
- lippedadjectiveB2
- lip-combining formC1
- lip balmnounB1
- lip glossnounB1
- lipsticknounB1
- lip servicenounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All three refer to parts of the face, but learners often confuse their scope. 'Lip' specifically names the two soft edges at the mouth opening — used for eating, speaking, and expressing emotion ('She bit her lip'). 'Mouth' is broader: it includes the lips plus the entire oral cavity inside ('Open your mouth for the dentist'). 'Jaw' refers to the bony structure that holds the teeth and moves when you chew or speak ('He clenched his jaw in anger'). A common error is saying 'mouth lips' — simply say 'lips'. Use 'lips' when focusing on appearance (lipstick, shape) or sensation (dry, chapped); use 'mouth' for eating, drinking, and the interior; use 'jaw' for the bone structure and chewing motion.
Common collocations
Nouns
- lip balm
- lip gloss
- lipstick
- lip service
- lip sync
- lip reading
- upper lip
- lower lip
Phrases
- bite your lip
- lick your lips
- pursed lips
- parted lips
- chapped lips
- stiff upper lip
- give someone lip
- take lip from someone
Prepositions
- on the lips
- on everyone's lips
- through lipless teeth
Etymology
The word 'lip' comes from Old English 'lippa', which can be traced back to a common Germanic source (compare German 'Lippe', Dutch 'lip'). The combining form 'lip-' in medical words such as 'liposuction' has a different origin — it comes from Greek 'lipos' meaning 'fat', and is unrelated to the Old English word for the mouth part.