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nudge

Pronunciation: /nʌdʒ/

Translate nudge | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of nudge

verb

[with object]
  • prod (someone) gently with one’s elbow in order to attract attention:people were nudging each other and pointing at me
  • touch or push (something) gently or gradually:the canoe nudged a bank of reeds
  • coax or gently encourage (someone) to do something:we have to nudge the politicians in the right direction
  • approach (an age, figure, or level) very closely:both men were nudging fifty

noun

  • a light touch or push:he gave her shoulder a nudge figurativeshe appreciated the nudge to her memory

Phrases

nudge nudge (wink wink)

used to draw attention to a sexual innuendo in the previous statement:haven’t seen much of the beach—we’ve been catching up on our sleep (nudge nudge)
[a catchphrase from Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy programme]

Derivatives

nudger

noun

Origin:

late 17th century (as a verb): of unknown origin; compare with Norwegian dialect nugga, nyggja 'to push, rub'

nudge in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of nudge in the US English dictionary
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