| Front | stab |
|---|---|
| Back | verb, nounBrE /stæb/NAmE /stæb/ verb (-bb-)1 [transitive] ~ sb to push a sharp, pointed object, especially a knife, into sb, killing or injuring themHe was stabbed to death in a racist attack. She stabbed him in the arm with a screwdriver. 2 [transitive, intransitive] to make a short, aggressive or violent movement with a finger or pointed object  (jab, prod) ~ sth (at/into/through sth) He stabbed his finger angrily at my chest. She stabbed her cigarette into the ashtray. ~ sb/sth (with sth) She stabbed the air with her fork. ~ at/into/through sth (figurative) The pain stabbed at his chest. stab sb in the ˈback to do or say sth that harms sb who trusts you betray noun 1 an act of stabbing or trying to stab sb/sth; a wound caused by stabbingHe received several stabs in the chest. She died of a single stab wound to the heart. 2 a sudden sharp pain or unpleasant feelingShe felt a sudden stab of pain in the chest. a stab of guilt/fear/pity/jealousy, etc. 3 [usually singular] (informal) an attempt to do sth~ (at sth)He found the test difficult but nevertheless made agood stab at it. ~ (at doing sth) Countless people have had a stab at solving the riddle. I've always enjoyed acting, but I'd like to have a stab at directing one day. a ˌstab in the ˈback (informal) an act that harms sb, done by a person they thought was a friendHer refusal to support his campaign was a real stab in the back.  more at a shot/stab in the dark at dark n. |
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