Browse all

bob under

C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To go under the water (or something low) quickly and come back up.

Literal meaning: To move with a bobbing motion below something.

Meanings

1 C1 neutral

To dip one's head or body briefly below the surface of water.

"The children squealed and bobbed under the waves as they played in the sea."

Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 neutral

To quickly lower yourself to pass beneath a low obstacle.

"She bobbed under the barrier and slipped into the backstage area."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Used mainly in the context of water play, swimming, or moving under a low barrier. Infrequent in everyday speech; more common in descriptive or narrative writing.

Commonly used with

water surface wave barrier rope tape

Forms

Base
bob under
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bobs under
he/she/it
Past simple
bobed under
yesterday
Past participle
bobed under
have + pp
-ing form
bobing under
continuous

Understand "bob under" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

dip under duck under dunk submerge briefly go under

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "bob under" on Looplines