[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/chivvy/)

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# chivvy

verb (chivvy, chivvies, chivvied, chivvying; also spelt chivy)

«chivvy» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (mainly UK, informal) To keep telling someone to hurry up or do something, in an annoying way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chivvy/#m1)
2. To chase or hunt someone, or drive animals along. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chivvy/#m2)

### In the lessons

An everyday British word for nagging people to get moving: parents chivvy children to get dressed, teachers chivvy a class into line. In older stories (The Wind in the Willows) animals are chivvied and chased by others. Often followed by «along», «into» or «out of».

### Examples

- Mum chivvied us out of bed for school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chivvy/#x1)
- The teacher chivvied the class back inside after the bell. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chivvy/#x2)
- The sheepdog chivvied the sheep through the gate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chivvy/#x3)
- Stop chivvying me, I'm nearly ready! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chivvy/#x4)
- Dad chivvied everyone into the car. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chivvy/#x5)
- In the story the weasels chivvied the poor rabbits. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chivvy/#x6)

### Note

Mainly British. Past: chivvied (y → ie). Similar words: nag, hurry, hustle. Not rude, but it shows the person being chivvied may feel annoyed.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «chivvy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chivvy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«chivvy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/chivvy.html) on Mova free.