skinny
1302
and other subjects were taught in the 1970s, although most
teachers now think that Skinner's method was wrong.
**skin·ny** /'skɪni/ *adj* **1** *infml, often derog* very thin, especially in a
way that is unattractive ➔ see THIN (USAGE) **2** made with
SKIMMED MILK. If you are in a coffee shop and want to order a
coffee with skimmed milk, you can ask for a 'skinny latte'.
**'skinny-dipping** *n* [U] *especially AmE* swimming with no
clothes on. This is chiefly enjoyed by young people, espe-
cially when done at night or in secret. —**dipper** *n*
**skint** /skɪnt/ *adj* [F] *BrE infml* completely without money; BROKE
**skin-'tight** *adj* (of clothes) fitting tightly against the body:
*skin-tight jeans* | *a skin-tight sweater*
**skip¹** /skɪp/ *v* **-pp-** **1** [I] to move in a light dancing way, with
quick steps and jumps: *The little girl skipped along at her
mother's side.* **2** [+adv/prep] to move in no fixed order: *The
speaker kept skipping from one subject to another.* | *Let's skip
to the last item on the agenda, and we'll deal with these other
matters later.* **3** [+(over);T] to pass over or leave out; not do or
deal with (the next thing): *Every time the record comes to that
part of the music, the needle skips.* | *His heart skipped a beat
when he saw how high up he was.* **4** [T] *infml* to fail to attend
or take part in (an activity); intentionally miss: *I'm going to
skip lunch today.* **5** [I] *BrE* || **jump rope** *AmE* — to jump over a
rope repeatedly beneath one's feet, as a game or for
exercise ➔ see also SKIPPING ROPE **6** [I(off, out);T] *infml* to leave
hastily and secretly, especially to avoid being punished or
paying money: *She skipped off/out without paying her bill.* |
*The thieves have skipped the country.*
**skip²** *n* a light quick stepping and jumping movement: *With
a hop and a skip she was gone.*
**skip³** *BrE* || **dumpster** *AmE* — *n* a large container for carrying
heavy materials, especially GARBAGE or old bricks, wood etc,
to be taken away
**'ski pants** *n* [P] **1** special warm trousers with no opening
around the ANKLES worn for winter sports **2** fashionable
tight trousers worn by women
**'ski plane** *n* an aircraft with SKIS instead of wheels, for
landing on snow
**'ski pole** also **'ski stick** *BrE* — *n* either of a pair of pointed
short poles held for balance and for pushing against the snow
when wearing SKIS
**skip·per¹** /'skɪpər/ *n infml* a captain of a ship or a sports team:
*Tell the skipper.* | 'What next, skipper?'
**skipper²** *v* [T] *infml* to be the skipper of; lead
**'skipping, rope** *BrE* || **jump rope** *AmE* — *n* a piece of rope
several metres long, usually with handles, over which people
SKIP. It is used especially by young girls and by people doing
exercises to keep fit.
**Skip·py¹** /'skɪpi/ *trademark* a type of PEANUT BUTTER sold in
the US
**Skip·py²** *BrE* a name for any KANGAROO, named after the
kangaroo in a TV programme in the 1960s
**skirl** /skɜːl||skɜːrl/ *n* [(the) S (of)] *especially lit* a loud high sound as
made by BAGPIPES
**skir·mish¹** /'skɜːmɪʃ||'ɜːr-/ *n* **1** a fight between small
groups of soldiers, ships etc, at a distance from the main
forces and not part of a large battle **2** a short or unplanned
exchange of arguments between opponents ➔ compare
PITCHED BATTLE
**skirmish²** *v* [I(with)] to fight in a skirmish —**er** *n*
**skirt¹** /skɜːt||skɜːrt/ *n* **1** [C] a woman's outer garment that
hangs down freely from the waist: *Skirts were worn (=came
down to) just below the knee at that time.* | *a pleated skirt* ➔
compare DRESS **2** [C] also **skirts** *pl.* — a circular guarding or
covering part of a vehicle or machine: *a hovercraft's rubber
skirts* **3** [U] *old-fash slang* girls or women considered as sexual
objects: *a nice bit of skirt (=woman)*
**skirt²** *v* [I+round, around;T] **1** to be or go round the outside of;
go around: *The old footpath skirts the village.* | *We decided to
skirt (round) the town centre.* **2** to avoid (a difficult question or
subject that ought to be dealt with): *The speech was most
disappointing; it skirted round all the main questions.*
**'skirting board** *BrE* || **baseboard** *AmE* — *n.* [C;U] (a) board
fixed along the base of a wall where it meets the floor of a
room
**'ski run** *n* a track marked out on a slope for skiing (SKI) on
**'ski slope** *n* a snow-covered part of a mountain which has
been prepared for people to SKI down
**skit** /skɪt/ *n* [(on)] a short usually humorous acted-out scene,
often copying and making fun of something: *They did
(=performed) a skit on beauty contests – it was hilarious.*
**skit·ter** /'skɪtər/ *v* [I] (of a small creature) to run quickly and
lightly
**skit·tish** /'skɪtɪʃ/ *adj* **1** not serious or responsible; silly and
changeable in mind; FRIVOLOUS: *a charming but skittish
young woman* **2** (especially of a horse or cat) easily excited
and made afraid —**ly** *adv* —**ness** *n* [U]
**skit·tle** /'skɪtl/ *n* **1** a bottle-shaped object used in the game of
SKITTLES **2** *BrE infml* for a PIN
**skit·tles** /'skɪtlz/ *n* [U] a British game in which a player tries
to knock down skittles by throwing or rolling a ball or other
object at them ➔ see also not all beer and skittles (BEER)
**skive** /skaɪv/ *v* [I(OFF)] *BrE infml* to avoid work or duty or leave it
early without permission —**skiver** *n*
**skiv·vies** /'skɪviz/ *n* [P] *AmE infml* a man's undergarments,
especially a VEST and UNDERPANTS
**skiv·vy¹** /'skɪvi/ *n BrE derog* a servant, especially a girl, who
does only the dirty unpleasant jobs in a house
**skivvy²** *v* [I] *BrE infml* (especially of a woman) to do the dirty
unpleasant jobs in a house
**Sko·da** /'skəʊdə/ *trademark* a type of car made by the Skoda
company. Skoda became part of the VOLKSWAGEN group in
1991.
**sku·a** /'skjuːə/ *n* a large North Atlantic seabird
**skul·dug·ge·ry, skullduggery** /skʌl'dgəri/ *n* [U] *infml,
especially humour* secretly dishonest or unfair action: *Some
skulduggery no doubt went on during the election.*
**skulk** /skʌlk/ *v* [I+adv/prep] to hide or move about secretly,
trying not to be noticed, usually through fear or for some
bad purpose: *I found him skulking in the kitchen.*
**skull** /skʌl/ *n* the bone of the head, which encloses the brain:
*(fig., infml) Can't you get it into your thick skull (=understand)
that we can't afford it?* ➔ see picture at SKELETON
**skull and cross·bones** /ˌskʌl ən 'krɒsbəʊnz||-'krɔːs-/ *n*
[(the)S] a sign for death or danger consisting of a picture of a
skull with two long bones crossed below it, used espe-
cially **a)** on bottles containing poison **b)** on PIRATES' flags
in former times
**skull-cap** /'skʌlkæp/ *n* a simple closefitting cap for the top
of the head, as worn sometimes by some priests, and Jewish
men, especially when they are in the holy places of their
religion
**skunk¹** /skʌŋk/ *n* **1** a small black and white N American
animal which gives out a powerful bad-smelling liquid as a
defence when attacked **2** *infml, usually humor* a person who is
bad, unfair, unkind etc
**skunk²** *n* [U] *BrE infml* a very strong and smelly type of
MARIJUANA
**sky¹** /skaɪ/ *n* **1** [(the)S;U] also **skies** *pl.* — the upper air; the
space above the Earth where clouds and the sun, moon, and
stars appear: *The sky turned dark as the storm came near.* |
*There's a bit of blue sky between the clouds.* | *The skies were
grey when we arrived in London.* | *The rocket shot up into the
sky.* ➔ compare HEAVEN **2** Red sky at night, shepherd's/
sailor's delight *quote* the first line of an old poem for
children, meaning that the weather will be good the next day
if the sky is red at night. The poem finishes Red sky in the
morning, shepherd's warning/sailors take warning meaning
that the weather will be very bad after a red sky in the
morning. **3** the sky's the limit *infml* there is no upper limit,
especially to the amount of money that can be spent ➔ see
also gone to the great ... in the sky (GREAT), pie in the sky
(PIE), praise someone/something to the skies (PRAISE)
**sky²** *v* [T] (in cricket) to hit (a ball) high into the air
**Sky** ➔ see SKY TV
**,sky-'blue** *adj* of the pleasant bright blue colour of a clear
sunny sky —**sky blue** *n* [U]
**sky-cap** /'skaɪkæp/ *n AmE* a person who carries passengers'
cases at an airport