sucking
word · lemma: suck
/ˈsəkɪŋ/
SUH-king
/sˈʌkɪŋ/
SUH-king
Definition
"Sucking" is the -ing form of "suck," meaning to pull in liquid or air with your mouth. In informal English, it can also mean being very bad or unpleasant.
Usage & Nuances
The literal meaning is common with babies, straws, and wounds: 'sucking milk,' 'sucking through a straw.' The slang meaning is informal and often rude: 'This is sucking' is less common than 'This sucks.' Also note phrasal uses like 'sucking up to someone' meaning trying to gain favor.
Spanish: chupar - apestar (coloquial)Portuguese (BR): chupar - ser ruim (gíria)Portuguese (PT): chupar - ser péssimo (informal)Chinese (Simplified): 吸吮 - 很差劲（口语）Chinese (Traditional): 吸吮 - 很爛（口語）Hindi: चूसना - बहुत बुरा होना (अनौपचारिक)Arabic: يمصّ - سيّئ جدًا (عامية)Bengali: চোষা - বাজে (অপ্রচলিত অপমানজনক অর্থে)Russian: сосать - отстой (разг., очень плохо)Japanese: 吸っている - 最悪だ（スラング）Vietnamese: hút - tệ (thông tục, nghĩa xấu)Korean: 빨고 있는 - 형편없다 (속어)Turkish: emmek - berbat olmak (argo)Urdu: چوسنا - انتہائی خراب (غیر رسمی)Indonesian: mengisap - jelek sekali (slang)
Example Sentences
The baby is sucking its thumb.
basic
He is sucking juice through a straw.
basic
Stop sucking up to the boss.
natural
The machine is sucking air in.
basic
This week is really sucking for me.
natural
I heard a strange noise, like something was sucking at the window.
natural