chivy

chivy

transitive verb \ˈchi-vē\

chiv·ied or chiv·viedchivy·ing or chiv·vy·ing

Definition of CHIVY

1

: to tease or annoy with persistent petty attacks

2

: to move or obtain by small maneuvers <chivy an olive out of a bottle>

Variants of CHIVY

chivy or chiv·vy \ˈchi-vē\

Examples of CHIVY

1. <a boss with a reputation for chivying his workers about every little thing>

Origin of CHIVY

chivy, noun, chase, hunt, probably from English dialect Chevy Chase chase, confusion, from the name of a ballad describing the battle of Otterburn (1388)

First Known Use: 1918

Related to CHIVY

Synonyms

bug, bother (or chivvy), disturb, intrude (upon), pester

Related Words

inconvenience, trouble; aggravate, annoy, bedevil, chafe, devil, dog, dun, exasperate, fret, gall, get, gnaw, grate, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rankle, rasp, rile, roil, torment, vex, worry; beleaguer, beset, besiege; distress, plague; afflict, harass, provoke; anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, madden, outrage; agitate, perturb; butt in, cut in (on), obtrude; encroach, infringe, invade, trespass

Near Antonyms

disregard, forget, ignore, leave, slight; appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, oblige, placate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; comfort, console, content

See Synonym Discussion at bait

Rhymes with CHIVY

civvy, divvy, Livy, privy, skivvy