nip out the back

English translation: go outside (for a short cigarette break)

17:34 Dec 23, 2023

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Colloquial

English term or phrase: nip out the back

Vera nips out the back for another cigarette. The court is a non-smoking building, and like most such buildings it has a stub-strewn area outside where smokers have unofficial licence to congregate.

I've googled for this expression and found a few other examples, but it isn't in the dictionary.

Thank you in advance.

Sterk KudoZ activity Questions: 1564 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (73 closed without grading) Answers: 0 Ukraine
Local time: 01:55

Selected answer:go outside (for a short cigarette break)

Explanation:
"If you nip somewhere, usually somewhere nearby, you go there quickly or for a short time. [British, informal]. Should I nip out and get some groceries?" https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/nip

Presumably, the back of the building/place/etc. where they are in.

Selected response from:

Oliver Simões
United States
Local time: 15:55

Grading comment

Thanks a lot Oliver. Yes, I saw this meaning in Collins but thought that 'the back' might be part of the idiom. Now it's clear it isn't.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

3 +4

go outside (for a short cigarette break)

Oliver Simões

Discussion entries: 1

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19 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

go outside (for a short cigarette break)

Oliver Simões
United States
Local time: 15:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Portuguese
PRO pts in category: 24

Grading comment

Thanks a lot Oliver. Yes, I saw this meaning in Collins but thought that 'the back' might be part of the idiom. Now it's clear it isn't.

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nip out the back

English translation: go outside (for a short cigarette break)

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English translation: go outside (for a short cigarette break)

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