dink
dink
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling
/dɪŋk/
Syllable Breakdown
First Syllable: dink
d - voiced dental/alveolar plosive
ɪ - near-close front unrounded vowel
ŋ - velar nasal
k - voiceless velar plosive
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: dink
Plural: dinks
Verb:
Present tense (third person singular): dinks
Present participle: dinking
Past tense: dinked
Past participle: dinked
Adjective:
dinky (a related adjective, though "dink" itself is not typically used as an adjective)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
1. (slang, often derogatory) A person, particularly a young adult or couple, who chooses not to have children.
Synonyms: childfree, voluntarily childless (more neutral terms), yuppie (often has similar connotations)
Antonyms: parent, family-oriented individual
2. (sports, especially tennis, badminton) A softly hit shot that just barely clears the net and lands in the opponent's court.
Synonyms: drop shot, short ball, lob (though a lob is higher)
Antonyms: smash, kill shot, power shot
Verb
1. (sports, especially tennis, badminton) To hit a soft shot that just barely clears the net.
Example: "She dinked the ball over the net to win the point."
Synonyms: drop, lob, feather (the ball)
Antonyms: smash, kill, slam (the ball)
2. (slang) To carry a passenger on the rear of a bicycle.
Example: "He dinked his friend to the store because the other bike had a flat tire."
Synonyms: give a lift, carry, piggyback
Antonyms: none common; the antonym would be to not carry a passenger.
Examples of Use
Noun (Acronym)
In Public Discourse: The term "DINK" (Double Income, No Kids) has become a common topic in social and economic discussions, often appearing in articles about finances and lifestyle trends. A 2024 article from The Guardian highlighted the backlash against DINK couples on social media, noting that they are "accused of being selfish, materialistic, and of having no stake in the future" for posting about their child-free lives.
In Online Publications: The acronym is particularly prevalent on platforms like TikTok, where users share their "DINK life" experiences. Videos often showcase the perceived freedoms and financial benefits of the lifestyle, such as travel, expensive hobbies, and a clean, quiet home. A 2023 article from Parade magazine noted a TikTok user who commented, "My hubs and I are dinks, and it's allowed me to take a lower paying job as an artist full time and that's everything."
In Books: The term and its related concepts are increasingly appearing in self-help and finance books. For instance, a finance guide might discuss "how to leverage your DINK status to build wealth," offering specific advice on budgeting and investing for couples without children.
Verb
In Sports Commentary: In sports like tennis or badminton, "dink" is a specific and widely understood term. You might hear a commentator say, "She just dinked that one perfectly over the net, and her opponent had no chance to return it."
In Books and Periodicals: A memoir about a childhood might include a memory like, "He would dink me home on the handlebars of his bike, and I'd hold on tight, laughing the whole way." This usage conveys a specific and intimate action often associated with youth.
In General Conversation: The word is used informally to describe hitting something softly. For example, a person might tell a friend, "Don't hit the golf ball so hard, just dink it onto the green."
10 Famous Quotes Using Dink
"Listen, Ender, commanders have just as much authority as you let them have. The more you obey them, the more power they have over you." (Dink Meeker, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card)
"I'm not going to let the bastards run me, Ender. They've got you pegged, too, and they don't plan to treat you kindly." (Dink Meeker, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card)
"If I had wings like Noah's dove, I'd fly up the river to the one I love." (from the folk song "Dink's Song")
"The main objections to dinks appear to be that they post smug social media updates, and that they travel too much." (The Guardian, March 2024)
"We're in our dink era." (Parade magazine, December 2023, quoting a TikTok trend)
"A 'DINK' refers to a couple with 'double income, no kid.'" (SuperStaff, May 2024)
"She used to let me dink her on my horse." (Linguix.com, example sentence from a book)
"He stormed from halfway, skipped past John Terry way too easily and, with Cech off his line, dinked a chip just wide from the edge of the area." (Linguix.com, example sentence from a sports report)
"This isn't a dinky log jump we're talking about; it's big air with even bigger consequences." (Linguix.com, example sentence from a sports report)
"The screw driver is mightier than the sword, hey, Dink?" (Tom Slade with the Colors by Percy Keese Fitzhugh)
Etymology
The word "dink" has a few separate origins, which explains its different meanings.
One of the most well-known uses of "dink" as a noun and verb comes from the world of sports, particularly tennis and badminton. It's believed to be an onomatopoeia—a word that imitates a sound. The light, gentle "dink" sound a racquet makes when it hits the ball softly, just clearing the net, likely led to the word being used to describe both the shot itself and the action of making it. The exact first use is hard to pin down, but this sporting term has been in use for many decades.
Separately, the term "dink" as an acronym—Double Income, No Kids—is a much more modern creation. This usage emerged in the late 20th century as a way to categorize and discuss a specific type of household, often focusing on their financial situation and lifestyle. This term is relatively new and is tied to discussions about demographics, family structures, and personal finance, especially since the rise of the internet.
Finally, the less common, informal use of "dink" as a verb meaning to carry a passenger on a bicycle is likely a regional or dialectal term with an uncertain origin, though it's been in use for a while, particularly in certain parts of the United States.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dink
To dink a shot: A common phrase in sports like tennis or pickleball, meaning to hit a soft, strategic shot just over the net.
Dinking around: While not a formal idiom, this is a colloquial phrase, often meaning to mess around or waste time. (e.g., "We were just dinking around in the garage all afternoon.")
Dink life: A modern phrase or hashtag, referring to the lifestyle of a DINK (Double Income, No Kids) couple. (e.g., "They love the freedom of their dink life.")
A dinky toy: The word "dinky," derived from "dink," is used as a term for a small toy or miniature, particularly small toy cars.
To get a dink: A colloquial expression, often used in sports, to refer to being hit by a softly-played shot or, more broadly, to be slightly outmaneuvered or caught off guard.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dink from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
