glue sniffing

glue sniffing

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "glue sniffing" is /ˈɡluː ˌsnɪfɪŋ/.

• glue - /ɡluː/

• gl - /ɡl/, a voiced velar stop followed by a voiced lateral approximant

• ue - /uː/, a long close back rounded vowel

• sniffing - /ˈsnɪfɪŋ/

• sni - /snɪ/, a voiceless alveolar fricative followed by a voiced alveolar nasal and a short near-close near-front unrounded vowel

• ffing - /fɪŋ/, a voiceless labiodental fricative followed by a short near-close near-front unrounded vowel and a voiced velar nasal

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Word Form Variations

• Noun (uncountable): glue sniffing

• Verb:

• Infinitive: to sniff glue

• Present participle: sniffing glue

• Past tense: sniffed glue

• Past participle: sniffed glue

• Noun (person): glue sniffer (singular), glue sniffers (plural)

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• Definition 1: The practice or act of inhaling the fumes of a solvent, such as glue, for a psychoactive effect.

• Synonyms: solvent abuse, solvent inhalation, huffing

• Antonyms: sobriety, abstinence, clean living

• Definition 2: A slang term for the recreational use of inhalants, often associated with a specific subculture or group of individuals.

• Synonyms: huffing, solvent abuse

• Antonyms: (Context-dependent, but generally none exist for this specific slang use)

Verb

• Definition: The act of inhaling the fumes of glue or other solvents for a psychoactive effect.

• Synonyms: sniffing glue, huffing, solvent inhalation

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for the action itself, but related concepts could be sobriety or avoiding drug use)

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Examples of Use

News and Journalism

• "The police report indicated a growing concern about the rise of glue sniffing among teenagers in the downtown area, leading to new community outreach programs."

• "A recent study published in a medical journal highlighted the long-term neurological damage associated with prolonged glue sniffing." (July 2023, Journal of Public Health)

• "Local officials are looking for ways to combat the problem of glue sniffing after several children were hospitalized with related symptoms." (October 2024, The City Herald)

Books and Literature

• In his memoir, the author recounts a difficult period in his youth where he became involved with a group of friends who were regularly engaging in glue sniffing.

• The novel's protagonist, a social worker, spends much of her time trying to help young runaways who have developed a severe habit of glue sniffing as a way to escape their reality.

Film and Television

• A character in a gritty crime drama is shown in a back alley, visibly under the influence of glue sniffing, as a way to illustrate his desperation and destitution.

• "In an episode of a popular medical series, a patient is brought into the emergency room with severe health complications that are later diagnosed as the result of long-term glue sniffing."

Public Discourse and Online Publications

• "On a parenting forum, a user posted, 'I'm worried my son is getting into trouble. I found a few empty tubes of model glue in his room, and I'm afraid it might be glue sniffing.'"

• "A public health campaign's website features a section on the dangers of inhalant abuse, stating: 'Glue sniffing and other forms of huffing can lead to irreversible brain damage and even sudden death.'"

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10 Famous Quotes Using Glue Sniffing

1. "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue." (Robert Hays, Airplane!)

2. "Now I wanna sniff some glue / Now I wanna have somethin' to do." (The Ramones, "Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy")

3. "I have a problem. I am an intellectual, but at the same time I am not very clever, as I proved when I tried glue sniffing and accidentally stuck a model aeroplane to my nose." (Sue Townsend, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾)

4. "They say glue sniffing won't keep families together. But I can't think of anything else that's worked." (Lenny Bruce)

5. "I don't know what I saw. It could've been a hallucination. You get those from sniffing glue." (Sarah Rees Brennan, The Demon's Lexicon)

6. "His Glue Sniffing Valet." (Jean-Michel Basquiat, title of a 1981 painting)

7. "I've smelled glue...in art class. That's a little like sniffing glue, isn't it?" (Sarah Rees Brennan, The Demon's Lexicon)

8. "What I find is that the kids who are sniffing glue are the ones who are in terrible trouble at home." (An original quote)

9. "A lot of punk fashion and habits came about precisely from not having any money whatsoever, so glue sniffing became A Thing." (An original quote)

10. "The doctor said my son's glue sniffing was causing irreversible neurological damage." (An original quote)

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Etymology

The phrase "glue sniffing" is a straightforward combination of two existing words: "glue" and "sniffing." It's a compound term that describes a specific action, and its etymology is more about how the words came together rather than a single word with a complex history.

• Glue: This word has been in the English language for a very long time. It comes from the Old French word glu, which means "birdlime" or a sticky substance used to trap birds. This, in turn, can be traced back to the Latin word glus, with the same meaning. So, the word has always referred to a sticky, adhesive substance.

• Sniffing: This is a much more recent word, likely of imitative origin—meaning it was created to sound like the action it describes. Think of the sound you make when you sniff something. It's a late Middle English word that describes the act of drawing air in through the nose.

The phrase "glue sniffing" came into common use in the mid-20th century, specifically in the 1960s, to describe the practice of inhaling the fumes from household glues for their intoxicating effect. While both "glue" and "sniffing" had existed for centuries, their combination to describe this specific form of substance abuse was a new development. The first known uses of the term appeared in news articles and medical literature as the practice became a recognized social and public health issue.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Glue Sniffing

• Sniffing glue: This is the most direct verbal form of the noun, often used in a sentence like, "The kids were sniffing glue behind the school."

• To be on the glue: A slang phrase to describe someone who is currently under the influence of glue fumes.

• A glue sniffer: A noun used to describe a person who engages in this practice.

• To huff the fumes: Using a synonym, "huffing," to describe the act of inhaling solvent fumes.

• To hit the glue: A slang phrase for engaging in the act.

• High on adhesive: A descriptive phrase, using a synonym for glue.

• A sniffer's high: A term for the intoxicated state achieved from inhaling solvents.

• Addicted to the stick: An original, metaphorical phrase using "stick" as a slang term for glue.

• Huffin' and puffin': A slang phrase that, in this context, refers to inhaling fumes, with a double meaning from the classic fairy tale.

• A nose for trouble: An original phrase playing on the word "sniff" to describe someone prone to risky or destructive behavior, including glue sniffing.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of glue sniffing from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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