tarps
tarps
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling (IPA)
In American English, the IPA for tarps is /tɑɹps/.
It is a single-syllable word. Here is the sound breakdown:
/t/: The "t" sound, as in top.
/ɑ/: The "ah" sound, as in father.
/ɹ/: The "r" sound, as in run.
/p/: The "p" sound, as in pop.
/s/: The "s" sound, as in sun.
(Note: In British English, it is often pronounced /tɑːps/, where the "r" sound is not articulated.)
Word Form Variations
"Tarp" (the root word) can be used as both a noun and a verb.
Noun (Singular): tarp
Noun (Plural): tarps
Verb (Base): tarp
Verb (Present): tarps
Verb (Past Tense): tarped
Verb (Present Participle): tarping
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: (plural: tarps) A large, heavy-duty sheet of waterproof material, such as canvas or plastic, used as a protective covering against weather or to conceal items.
Definition 2: (singular: tarp) A shortened, informal term for a tarpaulin.
Synonyms: tarpaulin, cover, covering, sheet, fly, groundcloth, groundsheet, canvas
Antonyms: (Direct antonyms for this noun are uncommon. Conceptual opposites might include: exposure, opening.)
Verb
Definition 1: (To tarp something) To cover, protect, or conceal something with a tarp.
Example: "We need to tarp the firewood before the rain starts."
Synonyms: cover, protect, sheet, conceal, wrap
Antonyms: uncover, expose, reveal, unveil
Examples of Use
📰 In News & Online Publications
Weather/Disaster: "After the hurricane, thousands of homeowners rushed to buy supplies, hoping to get a tarp on their roof before the next rainstorm."
Construction: "The crew tarped the entire stack of lumber overnight to protect it from the morning dew."
Transportation: "State law requires that all trucks carrying loose gravel or debris must use tarps to secure their loads." (The Courier News)
Emergency Services: "Following the multi-car pileup, first responders placed a tarp over the wreckage to preserve the scene."
Finance (Acronym): "The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was a U.S. government program to purchase toxic assets and equity from financial institutions to strengthen the financial sector." (U.S. Department of the Treasury)
⚾ In Sports
Baseball: "The game was delayed in the seventh inning as the grounds crew ran onto the field, tarping the infield during the sudden downpour."
General: "During the rain delay, players waited in the dugout while the large tarp was pulled across the field."
📚 In Books
Literature: "He pulled back the stiff, frozen tarp covering the woodpile, his fingers numb from the cold, and grabbed a few logs for the fire."
Non-fiction: "In a humorous guide to American culture, the author dedicated an entire chapter to the 'ubiquitous blue tarp,' calling it a symbol of half-finished projects and stubborn optimism." (Inspired by The Blue Tarp Bible by Ron Judd)
Children's Books: "Señor David arrived and began teaching school on a blue tarp spread on the ground." (Armando and the Blue Tarp School by Edith Hope Fine)
🎬 In Entertainment
Crime Dramas (TV/Film): "The lead detective arrived at the crime scene, nodding to the forensics team. 'What have we got under the tarp?' she asked."
Action Films: "The hero hid behind a stack of crates covered by a dusty canvas tarp, waiting for the guards to pass."
Reality TV (Survival): "With limited supplies, the contestants' first priority was to build a shelter by stretching a tarp between two trees."
💬 In General Public Discourse
Camping/Outdoors: "Don't forget to pack an extra tarp to put under the tent; it'll keep the floor dry if the ground is wet."
Home Improvement: "My grill is starting to rust. I really need to remember to buy a tarp for it."
Social Media: "My neighbor has had that broken-down car under a blue tarp in his driveway for six months now."
10 Famous Quotes Using Tarps
"Tarps off, boys!" (Catchphrase, Letterkenny)
"Fuck, I'm gonna need more tarps." (Joe Goldberg, You)
"We packed up some tarps and followed the man to a town called Pleasant Grove." (Noah Galloway, Living with No Excuses: The Remarkable Rebirth of an American Soldier)
"Weeks and months later, an aerial view showed a sea of blue tarps blanketing countless damaged roofs." (Describing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Farmers Insurance)
"Sam Lazzaro has pulled the tarps, sold the fence signs, cleaned the bathrooms, and cooked the hot dogs." (Sam Lazzaro, More Than a Ballgame: An Inside Look at Minor League Baseball)
"Let this be an improving lesson... to those who employ tarps to cover that which would trouble another's peace of mind..." (Belle Waring, Crooked Timber)
"My visual depictions embody these frictions: blue tarps piercing water, seedlings growing beneath plastic sheets..." (Sean Donnelly)
"The blue tarps are perfect at covering holes in roofs, keeping the water OUT... and very cheap." (Public discourse on hurricane preparedness, Houzz)
She pulled the tarps off the paintings and leaned them against the wall one by one.
The first sign of a serious rain delay is when the grounds crew struggles to unroll the heavy infield tarps against the wind.
Etymology
The word tarp is a classic example of a "clipped word," meaning it's a shortened, informal version of a much older word: tarpaulin.
The word "tarpaulin" itself is a compound word that perfectly describes what it was:
Tar: This is exactly what you think it is—the black, sticky, waterproof substance made from pine or coal.
Paulin (or Pall): This part comes from the word "pall," which is an old word for a heavy cloth or a cover.
First Known Use and Meaning
The original word, tarpaulin, first appeared in the 1600s.
Its original meaning was literal: it was a "tarred pall" or "tarred cloth." Sailors would take a heavy sheet of canvas and coat it with tar to make it waterproof. They used these "tarpaulins" to cover cargo, hatches, and other items on the decks of their ships to protect them from rain and sea spray.
The shortened version, tarp, is much newer. It first appeared in American English in the early 1900s (around 1906) as simple slang for the longer word. Over time, "tarp" became so common that it is now the standard word used in everyday speech.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Tarps
Here are phrases and idioms related to the word "tarp," including synonymous expressions for similar effect.
Tarps off – A slang phrase, popularized by the show Letterkenny, meaning it's time to take off one's shirt, usually to fight or party.
Pull the tarp – A common phrase used literally, most often in baseball, meaning to cover the infield with the rain tarp. Figuratively, it can mean to shut down or put a stop to an event.
Blue tarp roof / Blue tarp nation – A cultural phrase referring to the "sea of blue tarps" seen on roofs after a hurricane or major storm. It has become a visual symbol of widespread disaster and slow recovery.
A "tarp" solution – An original phrase describing a temporary, cheap, or stop-gap fix for a much larger problem, implying it's not meant to be permanent.
Sweep it under the rug – (Synonymous idiom) To hide or conceal something embarrassing or problematic, much like hiding a mess under a covering.
Under wraps – (Synonymous idiom) To keep something secret or concealed, as if it were physically covered by a "tarp."
Put a lid on it – (Synonymous idiom) To stop something from escalating or becoming public; to conceal or contain it.
Cover one's tracks – (Synonymous idiom) To hide or destroy evidence of one's actions, similar to "tarping" over a scene.
Blanket coverage – A phrase describing total and complete protection or attention, similar to how a large "tarp" covers an entire area.
Put a tarp on it – A literal, straightforward phrase meaning to cover something for protection, but also used figuratively to mean "stop talking about that" or "that subject is finished."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of tarps from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
