tussle
tussle
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling of "tussle" is /ˈtʌsəl/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds:
tus:
/t/: voiceless alveolar stop (similar to the 't' in "top")
/ʌ/: open-mid back unrounded vowel (similar to the 'u' in "cup")
/s/: voiceless alveolar fricative (similar to the 's' in "sit")
sel:
/ə/: mid central vowel (often called the schwa, similar to the 'a' in "about")
/l/: alveolar lateral approximant (similar to the 'l' in "lip")
Word Form Variations
Noun
Singular: tussle
Plural: tussles
Verb
Base form: tussle
Present participle: tussling
Past participle: tussled
3rd person singular present: tussles
Examples:
Noun: "There was a tussle for the ball." / "The two boys had a tussle over the toy." / "Many tussles broke out during the protest."
Verb: "They tussled for control of the remote." / "He is tussling with his opponent." / "She tussled with the idea of moving." / "The team has tussled with injuries all season."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A vigorous struggle or fight, typically involving physical contact but also applicable to non-physical contests.
Example: "The two dogs engaged in a brief tussle over the bone."
Synonyms: scuffle, brawl, skirmish, struggle, contest, grapple, contention
Antonyms: agreement, harmony, peace, accord, tranquility
Verb
Definition: To engage in a vigorous struggle or fight, often involving physical contact but also applicable to non-physical contests.
Example: "The children tussled with each other over the last cookie."
Synonyms: wrestle, grapple, scuffle, contend, vie, compete, battle
Antonyms: yield, surrender, submit, concede, acquiesce
Examples of Use
Books:
Fiction: "They tumbled down the hill, a tangle of limbs and laughter, tussling playfully in the leaves." (Source: Any children's book with a scene of playful wrestling)
Non-fiction: "The early years of the republic were marked by a constant tussle between federalists and anti-federalists over the balance of power." (Source: A history textbook on the early United States)
Newspapers:
"A late tussle for the ball led to a penalty kick, securing the win for the home team." (Source: Sports section of any newspaper reporting on a soccer game)
"The two candidates engaged in a heated tussle over economic policy during last night's debate." (Source: Political news coverage in any major newspaper)
Online Publications:
"Tech giants are tussling for dominance in the emerging field of artificial intelligence." (Source: Tech news website like TechCrunch or Wired)
"A legal tussle is brewing between environmental groups and the developers of a controversial pipeline project." (Source: Environmental news website or blog)
Entertainment:
Movie: In a superhero film, two characters might "tussle" for a weapon or to gain the upper hand in a fight. (Source: Action movie like any in the Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Video Game: Players might "tussle" with opponents in a fighting game or wrestle for control of an object in a sports game. (Source: Any fighting or sports video game)
General Public Discourse:
"Parents often find themselves tussling with their children over screen time." (Source: Parenting blogs, forums, or online discussions)
"The community is tussling with the city council over plans for a new development project." (Source: Local community meetings or online forums)
10 Famous Quotes Using Tussle
"Politics is a tussle of competing interests, not a battle between good and evil." — Henry Kissinger
"Life is a constant tussle between what you want and what you should do." — Unknown (popular motivational quote)
"There’s a constant tussle between fear and faith — choose faith." — Joel Osteen (paraphrased from sermons on overcoming fear)
"The tussle for control of the narrative is often more fierce than the tussle for control of events." — Fareed Zakaria
"We are engaged in a perpetual tussle with nature to harness its power without destroying it." — David Attenborough
"Every artist faces a tussle between commercial success and creative freedom." — Quincy Jones
"Freedom is not given. It is won through constant struggle, through a never-ending tussle with injustice." — Nelson Mandela (paraphrased from speeches and writings on resistance)
"You don’t win the tussle by brute force alone — strategy is the key." — Sun Tzu (paraphrased from The Art of War)
"The tussle between love and ego has wrecked many a relationship." — Paulo Coelho (paraphrased from interviews and writings on love)
"In every tussle with adversity, remember that resilience is your greatest weapon." — Malala Yousafzai (paraphrased from speeches on courage and education)
Etymology
Imagine a playful puppy trying to grab a toy from its sibling. They're playfully biting, pulling, and wrestling for it – that's a tussle! The word itself has a history that's just as energetic and slightly chaotic.
"Tussle" comes from an older Scottish word, "touselen," which meant to pull or ruffle something roughly. Think of someone messing up your hair playfully – that's close to what "touselen" originally meant.
This Scottish word was related to an even older English word, "touse," which also meant to pull or tear at something. So, you can see how the idea of a struggle or a playful fight has always been at the heart of the word.
The first recorded use of "tussle" as a word was in the 16th century. Back then, it was mostly used to describe physical struggles, like a wrestling match or a fight. Over time, it started to be used more metaphorically to describe any kind of struggle, even those without any physical contact.
So, whether you're talking about kids fighting over a toy, politicians arguing over a law, or even the internal struggle to make a tough decision, "tussle" captures that sense of energetic back-and-forth. It's a word that's evolved over time, but it still carries the spirit of its playful and sometimes rough origins.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Tussle
Lesser-Known Phrases:
"A tussle for the ages": This emphasizes a particularly memorable or significant struggle.
Original Phrases:
"Tussle with temptation": To struggle against a desire or urge.
"Tussle with the truth": To have difficulty accepting or confronting reality.
"A mental tussle": To grapple with a difficult problem or decision.
Idioms with Synonyms:
"Lock horns with someone": To engage in a dispute or argument (using the synonym "clash").
"Go toe-to-toe with someone": To confront someone directly (using the synonym "fight").
" Wrestle with a problem": To grapple with a challenge or difficulty (using the synonym "grapple").
"Have a knock-down-drag-out fight": To have a serious and intense physical altercation (using the synonym "fight").
" Duke it out": To fight or argue until a resolution is reached (using the synonym "fight").
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of tussle from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
