Stiff Meaning
Stiff Definition & Usage
Lacking flexibility or movement, often due to muscle tension, injury, or cold temperature.
Examples
- "Her neck was stiff from sitting at the desk all day."
- "After the long flight, his legs felt stiff and painful."
- "He had to stretch out his stiff back before getting up."
- "The cold weather left my fingers feeling stiff and numb."
- "She winced as she tried to move her stiff knee after the fall."
Rigid in manner or behavior, often implying formality or lack of warmth.
Examples
- "The meeting was awkward because of his stiff demeanor."
- "Her stiff smile suggested she wasn’t happy to be there."
- "He gave a stiff handshake, avoiding eye contact."
- "The atmosphere at the dinner was stiff and uncomfortable."
- "Despite their efforts, the conversation remained stiff and formal."
A dead body, often used informally or humorously.
Examples
- "The police found the stiff in an abandoned warehouse."
- "They discovered a stiff floating in the river."
- "The detective had a hunch about the stiff's identity."
- "He made a joke about the stiff in the morgue."
- "The term 'stiff' was used by the coroner to refer to the body."
Cultural Context
The word 'stiff' comes from Old French 'stiffus' and Latin 'stiffus', meaning rigid or firm. It was originally used to describe the hardness or firmness of materials, and over time, was extended to describe the inflexibility of living beings or their movements. In modern usage, it is often used metaphorically to describe both physical discomfort and behavioral rigidity.
The Stiff Dinner
Story
The Stiff Dinner
The evening started like any other. Jane, nervously adjusting her tie, entered the dining room. The long wooden table stretched before her, lined with polished china and silver. Her colleagues were already seated, each one poised and silent. As she slid into her chair, she could feel the stiffness in the air. Everyone was on their best behavior, but Jane could sense the awkwardness in every gesture. The smiles were stiff, the handshakes were stiff, and even the clinking of silverware seemed to echo in the coldness of the room. It was supposed to be a celebratory dinner, but the tension was palpable. Jane tried to smile and make small talk, but the conversation felt forced, like everyone was reading from the same script. When the waiter arrived with the first course, she caught a glimpse of Mark, the company's director, looking particularly stiff in his suit. He barely nodded in her direction. 'Isn't this a bit over the top for a company dinner?' she thought. But no one was willing to break the ice. Her muscles were beginning to stiffen from the uncomfortable posture, but it wasn’t just her body that was tense. It was everything — the conversation, the food, the entire atmosphere. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and in walked a new intern, David. Unlike the others, he seemed to glide into the room with a natural ease, not caring for the formality around him. His relaxed demeanor was a sharp contrast to the stiff dinner that had been unfolding. 'Finally,' Jane thought. 'Someone who isn’t afraid to be themselves.' And just like that, the mood shifted, as if a light had been switched on. Slowly, the dinner began to thaw. By the time dessert was served, the room was still far from relaxed, but at least it wasn’t stiff anymore. There were genuine smiles, laughter, and even a few jokes. Jane sat back in her chair, feeling the tension slowly ease from her muscles. Maybe the night wouldn't be a total bust after all.
Related Words
