transitive verbchivvies, chivvying, chivvied

• Tell (someone) repeatedly to do something.

  ‘an association that chivvies government into action’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The action plan he has produced will involve thoroughly cleaning the school, chivvying students to get to school and lessons on time and encouraging them to take pride in the school and their work.’
  • ‘He said: ‘He used his significant influence with the Church of England to chivvy us all, Anglicans and others, into getting on with some really creative shared actions.’’
  • ‘When we speak, he addresses me like a slightly harried father chivvying a child.’
  • ‘He said: ‘Umpires should be chivvying the players about slow over rates and there are still a lot of unnecessary drinks breaks.’’
  • ‘As long as he was doing something, or surveying an area of a plan, he would be quite happy and his mind would be off chivvying his brother about quick ways to turn stolen silver into spendable cash.’
  • ‘I imagine Stuart Law will play a leading role in chivvying people along.’
  • ‘Asked if he would like to take a samurai sword to his critics, he said: ‘Critics are good - they chivvy us along.’’
  • ‘I don't have time to absorb much, though: some white-coated women and Dr Stone chivvy me towards an uncomfortable-looking chair.’
  • ‘Parents must resist the temptation to chivvy the child along and tell them not to be silly - their fear and apprehension is very real to them.’
  • ‘Eliza resolutely pulled and chivvied her friends towards the taxi rank.’
  • ‘It'll get you there all right, but don't bother chivvying it.’
  • ‘Wine, wheat, sausages, silk - these were as important to della Rovere as chivvying Michelangelo to finish the sculptures for her father's tomb or commissioning expensive tapestries for her walls.’
  • ‘If you are owed money by people following some sponsored event, keep chivvying them to ensure that they all pay up.’
  • ‘I've stared at someone's still-wet hair on a cramped train for a few minutes, and by the time I'm at the top of the escalators my mind has had a chance to re-engage and chivvy itself along.’
  • ‘They chivvied local businesses for cash backing.’
  • ‘Presumably to chivvy things along, the Chief Justice says he has provided the working party with a supporting secretariat supplied by the Department of Justice.’
  • ‘To recap the latest episode, the authors have stooped to the hoary old plot device of a startling newspaper revelation to chivvy the drama along.’
  • ‘He sent out trusted assistants to make the local arrangements, chivvied them if they did not make fast enough progress, and belaboured officials who prevaricated or objected.’
  • ‘Gathering supporters as he went, he chivvied the Neapolitan army out of Sicily and crossed the Straits of Messina on 22 August with the help of the Royal Navy.’
  • ‘Tamora chivvied them into the passageway, and they began to run again, Cheyenne's ragged breathing echoing off the walls as she fell further and further behind.’

  Synonyms

  nag, badger, hound, harass, harry, keep after, keep on at, go on at, pester, plague, torment, persecute, goad, annoy, bother

  View synonyms