rabbit

"Rabbit" is a common English word with a few different uses. Most of the time it refers to the small furry animal, but it also has a couple of interesting figurative and informal uses worth knowing.

1nounthe animal

A rabbit is a small, soft furry animal with long ears, a short tail, and strong back legs. Rabbits are known for being fast, quiet, and for reproducing very quickly. You can find them living wild in fields and forests, or kept as pets at home.

everyday language, nature · Modern, widely used

A rabbit was sitting in the garden, nibbling on the grass.

She keeps two rabbits as pets and feeds them carrots and leafy greens.

The rabbit disappeared into its burrow when it heard a loud noise.

2nounfigurativea beginner or weak player

In sports and games, especially golf or tennis, a 'rabbit' is an informal way to describe someone who is a beginner or a very weak player. Think of it as the opposite of an expert.

sports, informal · Informal, common in British English · figurative

Don't worry about losing to him — he's a complete rabbit at tennis.

The tournament had a separate category for rabbits who had just started playing golf.

3verbfigurativeto talk too much

In British informal English, if someone is 'rabbiting' or 'rabbiting on', they are talking a lot — usually about something unimportant or boring. It has a slightly negative feeling, suggesting the person won't stop talking.

everyday language, informal British English · Informal, common in British English · figurative

He kept rabbiting on about his holiday for over an hour.

Stop rabbiting and get to the point!

She was rabbiting away on the phone when I walked in.

4verbto hunt rabbits

As a verb, 'to rabbit' can also simply mean to go out and hunt rabbits. This use is less common today but you may still encounter it in rural or countryside contexts.

rural life, hunting · Traditional, less common today

They used to go rabbiting in the fields every weekend.

He took his dog out rabbiting early in the morning.