Peep vs Mutter - What's the difference?
peep | mutter | Synonyms |
A quiet sound, particularly one from a baby bird.
A feeble utterance or complaint.
The sound of a steam engine's whistle; typically shrill.
A kind of bird; a sandpiper.
To look, especially while trying not to be seen or noticed.
:
*
*:And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed.
*{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
, passage=But Richmond
To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.
*(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
*:When flowers first peeped , and trees did blossoms bear.
A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one.
* {{quote-book
, year=1907
, title=(The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses)
, author=Robert W. Service
, chapter=(The Cremation of Sam McGee)
, passage=I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: "I'll just take a peep inside. / I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked";. . . then the door I opened wide.}}
A repressed or obscure utterance; an instance of muttering.
(in Indian restaurants) peas
To utter words, especially complaints or angry expressions, indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; to say under one's breath.
* {{quote-news
, year=2012
, date=June 28
, author=Jamie Jackson
, title=Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal
, work=the Guardian
To speak softly and incoherently, or with imperfect articulations.
* Dryden
To make a sound with a low, rumbling noise.
* Alexander Pope
Peep is a synonym of mutter.
As an acronym peep
is (slang) a world war ii jeep attached to an armored regiment.As a noun mutter is
.peep
English
Etymology 1
Onomatopoeic, from (etyl) pepenNoun
(en noun)- I don't want to hear a peep out of you !
- 2001 , , Thomas the tank engine collection : a unique collection of stories from the railway series - p. 177 - Egmont Books, Limited, Aug 15, 2001
- "Peep', ' peep ," said Edward, "I'm ready."
- "Peep', '''peep''', ' peep ," said Henry, "so am I."
Etymology 2
From (etyl)Verb
(en verb)Hypernyms
* glanceNoun
(en noun)Derived terms
* bo-peep * by-peep * peeper, peepers * peep pixels * peep show * peeping tom * pixel peeperEtymology 3
Of uncertain originSynonyms
* (spot on die or domino) pipEtymology 4
, a shortened form of people.mutter
English
Noun
(en noun)- The prisoners were docile, and accepted their lot with barely a mutter .
Derived terms
* mutter paneerVerb
(en verb)- You could hear the students mutter as they were served sodden spaghetti, yet again, in the cafeteria.
- The beggar muttered words of thanks, as passersby dropped coins in his cup.
citation, page= , passage=This set – the set of Rosol's life – was studded with aces and menacing ground-strokes that left Nadal an impotent spectator often muttering to himself and at the umpire regarding a perceived misdemeanour by his opponent.}}
- The asylum inmate muttered some doggerel about chains and pains to himself, over and over.
- Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare, / And mutter to himself.
- April could hear the delivery van's engine muttering in the driveway.
- Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls.
