Wit and Humour
Ways of moving
Learn the many different words for ways of moving.
Three words from 'A Funny Man' describe moving: the man came walking down the street, the speaker staggered back against the wall, and at the end he hopped home.
English has many words for moving on foot, and they aren't the same. Each has its own speed, and most tell you something about the mover too.
From slowest to fastest:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| stagger | move unsteadily, almost falling (shocked or weak) |
| walk | the ordinary, steady pace |
| hop | jump on one foot, as in hopscotch: quick but awkward, often playful |
| jog | run gently and steadily, a pace you can keep up for long |
| trot | faster than a jog, with short brisk steps (a word from horses) |
| sprint | run as fast as you possibly can, only for a short time |
So: stagger, walk, hop, jog, trot, sprint.
See what the poem gains by choosing carefully. "I staggered back against the wall" tells you she was really startled; "stepped back" would tell you nothing.
And "hopped home on his head" is the only word that works: it's playful, and it's exactly what you can't do on your head! That's where the joke is.
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