A2 noun 3 min de leitura

抽屉

chōutì

A drawer is a box in a desk or a dresser. You pull it out to put things inside. You push it in to close it. It is very useful for your clothes or your pencils. You use it every day in your home.

A drawer is a part of furniture that slides. You can open a drawer to find your socks or your books. Most desks have at least one drawer. It helps keep your room clean because you can hide your things inside.

A drawer is a sliding compartment in a piece of furniture. We use it for storage. You might have a desk drawer for your stationery or a kitchen drawer for utensils. It is a common household item that helps people stay organized in their daily lives.

In English, the term drawer refers to a sliding box used for storage. Beyond its literal meaning, it is often used in collocations like 'junk drawer' to describe a place for miscellaneous items. Understanding how to use this word correctly helps you describe your living space or office environment with precision.

The word drawer is a versatile noun in English. While primarily denoting a physical storage compartment, it carries idiomatic weight, such as 'top drawer' for high quality. In professional contexts, it describes specific furniture components. Its etymology, rooted in the verb 'to draw', highlights the functional nature of the object—something that is pulled out for use.

The drawer is a quintessential object of domestic architecture and furniture design. Historically, the evolution of the drawer reflects changes in how humans store and categorize their possessions. Linguistically, it serves as an example of deverbal noun formation, where the action defines the object. Mastery of the word involves both its literal usage in furniture and its figurative applications in idioms, reflecting the object's centrality in human organization.

抽屉 em 30 segundos

  • A drawer is a sliding storage box.
  • It is part of larger furniture.
  • It comes from the verb 'to draw'.
  • Used for organizing small items.

Hey there! Let's talk about the drawer. It is one of those household items we use every single day without even thinking about it. At its core, a drawer is simply a box-shaped container that is part of a larger piece of furniture, like a desk or a chest of drawers.

Think about your bedroom or your office. You probably have a place where you keep your socks, your pens, or your secret snacks. That sliding mechanism is what makes a drawer special. It allows you to access items easily while keeping your space looking tidy and organized. It is the ultimate tool for storage and organization in any home.

The word drawer has a fascinating history rooted in the English language. It comes from the verb draw, which originally meant to pull or drag something. In Middle English, the word drawen was used to describe the action of pulling something out.

By the 16th century, the term drawer began to be used specifically for a sliding box that you could 'draw' out of a piece of furniture. It is a perfect example of how English nouns are often formed from simple action verbs. It is related to other 'pulling' words in Germanic languages, showing how our ancestors focused on the physical action of using the object to name it.

Using the word drawer is very straightforward. You will most commonly hear people say they are 'opening a drawer' or 'closing a drawer.' It is a neutral, everyday noun used in both casual and professional settings.

Common collocations include 'junk drawer'—that one place in the kitchen where we throw random things like batteries and rubber bands—and 'top drawer', which can mean the highest quality. Whether you are talking about a 'desk drawer' or a 'dresser drawer', the word fits perfectly in any context involving organization or furniture.

Idioms make language fun! Here are five ways we use drawer in expressions:

  • Top drawer: Meaning something of the highest quality. Example: 'That new restaurant is really top drawer.'
  • Open drawer: Often used metaphorically for being transparent or revealing plans.
  • Back to the drawing board: While not using 'drawer' directly, it shares the 'draw' root and means starting over.
  • Keep it in the drawer: Meaning to hide or delay an idea. Example: 'Let's keep that project in the drawer for now.'
  • Junk drawer: A specific place for miscellaneous items. Example: 'Check the junk drawer for a spare key.'

Grammatically, drawer is a regular countable noun. You can have one drawer or many drawers. It is easy to use with articles: 'the drawer', 'a drawer', or 'my drawer'.

Pronunciation can be tricky! In American English, it often sounds like dro-er, while in British English, it is often pronounced more like draw-uh. It rhymes with words like slower, mower, and grower. Remember, the stress is on the first syllable: DRAW-er.

Curiosidade

It originally referred to a person who drew liquid from a cask!

Guia de pronúncia

UK /drɔːr/
US /drɔːr/
Rima com
slower mower grower lower thrower
Erros comuns
  • Pronouncing it like 'draw'
  • Adding an extra syllable
  • Mispronouncing the 'aw' sound

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 1/5

Very easy to read.

Escrita 1/5

Simple spelling.

Expressão oral 2/5

Pronunciation can be tricky.

Audição 2/5

Vowel sounds can vary.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

desk furniture open close

Aprenda a seguir

cabinet dresser organize compartment

Avançado

repository dovetail mechanism

Gramática essencial

Countable nouns

one drawer, two drawers

Imperative mood

Open the drawer!

Prepositions of place

in the drawer

Exemplos por nível

1

The pen is in the drawer.

pen-inside-drawer

preposition 'in'

2

Open the drawer, please.

open-drawer-polite

imperative verb

3

My socks are in the drawer.

socks-drawer-location

plural noun

4

Close the drawer.

close-drawer-action

imperative verb

5

The desk has a drawer.

desk-possesses-drawer

subject-verb-object

6

Where is the drawer?

question-about-drawer

interrogative

7

I need a new drawer.

need-new-drawer

article usage

8

Look in the drawer.

look-inside-drawer

phrasal verb

1

The keys are in the top drawer.

2

He pulled the drawer open quickly.

3

She organized her desk drawer today.

4

Don't leave the drawer open.

5

The drawer is stuck.

6

I found my watch in the drawer.

7

This drawer is too small.

8

Empty the drawer before moving.

1

I keep my important documents in the bottom drawer.

2

The kitchen drawer is full of spoons and forks.

3

He searched every drawer for his passport.

4

She accidentally broke the handle of the drawer.

5

The drawer slid out smoothly.

6

Try putting your files in the desk drawer.

7

The junk drawer is a mess.

8

He carefully closed the drawer.

1

The cabinet features three deep drawers for storage.

2

He is a top-drawer professional in his field.

3

She kept her secret diary in a locked drawer.

4

The design includes a hidden drawer for valuables.

5

Please ensure the drawer is fully closed.

6

The junk drawer has become a catch-all for clutter.

7

He pulled a folder from the drawer.

8

The quality of the craftsmanship is top drawer.

1

The antique dresser has velvet-lined drawers.

2

The architect designed the desk with a secret drawer.

3

He keeps his ideas in the bottom drawer until they are ready.

4

The company's performance is truly top drawer.

5

She organized the drawer with meticulous care.

6

The mechanism of the drawer is quite complex.

7

He rummaged through the drawer for the missing key.

8

The drawer serves as a repository for small items.

1

The artisan crafted the drawers with dovetail joints.

2

His wit is top drawer, always sharp and clever.

3

She consigned her unfinished manuscript to the bottom drawer.

4

The drawer mechanism was engineered for silent operation.

5

It was a top-drawer performance by the lead actor.

6

The contents of the drawer revealed his private life.

7

He pulled the drawer of his desk with a sense of finality.

8

The drawer is a testament to fine 19th-century furniture.

Colocações comuns

top drawer
desk drawer
open a drawer
close a drawer
junk drawer
bottom drawer
lock a drawer
stuck drawer
slide a drawer
empty a drawer

Expressões idiomáticas

"top drawer"

the best quality

Her work is top drawer.

casual

"back to the drawing board"

to start over

The plan failed, back to the drawing board.

neutral

"keep it in the drawer"

to hide something

Keep that idea in the drawer for now.

casual

"junk drawer"

a place for random items

Look in the junk drawer.

casual

"bottom drawer"

a place for things not currently needed

That project went into the bottom drawer.

neutral

Fácil de confundir

抽屉 vs draw

similar root

draw is a verb, drawer is a noun

I draw a picture; I open the drawer.

抽屉 vs drawing

similar spelling

drawing is an art piece

I made a drawing of a drawer.

抽屉 vs dresser

both furniture

dresser is the whole unit

The dresser has four drawers.

抽屉 vs cupboard

both storage

cupboard has doors

Plates go in the cupboard, socks in the drawer.

Padrões de frases

A1

Subject + open + the + drawer

I opened the drawer.

A2

The + drawer + is + adjective

The drawer is stuck.

B1

Keep + object + in + the + drawer

Keep it in the drawer.

B2

Rummage + through + the + drawer

He rummaged through the drawer.

C1

The + drawer + features + noun

The drawer features a lock.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

drawing a picture made with a pencil

Verbos

draw to pull

Adjetivos

drawn pulled out

Relacionado

cabinet similar furniture
dresser contains drawers

Como usar

frequency

9

Erros comuns
  • drower drawer

    Spelling error, it is spelled with an 'a'.

  • draw drawer

    Don't confuse the verb 'draw' with the noun 'drawer'.

  • drawer's drawers

    Don't use an apostrophe for plural.

  • in the drawer in the drawer

    Some learners say 'on the drawer', but 'in' is correct.

  • draw-er drawer

    It is two syllables, not three.

Dicas

Memory Palace

Visualize your desk and name every drawer.

Native usage

Use 'junk drawer' to sound natural.

Cultural Insight

Everyone has a junk drawer!

Grammar Shortcut

It's always 'in' the drawer.

Say It Right

Don't say 'draw-er' with three syllables.

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't write 'draw' when you mean the object.

Did You Know?

It comes from the action of pulling.

Study Smart

Label your drawers at home.

Rhyme Time

Rhyme it with 'lower'.

Context

Use 'top drawer' for quality.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Draw-er: You DRAW it out to get your stuff.

Associação visual

Imagine a giant desk with a drawer pulling out like a tongue.

Word Web

furniture storage organization desk dresser

Desafio

Go to your desk and open every drawer you have.

Origem da palavra

Middle English

Significado original: one who pulls

Contexto cultural

None.

The 'junk drawer' is a universal concept in English-speaking households.

The phrase 'top drawer' is often used in British English.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

At home

  • Open the drawer
  • Close the drawer
  • Empty the drawer

At work

  • Desk drawer
  • Filing drawer
  • Locked drawer

Moving house

  • Empty the drawers
  • Tape the drawers shut

Organizing

  • Organize the drawer
  • Junk drawer
  • Sort the drawer

Iniciadores de conversa

"Do you have a junk drawer in your house?"

"What do you keep in your desk drawer?"

"Have you ever had a drawer get stuck?"

"Do you prefer drawers or shelves for storage?"

"What is the most interesting thing you've found in a drawer?"

Temas para diário

Describe the messiest drawer in your house.

If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it?

Write about a time you lost something in a drawer.

Explain why organization is important for drawers.

Perguntas frequentes

8 perguntas

Drawer is the box; draw is the action.

Use candle wax on the rails.

Yes, but it is an older term.

Because you draw it out.

Yes, one drawer, two drawers.

A drawer for random stuff.

No, that's 'to draw'.

Yes, filing, kitchen, dresser, etc.

Teste-se 10 perguntas

fill blank A1

I put my socks in the ___.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: drawer

Socks go in a storage compartment.

multiple choice A2

What do you do to a drawer to get something?

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: pull it

You pull a drawer to open it.

true false B1

A drawer is a type of furniture.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: Verdadeiro

It is a part of furniture.

fill blank A2

The ___ is stuck.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: drawer

Drawers can get stuck.

multiple choice B1

Which is a synonym for drawer?

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: compartment

A drawer is a storage compartment.

true false B2

The word drawer comes from the verb 'to draw'.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: Verdadeiro

Yes, it relates to the action of pulling.

multiple choice C2

What is a 'top-drawer' person?

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: A person of high quality

Idiomatic meaning.

/ 10 correct

Perfect score!

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