string ties

Meanings

1. 1nounusually plural

   Very narrow neckties made of cord or a thin strip of cloth, tied in a small bow or hanging loose.

   Grammar: Usually plural when speaking in general: he wears string ties.

   Patterns

   • wear string ties

   The old gentleman always wore string ties with his Sunday suit.

   The shop sells leather string ties with silver clasps.

   String ties were popular among cowboys in the old films.

2. 2nouncountable

   Thin cords used for tying bags, aprons, coats or other items.

   Grammar: Countable: replace the string ties on the apron.

   The apron fastens with string ties at the waist.

   She replaced the string ties on the cloth bag.

Word forms

Common combinations

wear string ties

He prefers to wear string ties instead of bow ties.

leather string ties

Leather string ties were part of the costume.

bolo string ties

The artisan made bolo string ties by hand.

string ties and suits

The men arrived in string ties and suits.

western string ties

Western string ties are common at rodeos.

Synonyms and how they differ

bolo ties

Bolo ties have a sliding clasp, while string ties may simply be tied in a knot.

bow ties

Bow ties are wider and tied in a bow, while string ties are thinner and often hang straight.

cravats

Cravats are soft, wide scarf-like cloths worn at the neck, unlike narrow string ties.

Word family

string noun

a thin cord

tie noun

a strip of cloth worn around the neck

bolo tie noun

a cord tie fastened with a decorative clasp

bow tie noun

a tie tied in a bow

Commonly confused: string ties or bolo tie?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “string ties”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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