wobblers

Meanings

1. 1nounpluraltechnical

   A condition in horses and dogs in which pressure on the spinal cord causes unsteady, clumsy walking.

   Grammar: Used with a plural verb and often with 'the': 'The vet says the horse has wobblers.'

   Patterns

   • have wobblers
   • diagnose wobblers
   • wobblers in horses

   The young horse was diagnosed with wobblers after it kept stumbling.

   Wobblers is caused by narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck.

   Vets use X-rays to confirm wobblers in large dogs.

2. 2nouncountable

   A person or thing that moves unsteadily from side to side.

   Grammar: Countable; the singular is 'wobbler', as in 'a wobbler on a bike'.

   Patterns

   • a bit of a wobbler
   • a wobbler on something

   The toddler was a real wobbler on those new shoes.

   The old table is a wobbler and needs a folded napkin under one leg.

3. 3nouncountablespecialist

   A short fishing lure that moves with a side-to-side action to attract fish.

   Grammar: Countable; usually plural when talking about a set of lures.

   Patterns

   • fish with wobblers
   • a box of wobblers

   He tied on one of his wobblers and cast toward the reeds.

   Anglers use wobblers for pike in shallow water.

4. 4nouncountableinformalBritish

   A sudden fit of anger or panic; a short period of losing control.

   Grammar: Countable and mainly British informal; often in 'throw a wobbler'.

   Patterns

   • throw a wobbler
   • have a wobbler

   She threw a wobbler when she saw the bill.

   Don't have a wobbler; we can fix this.

Word forms

Common combinations

throw a wobbler

My dad threw a wobbler when the car wouldn't start.

diagnose wobblers

The vet diagnosed wobblers in the young stallion.

have wobblers

Their retriever has wobblers and walks with a sway.

fish with wobblers

We fished with wobblers along the rocky bank.

Synonyms and how they differ

ataxia

A medical term for unsteady movement in people or animals; wobblers is the specific name for the spinal condition in horses and dogs.

tantrum

A burst of anger, often used of children; a wobbler in British slang is similar but can also mean panic.

lure

Any artificial bait for fishing; a wobbler is one type that wiggles as it is pulled.

Word family

wobble verb

To move unsteadily from side to side.

wobbly adjective

Shaking or unsteady; likely to move about.

Commonly confused: wobblers or warbler?

Practice

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