threadtheneedle
The phrasal verb 'thread-the-needle' is divided into four syllables: thread-the-nee-dle. Primary stress falls on 'nee'. The phrase consists of a verb ('thread') and a noun ('needle') connected by a determiner ('the'). Syllabification follows standard English rules, with a syllabic consonant in the final syllable.
Definitions
- 1
To pass something through a small space or opening with difficulty; to navigate a difficult situation carefully and skillfully.
“She had to thread the needle to get the car through the narrow gap.”
“The politician had to thread the needle between appealing to both sides of the issue.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third syllable, 'nee' in 'thread-the-nee-dle'
Syllables
thread — Closed syllable, CVC structure, stressed.. the — Open syllable, CV structure, unstressed.. nee — Open syllable, CV structure, unstressed.. dle — Closed syllable, CVC structure, syllabic consonant, unstressed.
Similar Words
Onset-Rime Principle
Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and rime (vowel and any following consonants).
Sonority Sequencing Principle
Consonant clusters are broken down based on sonority (the degree of openness in articulation).
Syllabic Consonant Rule
A consonant can form a syllable nucleus if it has sufficient sonority (e.g., /l/, /m/, /n/).
- The phrase is an idiom, meaning its overall meaning is not predictable from its parts.
- The syllabic 'l' in 'needle' is a feature of GB English pronunciation.
Nearby Words
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