balking

Meanings

• Verb

  Refusing to proceed or act, especially when under pressure or faced with opposition.

  - "The horse balked at the jump."
  - "The negotiators balked at the proposal."

• Verb

  Hesitate or falter, especially in a game or sport.

  - "The pitcher balked, allowing the runner to advance a base."
  - "The chess player balked at making a crucial move."

---

Synonyms

avoid , refuse , shirk , shun , baffle , foil , frustrate , thwart , miss , overlook

---

Rhymes

Words rhyming with balking
walking , talking , strolling , rolling

---

Variants

List of all variants of balking that leads to same result
balk , balked , balker , balkers , balking , balks

---

Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Originally meant 'to shy away from', from Old English balcan, balkian, meaning 'to leap or bound'.

---

Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. Balking is a common behavior in horses and can be caused by fear, pain, or a lack of confidence.

2. The term 'balk' was originally used in the context of sailing, where it meant 'to veer or turn away from the wind'.

3. In baseball, a pitcher can commit a balk if they make an illegal motion while attempting to throw the ball to the plate.

---

Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. hesitation: Related concept: Hesitation is the act of pausing or delaying before making a decision or taking an action. Balking can be a form of hesitation, especially when it involves refusing to proceed due to fear, uncertainty, or opposition.

2. resistance: Related concept: Resistance is the act of opposing or refusing to comply with a force, authority, or influence. Balking can be a form of resistance, especially when it involves standing up for one's beliefs or values.

---

Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'balking' has been used to describe a character's refusal to comply or give in, such as in Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn'.

How to Memorize "balking"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a horse refusing to jump over a fence or a person hesitating before making a decision. Visualize the feeling of hesitation or refusal.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'balking' with the idea of hesitation or refusal. Think of a time when you or someone else hesitated or refused to do something.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic using the word 'BALK' to remember the meaning: 'B' for 'Balks', 'A' for 'Against', 'L' for 'Losing', and 'K' for 'Knowledge' (as in 'knowing when to balk').

---

Memorize "balking" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize balking is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

   Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.
2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.