Learn English – ny difference between “stoop down” and “stoop”

adverbsdifferencesmeaningphrasal-verbs

According to Longman, they are the same, but I wonder if this is correct or if so, which one is more common.

For example:

  • Dave stooped down to tie his shoes.
  • Dave stooped to tie his shoes.

Best Answer

The subtle difference is a matter of context. In your examples, one can infer that when Dave "stooped" to tie his shoes, he performed the same motion as when he "stooped down" to tie his shoes. But if you say, "He walked stooped over", that conjures up a slightly different image as someone bent at the back with age or infirmity.

Stooped down:

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Stooped over:

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