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Victor Khanin
A sport car zipped past us.
"A sport car zipped past us".
I completely confused:
? We overtook a sport car.
? A sport car overtook us.
? We stood on some place and a sport car zipped behind us.
???
May 4, 2019 11:35 AM
Answers · 5
1
The car zipped past us.
= The car went past us quickly.
= The car went past us at high speed.
New Oxford American Dictionary
zip verb
2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] informal move at high speed: swallows zipped back and forth across the lake.
May 4, 2019
Hi Victor, the meaning of this sentence depends on where the subject, 'us', is. For ease, I'll change the sentence to: A sports car zipped past you. If you were inside a car (on the road, a race track, etc.), then it would mean that it overtook you. If you were a pedestrian on a street, then it would mean that the sports car drove past you at a high speed. 'Zipped' just means that the car is travelling very quickly. I hope this helps!
May 4, 2019
A sports car overtook you fast. To zip in this case needs the speed and quickness. You don't zip slowly.
May 4, 2019
Hi Victor
In this context we would say 'a sports car' not 'a sport car'. And your second suggestion is correct "A sports car overtook us."
Using the word 'zipped' is a way of telling us the sports car was going fast.
May 4, 2019
"A sports car zipped past us" works fine. The phrase is colloquial. You could also say "The sports car passed us"
May 4, 2019
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Victor Khanin
Language Skills
English, Russian
Learning Language
English
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