dab

For the last few days, smack dab in the middle of his long-awaited breakthrough at USC, Arenas was sick.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2026

Already in her still relatively short career, Elle Fanning has managed to position herself smack dab in the center of these two polarities, the perfect combination of classic Hollywood and new age celebrity.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026

It’s smack dab in the middle of the migration routes for the Round Valley and Casa Diablo herds, according to a recent study.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025

He passed Ponting with a trademark dab through point.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2025

There were even a few of Penelope’s exact favorite type of sandwich: cheddar cheese with thinly sliced apple and a dab of mustard.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Iron-straight defence, dabs to third man and shuffles off the hips.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2025

Martha Stewart doesn't do warts, but Cutler edits a wry irony into the artful coverage she dabs on her blemishes, like her refusal to count her marital infidelity as equivalent to that of her husband.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2024

A selection of all white suits, jackets and lace dresses also featured in the spring/summer 2024 collection, as did dabs of leopard print on shiny macs and dresses.

From Reuters ● Sep. 23, 2023

His voice was firm, doling out dabs of sweetness cut with the occasional thrilling yelp.

From New York Times ● Apr. 26, 2023

Cook drips tanroot oil on a square of gauze and dabs it onto the wound.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

In another, a grey-haired woman laid one hand atop the coffin while she dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

In the rear open kitchen, Manon Fleury turned humble winter produce into memorable dishes: Fried sweet-potato threads mimicked a mini funnel cake, dabbed with loquat jam.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026

It was a buccaneering innings full of trademark shots square of the wicket as he cut, dabbed, pulled and effortlessly flicked his way to three figures.

From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2024

He pulled a white hanky from his breast pocket and dabbed away a tear after a prolonged embrace from his daughter, Ashley, who delivered a loving introduction.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2024

She dabbed at her forehead with her balled-up tissue and I noticed an odd scar on her wrist.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English

We see through her eyes an assistant dabbing moisturizer on her hand, art installers asking where she wants a large sculpture, a man cleaning her pool who greets her.

From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026

She coped by dabbing at her face with a small navy blue towel that magically appeared from under the table.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 11, 2025

Inside, women are dabbing moisturizers, sampling eye shadows and swabbing lipsticks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025

"You have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have," she said, dabbing away tears and occasionally pausing to collect herself.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025

“I’m good,” I say, quickly dabbing at my eyes with the back of my wrist.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day