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

He passed Ponting with a trademark dab through point.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2025

Everyone’s favorite analog diarist is smack dab in the middle of a universe ruled by tech.

From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2025

Her son gently tries to dab it away with a tissue as a nurse comes by with a blood pressure stand.

From BBC ● Jan. 16, 2025

The jackalope used his cloak to dab at his eyes.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Sand dabs and halibut, still edible and plentiful there, were held in a net slung under the hull and served moments later.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2025

Adapting to the slowness of the pitch, he played none of his trademark dabs to third man, instead pouncing to whip through the leg side any time England dropped short.

From BBC ● Nov. 28, 2024

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

They fixed the cracks themselves, carefully, with dabs of joint compound from a pint-sized container.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen

“It’s so difficult to explain,” said Gorden, now 33 and the captain at Angel City, as she dabbed at the tears with a tissue.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 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

Afterwards Nawat appeared at a press conference wearing a tuxedo and openly weeping as he theatrically dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief, claiming he had been "betrayed".

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2025

He frequently dabbed at the eye and found it difficult to match Rodriguez's pace.

From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2025

I gently dabbed on the salve, telling her about Mr. Underhill.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

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

“He never told anyone what to say,” she said, occasionally dabbing her eyes with a tissue as she spoke.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 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

When she’s asked to imagine her life after “Hacks,” Einbinder’s face suddenly turns pink, a folded tissue appears, and she’s dabbing away tears.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2025

I treat my burns with the ointment and try dabbing a bit on my stings as well, but it has no effect on them.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins