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Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

tāwhai

1. (verb) (-tia) to stretch out, step out, pace, stride, move the limbs alternately.

Kaua hai titiro ki raro rā anō, engari ki ō waewae noa iho i a koe e tāwhai haere atu ana (HP 1991:58). / Don't look at the bottom, but just at your feet as you stride along.

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Synonyms: whetoko, tāwhaiwhai


2. (verb) (-tia) to travel over, traverse.

Ka tāwhai atu i Tīoripātea ki roto o Murihiku (TTR 1990:368). / They traversed Haast Pass and into Southland.

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3. (verb) (-tia) to imitate, impersonate, mimic.

Taea ai e te tūī te tāwhai ngā reo o ētahi atu manu, tae rawa ki te tangata (Te Ara 2014). / Tūī can imitate the sounds of other birds and people.

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Synonyms: whakahuahua, whakatau


4. (verb) (-tia) to trace, copy.

Whakatakotoria he pepa angiangi ki runga ake o te pikitia e hiahia ana koe ki te tāwhai, kia kitea tonutia ai te whakaahua i raro iho, ka tuhi ai i te hua ki te pepa o runga ake (HJ 2012:195). / Lay thin paper on top of the picture that you are wanting to trace, so that the image can be seen, then draw the outline onto the paper on top.

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5. (verb) to rival.

E kore e taea te tāwhai te whare o Ngāti Toa (W 1971:407). / It's not possible to rival Ngāti Toa's house.

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Synonyms: tautētete, wheinga, kātata, hoa kakari, tauwhāinga


6. (noun) stepping, striding.

Ka haere atu māua ki te taiapa pōkaikai haere, tūtū, arā, kua meatia e ngā tāngata nei ki runga i taua pōkai waea takitaki, e rua ngā papa, pai noa iho tā rātau tāwhai atu ki runga i ngā papa, ka tāwhai atu ki waho (HP 1991:172). / We went to the roll of fencing where these men had placed two boards on the rolls of fence wire so that their stepping on the boards and walking out was a simple matter.

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