What does pliers mean?
Word: Pliers
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Pliers means a metal tool with two handles and strong jaws, used for holding small things or for bending and cutting wire. It is always used in the plural: a pair of pliers.
How do you spell pliers?
Syllables: pli - ers
Tricky part: The end is -ers, not -ars: pliars is the slip students make most.
Watch out for: pliars, pliears
Memory tip: Pliers are tools that grip and bend, and like cutters and rollers, their name ends in -ers.
Pliers in a sentence
Example 1: The electrician used pliers to twist the two wires together.
Example 2: Papa keeps a pair of pliers in the toolbox under the stairs.
Example 3: Can you pass me the pliers? This nail is stuck.
Fun Fact
Pliers used by electricians usually have thick plastic or rubber on the handles, which helps protect the user's hands from electric shocks.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) tweezers
b) spanners
c) scissors
d) pleirs
Show answer
d) pleirs. In pliers the i comes straight after the l and the e follows; tweezers, scissors and spanners are all spelt correctly.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with their meanings:
1. pliers 2. spanner 3. chisel A. a tool for turning nuts and bolts B. a tool with a sharp flat edge for cutting wood or stone C. a gripping tool you squeeze to twist or snip wire
a) 1-A, 2-C, 3-B
b) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A
c) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
d) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
Show answer
d) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B. Pliers grip, a spanner turns nuts and a chisel cuts wood or stone.
Word Tally
Each correctly spelt word gets 2 marks. How many marks does this list score?
pliers, wrentch, drill, screwdriwer, hammer
a) 2
b) 4
c) 6
d) 8
Show answer
c) 6. Wrentch and screwdriwer are wrong (wrench, screwdriver), so three words score 2 marks each.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these jobs could you do with pliers?
a) measure a straight line
b) pull a staple out of a board
c) stir a pot of soup
d) sweep a dusty floor
Show answer
b) pull a staple out of a board
2. The name pliers comes from an old verb, ply. What did ply once mean?
a) to hammer
b) to measure
c) to cut
d) to bend
Show answer
d) to bend
