What does chivvy mean?
Chivvy is a chiefly British informal verb meaning to urge, pester, or hustle someone repeatedly until they do what is wanted. A parent might chivvy a child out of bed on a school morning, or an editor chivvy a writer toward a deadline. The word carries a mildly exasperated but usually good-humoured connotation — it suggests persistent prodding rather than serious anger or bullying. It can also serve as a noun for such an urging itself, as in "a gentle chivvy." The standard inflected forms are chivvies, chivvied, and chivvying, though the spelling variant "chivy" and its forms are common. Etymologically, it derives from the older verb "chevy," meaning to chase, which itself echoes the old hunting cry used in the ballad "Chevy Chase." For anyone writing about deadlines, chores, or gentle harassment, chivvy is a vivid and characterful alternative to plainer words like push or nag.
To urge, pester, or hustle someone repeatedly until they do something.
"She had to chivvy her brother into packing his bags before the taxi arrived."
Informal and chiefly British; often used with "into" + gerund or "along."
An instance of urging, scolding, or hustling someone into action.
"A sharp chivvy from the foreman got the crew moving again."
Less common than the verb.
Used when referring to multiple instances of urging or scolding; rare compared to the verb.
"Despite all her chivvies, he never finished the report."
This little word of nagging began life as a hunting cry — every time you chivvy someone along, you're echoing an old fox hunt.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chivvy
Chivvy derives from the older English verb "chevy," meaning to chase or pursue, which in turn comes from the traditional hunting cry associated with "Chevy Chase," the celebrated Border ballad. The form with -v- became established through repeated use, and by the nineteenth century "chivvy" had settled into its modern sense of pestering or hurrying someone along. Its cousin "chevy" preserves the original chasing sense.
Related word forms
How chivvy is actually used
Chiefly British and informal in tone; it often carries a mildly humorous or exasperated connotation rather than suggesting harsh treatment. Both "chivvied" and "chived" appear historically, with "chivvied" now standard.
Easily confused with chivvy
"Chevy" is an older word meaning to chase or hunt (as in "Chevy Chase"), while "chivvy" means to pester or hustle someone into action.