What does slavering mean?
Slavering describes the act of drooling or dribbling saliva, particularly during exertion or excitement. It can also mean displaying intense enthusiasm, appetite, or desire, as in someone who is “slavering over” a new opportunity. The figurative use is informal and often carries a mildly comic or disparaging tone, suggesting eagerness that seems excessive or unrestrained. The word is most often encountered as the present participle of the verb “slaver,” especially in descriptions of excited people, hungry animals, or someone eagerly anticipating something. Its vivid physical image makes it useful in informal speech and creative writing, where it can emphasize not merely enthusiasm but a loss of restraint or dignity before pleasure, food, or desire.
verbTo drool or dribble saliva, especially while running or eagerly. Figuratively, it means to display excessive enthusiasm, desire, or greed.
- To drool or dribble saliva.
- To show excessive eagerness, desire, or greed for something.
"The children came home slavering for ice cream."
"The dog bounded through the garden, slavering happily."
"She was slavering over the opportunity to travel abroad."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slavering come from?
The verb comes from Middle English, where it was associated with the emission of saliva or drooling. Its figurative use developed from the image of drooling as a sign of intense appetite or eager anticipation. The precise development of the verb's meaning is less straightforward than its modern associations might suggest.
Related word forms
How slavering is actually used
The figurative sense is informal and often mildly disparaging. It emphasizes an intense, sometimes undignified eagerness that resembles eager drooling.
Easily confused with slavering
Slavering means drooling or showing excessive eagerness, whereas slaving means working extremely hard or laboring.