stumble vs. trip sb

[jokaec1]

Person A: Why your face is black and blue?
Person B: The bully in my class "stumbled" or "tripped" me by sticking out his leg when I passed by.

Are these words same in this case? As I know, "stumble" can cause fall as well as almost fall and "trip" always causes fall. Is it correct?

 

[Barb_D]

No. You can trip someone else, but you can only stumble (yourself), and it suggests an accident.
If someone else deliberately trips you, use that form: he tripped me.

You can trip or stumble. I don't see much difference when it refers to, for example, a rock in your path. Perhaps -- I wonder if others see it the same -- if you stumble, you catch yourself before you fall, but when you trip, you may fall to the ground.

I stumbled over the uneven cobblestones and almost fell.
I tripped over the uneven cobblestones and bruised my knee.

 

[Skrej]

Personally, I don't consider any distinction between the two regarding falling/almost falling. The dictionary supports them as synonymous (in regards to literal and metaphorical balance), using "to fall or almost fall" in both definitions.

Surprisingly, there is a transitive entry listed for 'stumble', but I've never, ever, heard of stumbling someone. To me, it's only intransitive.

 

[Rover_KE]

Person A: [STRIKE]Why your face is black and blue?[/STRIKE]

Why is your face black and blue?

Note how person A should have asked the question.

 

[cipali]

Please see here as well: https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/190134-Stumble-vs-trip

 

[jokaec1]

If someone else deliberately trips you, use that form: he tripped me.

If someone trips me indeliberately, can I say "He tripped me accidently / by accident."?

 

[Barb_D]

Yes, you probably could say someone accidentally tripped you as well, but you can also say you tripped over his foot that you didn't notice was in the aisle.

 

[Rover_KE]

If, like me, you thought jokaec's use of indeliberately was incorrect, it is actually listed in a few dictionaries.

However, it is very rarely used and should be avoided. Click here.