airplane spin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal / Technical (wrestling)
Quick answer
What does “airplane spin” mean?
A professional wrestling throwing manoeuvre where the attacker spins their opponent around horizontally in mid-air before slamming them to the mat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A professional wrestling throwing manoeuvre where the attacker spins their opponent around horizontally in mid-air before slamming them to the mat.
Also refers to a fun, dizzying activity where a person (often a child) is spun around by another person holding them under the arms or by the limbs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the playful spinning activity is more commonly called an "aeroplane spin" or simply "spinning around." The wrestling term is used identically.
Connotations
Wrestling connotation is strong in both. The playful connotation is slightly more common in American family/casual contexts.
Frequency
Rare in general discourse. Most frequent in wrestling commentary and nostalgic recollections of childhood play.
Grammar
How to Use “airplane spin” in a Sentence
[Subject] performs/executes/hits an airplane spin on [Object].[Subject] gives [Indirect Object] an airplane spin.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “airplane spin” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The wrestler finished the match with a devastating aeroplane spin.
- My dad used to give us aeroplane spins in the garden until we were dizzy.
American English
- John Cena's airplane spin is a crowd-pleaser.
- Uncle Joe would do airplane spins with the kids at every family picnic.
verb
British English
- He threatened to aeroplane-spin his opponent.
- (Rare as verb) She got aeroplane-spun until she giggled uncontrollably.
American English
- The giant airplane-spinned the rookie wrestler effortlessly.
- (Rare as verb) Dad airplane-spinned me until the world blurred.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used, except potentially in sports science analyses of wrestling techniques.
Everyday
Used anecdotally to describe playful spinning of children.
Technical
Precise term in professional wrestling move taxonomy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “airplane spin”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “airplane spin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “airplane spin”
- Writing as one word: 'airplanespin'.
- Confusing it with a 'helicopter spin' or 'pirouette'.
- Using it to describe the spinning of an actual aircraft (which is an 'aileron roll' or 'barrel roll').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In wrestling, it's a controlled performance. As playful activity with children, it must be done carefully to avoid neck injury or dizziness-induced falls.
The move is often credited to the wrestler "The Great Gama" or later popularised by Ivan Putski and others in the 1970s-80s.
An airplane spin typically involves a horizontal rotation around the attacker's body axis. A helicopter spin often refers to a vertical spinning throw or a different, more complex manoeuvre.
Yes, it would be understood, especially in written form, but 'airplane spin' is the dominant American English spelling for both the toy and wrestling move.
A professional wrestling throwing manoeuvre where the attacker spins their opponent around horizontally in mid-air before slamming them to the mat.
Airplane spin is usually informal / technical (wrestling) in register.
Airplane spin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈeə.pleɪn ˌspɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈer.pleɪn ˌspɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a wrestler turning an opponent into a human AIRPLANE, then sending them for a SPIN.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A PROJECTILE / PLAY IS A SPORT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'airplane spin' LEAST likely to be used?