ditch
B1Neutral (noun), Informal (verb, meaning to abandon).
Definition
Meaning
A long narrow channel dug in the ground, typically for drainage or irrigation.
To abandon, discard, or get rid of (someone or something) suddenly or unceremoniously. Also refers to the act of making an emergency landing on water (ditching a plane).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it denotes a physical, man-made or natural, often unpleasantly wet feature. As a verb, it has evolved through metaphorical extension (leaving someone/something 'in a ditch') to mean abandoning or discarding, carrying informal, often negative connotations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The verb 'to ditch' meaning to abandon is slightly more established in AmE. The noun is identical.
Connotations
Identical. Both associate ditches with mud, water, neglect, or being cast aside.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] something/someone (ditched the car)[V] (He ditched before the meeting)[V N ADJ] (ditch it empty)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Last-ditch effort (a final, desperate attempt)”
- “To die in a ditch (to stubbornly defend a hopeless position)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'We had to ditch the marketing strategy after the poor results.'
Academic
Descriptive (noun): 'The archaeological survey revealed a network of medieval boundary ditches.'
Everyday
Common for physical features and informal abandonment: 'The car swerved and ended up in a ditch.' / 'I'm ditching this old sofa.'
Technical
In civil engineering/agriculture: 'The contractor excavated a V-ditch for land drainage.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He decided to ditch the meeting and go to the pub instead.
- They had to ditch the car in a field and run.
American English
- She ditched her old phone for the latest model.
- The pilot successfully ditched the aircraft in the ocean.
adverb
British English
- N/A – 'ditch' is not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A – 'ditch' is not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A – 'ditch' is not standardly used as an adjective.
American English
- N/A – 'ditch' is not standardly used as an adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a small ditch next to the road.
- The ball rolled into the ditch.
- The farmer dug a ditch to drain the field.
- He didn't want to go, so he ditched the party.
- After the heavy rain, the ditches were overflowing with water.
- The company ditched its unpopular policy following customer complaints.
- The defensive ditch surrounding the ancient fort was still visible.
- In a last-ditch attempt to save the deal, they offered a significant discount.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Ditch sounds like 'switch' – you switch plans and ditch the old one. Or picture a witch falling into a ditch.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABANDONMENT IS CASTING INTO A DITCH / GETTING RID OF IS THROWING AWAY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'канава' (which is more specific) or 'ров' (moat). The verb 'to ditch' is best translated as 'бросить', 'отказаться от', not literally related to a ditch.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ditch' as a formal verb in writing (e.g., in a report: 'The project was ditched' – better: 'abandoned'). Confusing 'ditch' (long, narrow) with 'hole' (round) or 'pit' (deep and often large).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'ditch' used in its most informal sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, it implies human agency (dug or maintained). A natural, water-worn channel is more likely a 'guilty' or 'ravine'.
Yes, it implies an unceremonious, often selfish abandonment. For neutral or positive leaving, use 'leave' or 'part ways with'.
They are similar. A 'ditch' is primarily for water flow (drainage). A 'trench' is often deeper, for laying pipes/cables or for military protection.
As a noun, no. The verb meaning 'to abandon' originated as slang but is now standard informal English.