fosbury flop
Low FrequencyTechnical (Athletics), Journalistic (Sports Reporting)
Definition
Meaning
A high jump technique where the athlete clears the bar backwards and head-first, arching the back over the bar.
The term can be used metaphorically to describe any innovative, unconventional, or back-first approach that revolutionizes a field, though this is not a dominant usage.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a proper noun referring to a specific athletic technique. Named after its innovator, Dick Fosbury. It is often used with the definite article 'the'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is identical in both dialects.
Connotations
Innovation, revolution in technique, athletic excellence. No dialectal difference in connotation.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and confined to sports contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Athlete] performs/executes the Fosbury flop.The [event] was won using the Fosbury flop.[Name] revolutionised the sport with the Fosbury flop.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To do a Fosbury flop (metaphorical): to attempt something in a radically new or unconventional way.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Only in metaphorical contexts, e.g., 'The company's new strategy was a real Fosbury flop in the industry.'
Academic
Used in sports science, kinesiology, or history of sport texts.
Everyday
Uncommon. Understood mainly by those with an interest in athletics or Olympic history.
Technical
Standard term in athletics coaching, competition, and sports commentary.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He didn't just jump; he Fosbury-flopped his way to a new record.
- Young athletes are often taught to Fosbury flop from an early age.
American English
- She Fosbury-flopped over the bar with inches to spare.
- He revolutionized the event by Fosbury-flopping when everyone else used the straddle.
adverb
British English
- She cleared the bar Fosbury-flop style.
- He jumped Fosbury-flop, just as he had been trained.
American English
- The athlete went over the bar Fosbury-flop.
- She won by jumping Fosbury-flop.
adjective
British English
- He is a dedicated Fosbury-flop jumper.
- The Fosbury-flop technique requires precise timing.
American English
- Her Fosbury-flop style is flawless.
- The coach gave a lecture on Fosbury-flop mechanics.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Dick Fosbury had a new idea for the high jump.
- He jumped over the bar backwards.
- The Fosbury flop is now the most common high jump technique.
- Most athletes use the Fosbury flop in competitions today.
- By perfecting the Fosbury flop, she managed to add five centimetres to her personal best.
- The coach analysed the athlete's Fosbury flop using slow-motion video.
- The introduction of the Fosbury flop in the late 1960s rendered previous high jump methodologies almost entirely obsolete.
- His research paper deconstructs the biomechanical efficiency inherent in the Fosbury flop's unique arched trajectory.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember FLOP: Fosbury Lands Over backwards Perfectly.
Conceptual Metaphor
INNOVATION IS A BACKWARDS LEAP; REVOLUTION IS A REVERSAL OF FORM.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'flop' directly as неудача (failure) or шлёпнуться (to flop down). Here it means a specific type of jump. The Russian equivalent is often 'фосбери-флоп' (transliterated) or 'прыжок способом Фосбери'.
Common Mistakes
- Using lowercase ('fosbury flop') in formal writing (should be capitalised as a proper name).
- Omitting 'the' (e.g., 'He used Fosbury flop' is incorrect; should be 'He used the Fosbury flop').
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of the Fosbury flop?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as it contains a proper name (Fosbury), it is conventionally capitalised.
Informally, yes (e.g., 'He Fosbury-flopped over the bar'), but in formal sports writing, it is more common as a noun ('He performed the Fosbury flop').
The dominant techniques were the straddle and the western roll, where athletes crossed the bar face-down.
Very rarely. It can be used metaphorically to describe a radical, back-to-front innovation in any field, but this is not a common usage.