heimlich manoeuvre: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumTechnical / Formal / Medical
Quick answer
What does “heimlich manoeuvre” mean?
An emergency first aid procedure used to treat a conscious choking victim by applying sudden upward pressure under the diaphragm to force air from the lungs and expel the obstructing object from the trachea.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An emergency first aid procedure used to treat a conscious choking victim by applying sudden upward pressure under the diaphragm to force air from the lungs and expel the obstructing object from the trachea.
Any quick, decisive intervention to resolve a critical, obstructing problem in a system or process, often used metaphorically in non-medical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'manoeuvre' (UK) vs. 'maneuver' (US). The name is capitalized in both as it is an eponym. In the US, the term 'Heimlich maneuver' is more universally recognized than the generic 'abdominal thrusts'.
Connotations
Identical in medical meaning. The UK spelling is part of the standard British English spelling convention for -oe- words. In both regions, the term carries associations of immediate, life-saving action.
Frequency
The term is equally recognized in medical and first-aid contexts in both the UK and US, though the British spelling is less common in global media, which often uses the American spelling.
Grammar
How to Use “heimlich manoeuvre” in a Sentence
[Someone] performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on [the victim].[The victim] was given the Heimlich manoeuvre.To perform the Heimlich manoeuvre, [do X, Y, Z].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “heimlich manoeuvre” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The off-duty nurse Heimlich-manoeuvred the diner after he began choking on a piece of steak.
American English
- She quickly Heimlich-maneuvered her brother when she saw he couldn't breathe.
adjective
British English
- The Heimlich-manoeuvre technique was demonstrated clearly in the first-aid class.
American English
- He received Heimlich-maneuver training as part of his lifeguard certification.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used metaphorically for a sudden, drastic action to save a failing project or company (e.g., 'The bailout was a financial Heimlich manoeuvre.').
Academic
Found in medical, nursing, and public health literature. Occasionally in social sciences as a metaphor for crisis intervention.
Everyday
Known by most adults in the context of first aid. Used literally when discussing health emergencies or first aid training.
Technical
Standard term in first aid manuals, emergency medicine, and CPR certification courses, though often accompanied by the generic term 'abdominal thrusts'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “heimlich manoeuvre”
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Neutral
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Vocabulary
Antonyms of “heimlich manoeuvre”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “heimlich manoeuvre”
- Incorrect: 'He performed the *Heimlich* on me.' (While common in speech, 'the Heimlich' is informal/clipped). Correct: 'He performed the *Heimlich manoeuvre* on me.'
- Incorrect spelling (US): 'Hiemlich', 'Himlich'. Correct: 'Heimlich'.
- Confusing it with CPR (which is for cardiac arrest, not choking).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Manoeuvre' is the British English spelling, 'maneuver' is the American English spelling. The word is always capitalised as part of the full term 'Heimlich Manoeuvre/Maneuver'.
Yes, there is a self-administered technique. You can lean over a hard surface like the back of a chair and thrust your abdomen onto it to create the necessary pressure.
To move away from the eponym (a person's name) and describe the action generically. This is standard practice in modern medical terminology to focus on the procedure itself. 'Abdominal thrusts' is the preferred term in official guidelines like those from the American Red Cross and UK Resuscitation Council.
No. It is specifically for choking (airway obstruction by a foreign object). Drowning requires CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), which focuses on restoring breathing and circulation.
An emergency first aid procedure used to treat a conscious choking victim by applying sudden upward pressure under the diaphragm to force air from the lungs and expel the obstructing object from the trachea.
Heimlich manoeuvre is usually technical / formal / medical in register.
Heimlich manoeuvre: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪmlɪk məˈnuːvə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪmlɪk məˈnuːvər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphor] The new policy was a Heimlich manoeuvre for the company's failing finances.”
- “[Metaphor] The lawyer's sharp questioning performed a Heimlich manoeuvre on the witness's tangled story.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HEIMlich = HELP Me! (I'm choking)' + MANOEUVRING your hands to give a LIFT under the ribs.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRISIS IS CHOKING / SOLUTION IS A PHYSICAL FORCE. Problems that block progress are metaphorically 'choking' a system, and a decisive solution 'dislodges' the blockage.
Practice
Quiz
In current official first-aid guidelines, the procedure originally known as the Heimlich manoeuvre is most accurately called: