landslide
B2Formal (geological), Formal/Informal (political/figurative).
Definition
Meaning
The rapid, downhill movement of a large mass of soil, rock, or debris.
An overwhelming victory in an election or competition, or a very large, decisive change.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has a core physical, geological sense and a common metaphorical extension to politics and other contests. The metaphorical use often implies speed and decisiveness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The term 'landslip' is a more technical synonym in British English for the geological event, while 'landslide' is dominant in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English news media for political victories due to the electoral college system narratives.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[landslide] + verb (occurred, hit, buried)verb (win, predict) + [by a landslide]adjective (political, electoral) + [landslide]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a landslide victory”
- “win by a landslide”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used metaphorically for a decisive market shift: 'The new product caused a landslide in consumer preferences.'
Academic
Common in Geography/Earth Sciences for the physical phenomenon; in Political Science for electoral results.
Everyday
Common for discussing big election wins or news about natural disasters.
Technical
Specific term in geology and geomorphology for mass wasting events.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The hillside could landslide after such heavy rain.
- The opposition party was simply landslideed in the polls.
American English
- The region is prone to landsliding.
- They were landslideed out of office.
adverb
British English
- The bill passed landslidely through the House.
American English
- The team won landslidely, 10-0.
adjective
British English
- It was a landslide majority in Parliament.
- Landslide debris blocked the road.
American English
- She secured a landslide win in the primary.
- The landslide risk is high this season.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The heavy rain caused a landslide.
- They won the game.
- A huge landslide blocked the main road to the village.
- The party won the election by a landslide.
- Scientists warned that deforestation increased the risk of landslides in the area.
- The president's approval rating has fallen dramatically since his landslide victory two years ago.
- The geotechnical report detailed the mechanisms that could trigger a catastrophic landslide under seismic loading.
- Despite predictions of a close race, the incumbent's reform agenda resulted in an unprecedented electoral landslide, upending the traditional political landscape.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the LAND SLIDing down a hill rapidly and decisively, just like votes can slide overwhelmingly to one candidate.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICS/CHANGE IS A GEOLOGICAL DISASTER (decisive, powerful, unstoppable movement).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation for the political sense. Russian 'оползень' is only geological. For elections, use 'разгромная победа' or 'победа с огромным перевесом'.
- Do not use 'лавина' (avalanche) for a political landslide; it's a different natural metaphor.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'landslide' to mean any kind of accident or collapse (too broad).
- Saying 'landslide win' without the article 'a' (e.g., 'He had landslide win').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'landslide' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is rare and considered informal or non-standard ('The cliff face is landsliding'). The noun form is vastly more common.
A mudslide is a specific type of landslide where the moving material is primarily wet, fluid mud. A landslide is a broader term for the movement of earth, rock, and debris.
It's uncommon. Its metaphorical use is almost exclusively for contests (elections, sports, votes). For a major market change, terms like 'seismic shift', 'overwhelming shift', or 'rout' are more typical.
A victory by a very large, overwhelming margin in an election, often implying the winning candidate or party gained a much higher percentage of votes/seats than their opponents.