lutz
Very LowTechnical / Sports
Definition
Meaning
A jump in figure skating with a takeoff from the back outside edge of one skate and one or more rotations in the air before landing on the back outside edge of the opposite skate.
A specific, difficult technical maneuver used as a competitive element in figure skating; figuratively, any difficult, technical, or complex move in sports or other physical disciplines.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used in the context of figure skating. It is a proper noun that has become a common noun in sports terminology. Its meaning is highly specific and non-idiomatic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No meaningful difference in usage, spelling, or pronunciation between UK and US English. The term is borrowed into English and retains its original form.
Connotations
Conveys technical difficulty, athleticism, and precision in both varieties. It is a neutral technical term.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, used only within the specific domain of figure skating and related sports commentary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
perform a/the [ADJ] lutzattempt a lutzland (on) the lutzVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in sports science literature discussing biomechanics or athletic performance in figure skating.
Everyday
Virtually unused outside of discussions about the Winter Olympics or competitive figure skating.
Technical
The primary context. Used in figure skating scoring, commentary, training, and rulebooks.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She is learning to jump. The lutz is very difficult.
- The skater tried a lutz but fell during the landing.
- Her programme included a triple lutz, which she executed with impressive height.
- The technical panel reviewed the edge call on her opening lutz, ultimately downgrading it to a flip.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Lutz sounds like 'looks' tough. The Lutz jump LOOKS difficult because skaters take off backwards.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION AND DIFFICULTY IS A COMPLEX MACHINE (e.g., 'She executed the lutz like a perfectly tuned mechanism').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'Лутц' in the sense of a surname. In a sporting context, it is transliterated as 'лутц' but is a recognized loanword. It does not relate to the German surname or the currency 'Lira/Lire'.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it as /luːts/ (like 'loots').
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to lutz'). While skaters 'do a lutz', 'lutz' is not conventionally a verb.
- Confusing it with other jumps like the 'flip' or 'loop'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'lutz' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The jump is named after Austrian skater Alois Lutz, who reportedly first performed it in 1913.
Both jumps use a toe pick assist, but the lutz takes off from a backward outside edge, while the flip takes off from a backward inside edge.
In casual skating parlance, you might hear 'She lutzed', but formally it is a noun (e.g., 'perform a lutz'). Dictionaries list it only as a noun.
Its difficulty stems from the counter-rotational takeoff; the skater must rotate in the opposite direction to which they are leaning on the edge, making it easy to 'flutz' (turn it into a flip).