meteor deep: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/LiteraryLiterary, Figurative, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “meteor deep” mean?
An extreme, unusually profound, or sudden fall or decline, often implying a rapid and irreversible descent into a negative state (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An extreme, unusually profound, or sudden fall or decline, often implying a rapid and irreversible descent into a negative state (e.g., debt, despair).
A metaphorical expression describing a rapid and severe deterioration in a situation, status, or condition, likened to a meteor falling deeply into an abyss.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in usage due to its rarity. Slightly more likely to appear in British literary or high-brow journalistic contexts.
Connotations
Connotes a dramatic, vivid, and often final descent.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. More a creative collocation than a fixed phrase.
Grammar
How to Use “meteor deep” in a Sentence
[Subject] fell/sank/plummeted meteor deep into [Negative State]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meteor deep” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm's reputation meteor-deepened after the audit.
American English
- The team's morale meteor-deepened after the loss.
adverb
British English
- His fortunes fell meteor deep into the red.
American English
- Poll numbers sank meteor deep after the gaffe.
adjective
British English
- They faced a meteor-deep crisis.
American English
- The country is in a meteor-deep recession.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. 'After the scandal, the company's stock value plunged meteor deep.'
Academic
Very rare, except in literary analysis or creative writing.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meteor deep”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meteor deep”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meteor deep”
- Using it as a noun phrase (*a meteor deep). It functions adverbially. *'They are in a meteor deep' is incorrect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare and creative metaphorical expression, primarily found in literary or vivid journalistic writing.
It primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying verbs like 'fall', 'plummet', or 'sink'. It can be used attributively as a compound adjective (e.g., a meteor-deep crisis).
It is stylistic and figurative. Use it sparingly for dramatic effect in appropriate contexts (e.g., commentary, creative non-fiction), but avoid it in technical or strictly objective reports.
'Rock bottom' suggests a final, stable low point. 'Meteor deep' emphasizes the *speed* and *trajectory* of the fall itself, often with a more vivid, catastrophic connotation.
An extreme, unusually profound, or sudden fall or decline, often implying a rapid and irreversible descent into a negative state (e.
Meteor deep: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiː.ti.ɔː diːp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiː.ti.ɚ diːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not a standard idiom; the phrase itself is idiomatic]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a METEOR falling DEEPer and DEEPer into a financial black hole, never to return.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEGATIVE CHANGE IS DOWNWARD MOTION / A DISASTER IS A CELESTIAL IMPACT
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'meteor deep' most appropriately used?