scissors kick
C1Technical (Sports)
Definition
Meaning
A swimming and football (soccer) technique where the legs open and close rapidly in a scissoring motion, either for propulsion in water or to strike the ball in mid-air.
Also used as a metaphor for any sudden, forceful, crossing movement resembling the action of scissors, potentially in other sports (e.g., martial arts) or figuratively.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is polysemous, referring primarily to distinct techniques in swimming (flutter kick variant) and football (acrobatic shot). Context is crucial for disambiguation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In football contexts, 'bicycle kick' is a more common synonym in both regions, but 'scissors kick' is understood. In swimming, the term is standard in both.
Connotations
In football, it may connote a slightly more old-fashioned or descriptive term compared to 'bicycle kick'.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language, but higher within specific sporting contexts. No significant regional variation in frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Player] scissors-kicked the ball into the net.She used a strong scissors kick to propel herself forward.The move culminated in a spectacular scissors kick.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He came out of the blocks with all guns blazing and a scissors kick in his repertoire. (figurative, meaning with dynamic, surprising moves)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Potentially in sports science literature analysing biomechanics of swimming or football techniques.
Everyday
Very rare, only among sports enthusiasts discussing specific moments.
Technical
Primary context: coaching manuals, sports commentary, and analysis for swimming and football.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He managed to scissors-kick the clearance away from danger.
- The swimmer scissors-kicked powerfully off the turn.
American English
- She scissor-kicked the ball into the upper corner. (Note: 'scissor-kick' as verb is common.)
- To build stamina, practice scissor-kicking for 100 meters.
adverb
British English
- Not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- It was a textbook scissors-kick volley.
- Her scissors-kick technique is her strongest asset.
American English
- He scored with a scissor-kick shot from the edge of the box.
- The scissor-kick drill improved her dolphin kick.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He kicked the ball. It was a scissors kick!
- In swimming, you move your legs like scissors.
- The player scored an amazing goal with a scissors kick.
- A good scissors kick helps you swim faster.
- Despite the tight angle, the striker executed a perfect scissors kick, volleying the ball into the far corner.
- Her front crawl speed comes from the powerful thrust of her scissors kick.
- The audacious scissors kick, executed with his back to goal, is considered one of the most technically challenging moves in football.
- Biomechanical analysis shows the swimmer's scissors kick generates 20% more propulsion than a standard flutter kick at that point in the stroke cycle.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of giant scissors in the air where the blades are a swimmer's or footballer's legs, snapping shut to push water or strike a ball.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A TOOL (specifically, the legs are scissor blades).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'ножничный удар'. In football, use 'велосипед' or 'ножницы' is acceptable but colloquial. In swimming, 'удар ножницами' is correct.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'scissor kick' (singular) – the standard term is plural 'scissors kick'.
- Confusing it with a 'scissor sweep' in martial arts.
- Using it to describe a simple leg cross outside of a dynamic sporting action.
Practice
Quiz
In which TWO sports is the term 'scissors kick' a recognised technical term?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often used synonymously. Some purists argue a 'bicycle kick' involves a fuller, more horizontal rotation in the air, while a 'scissors kick' is more vertical, but the distinction is blurred in common usage.
Yes, but it's less common. Techniques like the 'scissor sweep' in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or a 'scissor takedown' exist, but the simple term 'scissors kick' is more strongly associated with football and swimming.
It's a variant of the flutter kick where the legs move apart and then together in a wider, more forceful 'scissoring' motion, often used in sidestroke or as a training drill for core and leg strength.
Yes, though it's less common. It can be hyphenated ('scissors-kicked' or 'scissor-kicked'). For example: 'He scissor-kicked the ball into the net.'