sideslip: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Aviation, Informal
Quick answer
What does “sideslip” mean?
A sliding movement sideways, especially by an aircraft or vehicle that is out of control.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sliding movement sideways, especially by an aircraft or vehicle that is out of control.
A sideways skid or unintended lateral movement; a metaphorical deviation from a planned course or topic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. In aviation, the term is standard in both dialects.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. In informal figurative use, it is equally rare in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to specific technical domains.
Grammar
How to Use “sideslip” in a Sentence
The plane sideslipped.The car sideslipped on the ice.He sideslipped the question.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sideslip” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The biplane began to sideslip in the crosswind.
- He sideslipped neatly around the interviewer's probing question.
American English
- The car sideslipped on the black ice.
- The politician sideslipped the issue of tax increases.
adverb
British English
- The aircraft descended sideslipping towards the runway.
American English
- The car came sideslipping around the corner.
adjective
British English
- The pilot executed a sideslip manoeuvre to lose altitude quickly.
- We recorded the sideslip angle.
American English
- He used a sideslip approach to land in the strong wind.
- The sideslip motion was corrected automatically.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Figuratively: 'The project sideslipped into a discussion about budgets.'
Academic
Rare, except in engineering or physics papers describing motion.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used to describe a car skidding on ice.
Technical
Common in aviation manuals and driver training: 'Apply opposite rudder to correct a sideslip.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sideslip”
- Using 'sideslip' for a deliberate turn. Confusing it with 'slip' (general) or 'skid' (often rotational).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it has low frequency and is mostly used in technical contexts like aviation and driving.
Yes, it can be used as both a noun ('a dangerous sideslip') and a verb ('the car sideslipped').
A skid often implies rotation or spinning out of control. A sideslip is specifically a lateral slide, often with the front pointing in the direction of travel.
Rarely. Most people would say 'skid' or 'slide' for a car. 'Sideslip' is a specialist term.
A sliding movement sideways, especially by an aircraft or vehicle that is out of control.
Sideslip is usually technical/aviation, informal in register.
Sideslip: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd.slɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd.slɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On a sideslip to disaster.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SLIP to the SIDE = SIDESLIP.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOSS OF CONTROL IS A SIDEWAYS SLIP; DEVIATION FROM A PATH IS LATERAL MOVEMENT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sideslip' most commonly and correctly used?