skid
B2Neutral; common in general, technical, and journalistic contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A sideways slip or slide, especially by a vehicle or aircraft, often out of control.
A downward or uncontrolled movement or decline; also, a plank or runner used to support or move heavy objects.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, often implies an unintended, dangerous, or uncontrolled movement. As a verb, focuses on the action of slipping/sliding. The object-support sense is more technical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. The phrase 'hit the skids' (to begin to fail or decline) is slightly more common in AmE.
Connotations
Identical negative connotation of loss of control in the slip/slide sense.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N skid (on N)V into a skidV a skidskid V across/into/off NVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hit the skids”
- “on the skids”
- “put the skids under someone/something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The project hit the skids after the budget was cut.'
Academic
Rare, except in technical engineering or transport studies.
Everyday
Common in driving/weather contexts: 'The car skidded on the black ice.'
Technical
Aviation: 'The plane's landing caused a runway skid.' Logistics: 'Load the crate onto the skids.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lorry skidded on the wet roundabout.
- He nearly skidded off the country lane.
American English
- The truck skidded on the wet freeway.
- Her bike skidded across the gravel shoulder.
adjective
British English
- The skid marks showed where the accident happened.
- We need skid-resistant flooring for the ramp.
American English
- The skid marks showed where the accident happened.
- We need skid-resistant flooring for the ramp.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The car skidded on the ice.
- There were black skid marks on the road.
- He managed to stop the skid by steering into it.
- The motorcycle left a long skid on the asphalt.
- The company's profits went into a skid after the scandal.
- Pilots train to recover from a runway skid.
- The government's attempts to put the skids under the opposition backfired spectacularly.
- The crane lowered the generator onto wooden skids for transport.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a KID on a sled that SKIDs sideways on ice. SKID-KID-SLIDE.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAILURE/DECLINE IS A DOWNWARD SLIDE (e.g., 'His career went into a skid.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'skittish' (пугливый).
- В значении 'тормозить' — это 'brake'; 'skid' — именно заносить, скользить.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'skid' for intentional sliding (e.g., on a playground slide).
- Confusing 'skid' (uncontrolled slide) with 'drift' (often controlled in motorsport).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'skid' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Skid' specifically implies a loss of traction and control, often sideways and dangerous. 'Slide' is more general and can be controlled (e.g., sliding into base).
Primarily, but not exclusively. People or objects can 'skid' (e.g., 'He skidded across the kitchen floor'). It's also a noun for a support structure.
It's an idiom meaning failing or in a state of decline (e.g., 'Their marriage was on the skids').
Rarely. It almost always has a neutral or negative connotation of unintended movement or decline. In motorsport, a controlled skid might be part of a technique, but it's still a risky manoeuvre.