skipping-rope
B1Informal, everyday
Definition
Meaning
A rope, typically with handles at each end, that is swung over the head and under the feet as one jumps; a toy or piece of equipment used for the activity of skipping.
Can refer metonymically to the activity of skipping itself, as in 'to do skipping-rope'. In some contexts, it can be used as a symbol of childhood, play, or fitness training.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a count noun. The activity is called 'skipping' in British English and 'jump rope' (the activity) in American English. The hyphenated form 'skipping-rope' is standard in British dictionaries, but the open form 'skipping rope' is also very common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The object itself is a 'skipping-rope' (UK) and a 'jump rope' (US). The activity is 'skipping' (UK) and 'jump rope' or 'jumping rope' (US).
Connotations
In the UK, strongly associated with school playgrounds and children's games. In the US, has stronger connotations of a cardiovascular exercise or boxing training.
Frequency
The term is common in the UK; 'jump rope' is the default term in the US. 'Skipping-rope' is understood but marked as British in American contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJECT] + skip + with + a skipping-rope[SUBJECT] + turn + the skipping-rope + for [OBJECT][SUBJECT] + be + good + at skipping-ropeVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in the context of toy manufacturing or retail.
Academic
Rare. Could appear in sociological or historical studies of play.
Everyday
Common, especially in contexts involving children, playgrounds, or fitness.
Technical
Used in sports science or physical education to describe a type of training equipment.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She was a skipping-rope champion in her youth.
- The playground echoed with skipping-rope chants.
American English
- He set a new jump-rope speed record.
- The boxer's jump-rope routine was intense.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The little girl got a new skipping-rope for her birthday.
- Can you turn the skipping-rope for me?
- We used to spend break time doing skipping-rope in the playground.
- A good skipping-rope should be the right length for your height.
- Her fitness regimen incorporates ten minutes of intense skipping-rope to elevate her heart rate.
- The study compared the calorie burn of skipping-rope with that of jogging.
- The rhythmic slap of the skipping-rope on the tarmac was a ubiquitous sound of 1970s childhoods.
- He incorporated weighted skipping-ropes into his cross-training to improve footwork and endurance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a rope you SKIP over, and it helps you SKIP (jump) – a SKIPPING-ROPE.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TOY/TOOL IS A PART OF AN ACTIVITY (The rope embodies the whole game of skipping).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid the direct calque 'прыгающая верёвка'. The standard translation is 'скакалка'.
- The activity 'skipping' is 'прыжки через скакалку' or just 'скакалка' colloquially.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'skipping-rope' as a verb (e.g., 'I skipping-rope every day'). Correct: 'I skip (with a skipping-rope) every day.'
- Using the plural 'skipping-ropes' when referring to the activity generically (e.g., 'We did skipping-ropes at school'). Correct: 'We did skipping-rope at school' or 'We used skipping-ropes.'
Practice
Quiz
In American English, what is the most common term for the object called a 'skipping-rope' in British English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Skipping-rope' is the standard British English term for both the object and the activity. 'Jump rope' is the standard American English term for the object; the activity is 'jump rope' or 'jumping rope'.
The hyphenated form 'skipping-rope' is the traditional dictionary entry in the UK, but the open form 'skipping rope' is extremely common in usage. Both are acceptable.
No. The noun is 'a skipping-rope'. The verb is 'to skip' (UK) or 'to jump rope' (US). You say 'The children skip in the playground' not 'The children skipping-rope.'
Yes, it is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise that also improves coordination, agility, and bone density. It's used by athletes in various sports for training.