rip cord

noun

1. a cord on a parachute that, when pulled, opens the parachute for descent.

2. a cord fastened in the bag of a passenger balloon or dirigible so that a sharp pull upon it will rip or open the bag and let the gas escape, causing the balloon to descend rapidly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rip cord¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Civilian parachutes meant that he might free-fall away from the flight path before pulling the rip cord, and this signaled: A tail plane will be useless.

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It was like the election results pulled the rip cord and people responded by letting go of their budgets.

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Yanking the rip cord on a situation can be the best course of action.

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"My entire body was trembling. I couldn't get my body to stop because I was having a physical reaction. I didn't know how people would respond. I didn't know if I was doing the right thing, and then even my agent at the time was like, 'If you're going to pull this rip cord, you need to make sure you're pulling this rip cord, and you're ready to do whatever.'"

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She reportedly pulled the rip cord on that relationship early in 2021 and traded her seven years in L.A. for a new home in New York, as well as a new boyfriend.

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