skid
a plank, bar, log, or the like, especially one of a pair, on which something heavy may be slid or rolled along.
one of a number of such logs or timbers forming a skidway.
a low mobile platform on which goods are placed for ease in handling, moving, etc.: Compare stillage.
a plank, log, low platform, etc., on or by which a load is supported.
Nautical.
any of a number of parallel beams or timbers fixed in place as a raised support for boats, spars, etc.
any of a number of timbers on which a heavy object is placed to be shoved along on rollers or slid.
an arrangement of planks serving as a runway for cargo.
an arrangement of planks serving as a fender to protect the side of a vessel during transfer of cargo.
sidewise motion of a vessel; leeway.
a shoe or some other choke or drag for preventing the wheel of a vehicle from rotating, as when descending a hill.
a runner on the under part of some airplanes, enabling the aircraft to slide along the ground when landing.
an unexpected or uncontrollable sliding on a smooth surface by something not rotating, especially an oblique or wavering veering by a vehicle or its tires: The bus went into a skid on the icy road.
to place on or slide along a skid.
to check the motion of with a skid: She skidded her skates to a stop.
to cause to go into a skid: to skid the car into a turn.
to slide along without rotating, as a wheel to which a brake has been applied.
to slip or slide sideways, as an automobile in turning a corner rapidly.
to slide forward under the force of momentum after forward motion has been braked, as a vehicle.
(of an airplane when not banked sufficiently) to slide sideways, away from the center of the curve described in turning.: Compare slip1 (def. 15).
Idioms about skid
on the skids, Slang. in the process of decline or deterioration: His career is on the skids.
put the skids under, Informal. to bring about the downfall of; cause to fail: Lack of money put the skids under our plans.
the skids, Informal. the downward path to ruin, poverty, or depravity: After losing his job he began to hit the skids.
Origin of skid
1Other words for skid
Other words from skid
- skid·ding·ly, adverb
- an·ti·skid·ding, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use skid in a sentence
Hot streaks or losing skids would also have more impact for teams playing fewer games.
A switch to points percentage for NHL playoff seeding could cause chaos | Neil Greenberg | February 19, 2021 | Washington PostAs they ended their skid, the Hoyas saw some trends turn in their favor.
Back in action at last, Georgetown holds off Providence to snap its five-game skid | Kareem Copeland | January 30, 2021 | Washington PostA child was killed when one of its 737s skidded off a runway in Chicago in icy conditions and struck a car.
Behind them, in the far east corner of the square, large armored vans skidded and screeched their way out.
The Violent Scene at Cairo's Tahrir Square | Babak Dehghanpisheh | January 29, 2011 | THE DAILY BEASTHe said he spotted a deer in the road but it was too late—the minister swerved to miss it and the car skidded out.
Last December a Continental 737 taking off from Denver aborted at the last second and, in icy conditions, skidded into a ravine.
The revolver cracked, the piece of wood skidded on the surface of the water and there was no splash.
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine | John Fox, Jr.He skidded and fell, and had to run at a slower pace to keep his footing.
The Status Civilization | Robert SheckleyLester flopped heavily, and skidded across the bottom of the 'drome.
The Planet Strappers | Raymond Zinke GallunToo late; the wide-winged fighter skidded like a motorbus on a greasy road and fell into the clouds sideways.
Tam O' The Scoots | Edgar WallaceThen the motors shut off, and Mac skidded several feet up the ladder.
Tight Squeeze | Dean Charles Ing
British Dictionary definitions for skid
/ (skɪd) /
to cause (a vehicle) to slide sideways or (of a vehicle) to slide sideways while in motion, esp out of control
(intr) to slide without revolving, as the wheel of a moving vehicle after sudden braking
(tr) US and Canadian to put or haul on a skid, esp along a special track
to cause (an aircraft) to slide sideways away from the centre of a turn when insufficiently banked or (of an aircraft) to slide in this manner
an instance of sliding, esp sideways
mainly US and Canadian one of the logs forming a skidway
a support on which heavy objects may be stored and moved short distances by sliding
a shoe or drag used to apply pressure to the metal rim of a wheel to act as a brake
on the skids in decline or about to fail
Origin of skid
1Derived forms of skid
- skiddy, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with skid
In addition to the idiom beginning with skid
- skid row
also see:
- on the skids
- put the skids on
- put the skids under
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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