View synonyms for swan dive

swan dive

noun

, Diving.

a forward dive in which the diver while in the air assumes a position with the arms outstretched at shoulder height and the legs straight and together, and enters the water with the arms stretched above the head.

swan-dive

[ swon-dahyv ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

, swan-dived, swan-div·ing.

to perform a swan dive.
to decrease suddenly and decisively; plummet:
Stock prices swan-dived overnight.

swan dive

a type of dive in which the diver arches back while in the air, keeping his legs straight and together and his arms outstretched, finally entering the water headfirst Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)swallow dive

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

The Memphis metropolitan daily, the aptly named Commercial Appeal, took a swan dive on the story.

The only thing we can be sure of is that what little credibility Congress has left took a swan dive on Friday.

The mechanic seemed to do a beautiful swan dive through the flame-tinted air for a moment.

And come he did, in a swan dive that was almost professional and that brought handclapping approval from the girls.

Ray climbed up on the rail, poised there a second, then attempted a swan dive.

Some white man must have taught him, for he made the proper swan dive and did it as beautifully as I have ever seen it.

Ten seconds later, as the lapping waves reached for her, she did a sort of swan dive and landed flat with the raft beneath her.

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