on the skids

skid

O o

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [skid]
- /skɪd/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [skid]
- /skɪd/

Definitions of on the skids words

noun on the skids a plank, bar, log, or the like, especially one of a pair, on which something heavy may be slid or rolled along. 1
noun on the skids one of a number of such logs or timbers forming a skidway. 1
noun on the skids a low mobile platform on which goods are placed for ease in handling, moving, etc. Compare stillage. 1
noun on the skids a plank, log, low platform, etc., on or by which a load is supported. 1
noun on the skids 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. 1
noun on the skids a shoe or some other choke or drag for preventing the wheel of a vehicle from rotating, as when descending a hill. 1

See all 21 definitions of on the skids

Information block about the term

Origin of on the skids

First appearance:

before 1600

One of the 39% oldest English words

1600-10; 1925-30 for def 18; apparently < Old Norse skith (noun), cognate with Old English scīd thin slip of wood; see ski

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for On the skids

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of On the skids

on the skids popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

on the skids usage trend in Literature

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Synonyms for on the skids

noun on the skids

adversity — an unfortunate event or incident
bad break — misfortune, period of bad luck
cropper — a person who cultivates or harvests a crop
devolution — Devolution is the transfer of some authority or power from a central organization or government to smaller organizations or government departments.
hard time — a period of difficulties or hardship.

adj on the skids

beggared — a person who begs alms or lives by begging.
belly up — If a company goes belly up, it does not have enough money to pay its debts.
down and out — downward; going or directed downward: the down escalator.
down for the count — (Idiomatic) Decisively beaten; defeated; rendered irrelevant for the long term.

adjective on the skids

floored — that part of a room, hallway, or the like, that forms its lower enclosing surface and upon which one walks.
kaput — ruined; done for; demolished.
nonfunctioning — the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution; the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role.
outcast — a falling out; quarrel.

All 27 Synonyms of on the skids