belly flop

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Word: Belly Flop

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A "belly flop" is a type of dive into water where the person's stomach (belly) hits the surface of the water first. It usually happens when someone jumps or dives into a pool or lake without getting their hands or feet in the water first.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "belly flop" to describe this specific action in swimming pools, lakes, or oceans.
• It is often used in a playful or humorous context, especially when someone makes a big splash or if the dive looks silly.

Example:

• "When he jumped off the diving board, he did a belly flop and splashed everyone around him!"

Advanced Usage:

• In a more advanced context, you might use "belly flop" to refer to a failure in a non-physical sense. For example, you could say, "The company's new product was a belly flop in the market," meaning it did not succeed.

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "belly flop," but you might encounter related phrases like "belly flopping" (the verb form).

Different Meaning:

• While "belly flop" primarily refers to the diving action, it can also metaphorically describe a situation where something fails dramatically.

Synonyms:

• "Splash down" (though this is less common)
• "Flat dive" (this is more descriptive but not widely used)

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "belly flop," but you might hear phrases like "take a plunge," which means to take a risk or jump into something new.

Summary:

A belly flop is a funny and often clumsy way to dive into the water, and while it can be embarrassing, it often brings laughter and enjoyment.

Academic

Noun

1. a dive in which the abdomen bears the main force of impact with the water

Synonyms

• belly flopper
• belly whop
• belly whopper