Word: Belly Flopper
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: A "belly flopper" refers to a type of dive where a person jumps into the water and lands flat on their stomach or abdomen. This means that the stomach hits the water first, which can cause a surprising splash and sometimes it can sting a little!
Usage Instructions:
The term "belly flopper" is often used in informal settings, especially when talking about diving or swimming.
It is typically used to describe a fun or clumsy way of entering the water, often done by children or during playful activities.
Example:
Advanced Usage:
In competitive diving or aquatic sports, "belly flop" is sometimes used humorously to describe a dive that was not performed correctly.
It can also refer to someone who has made a mistake in a more metaphorical sense, such as failing at a task or project.
Word Variants:
Belly Flop (verb): To perform a belly flop dive. Example: "He decided to belly flop into the pool instead of doing a proper dive."
Belly Flopper (adjective): Describing something that relates to or resembles a belly flop. Example: "That was a belly flopper of a jump!"
Different Meaning:
In a broader, metaphorical sense, calling someone a "belly flopper" might imply that they are clumsy or not skilled at something, but this usage is less common.
Synonyms:
Flat dive: A similar kind of dive where one lands flat in the water.
Splashdown: Refers to landing in the water, often used for various types of entries.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
"Take the plunge": This means to make a decision to do something risky or challenging. For example, "Even though I was scared, I decided to take the plunge and try the belly flop."
"Dive in": While this often means to start something enthusiastically, it can also relate to jumping into water. Example: "When the summer heat hit, we all decided to dive in!"
Summary:
A "belly flopper" is a fun, informal term for someone who makes a splash by diving belly-first into the water.