balance beam
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A piece of gymnastic equipment: A narrow, horizontal bar, typically raised on supports, on which gymnasts perform balancing routines, leaps, and turns. It is a standard apparatus in women's artistic gymnastics competitions.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The gymnast performed a flawless routine on the balance beam.
- She practiced her dismount from the balance beam for hours.
- The competition rules require the balance beam to be 125 centimeters high.
Advanced Usage
- "to compete on the balance beam": To participate in the balance beam event in a gymnastics competition.
- She will compete on the balance beam in the finals tomorrow.
- "balance beam routine": A prescribed sequence of skills and movements performed on the apparatus.
- Her balance beam routine included a difficult series of back handsprings.
Variants and Related Words
- Beam (n): A common shortened, informal form of "balance beam" used within gymnastics contexts.
- She fell off the beam during her mount.
- Balance (n/v): The ability to stay steady and not fall, which is the core skill required for this apparatus.
Synonyms
- Gymnastics beam: A more descriptive synonym.
- Apparatus: A general term for the equipment used in gymnastics, which includes the balance beam.
Related Phrases
- "on beam": An informal phrase meaning performing well or correctly, derived from gymnastics.
- After a slow start, the team was finally on beam in the second half.
- "off balance": Not steady or stable. While not exclusive to the beam, it describes a critical error in performance.
- A small wobble showed she was off balance.
Related Idioms
- "Walk a tightrope" / "Be on a tightrope": To be in a situation where you must act very carefully to avoid disaster. This idiom shares the concept of maintaining balance on a narrow surface.
- The negotiators were walking a tightrope between the two opposing sides.
Noun
- a gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts