hop, step and jump

An athlete performs the hop, step and jump on a track.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A track and field event: "hop, step and jump" refers to an athletic competition in which an athlete performs three consecutive movements — a hop on one foot, a step onto the other foot, and a jump into a sand pit — with the goal of achieving the greatest distance. This is also known as the triple jump.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She won a gold medal in the hop, step and jump at the national championships. (She successfully competed in the triple jump event.)
  • The hop, step and jump requires precise timing and coordination. (The triple jump demands careful rhythm and balance.)

Advanced Usage

• As a descriptive phrase: The term can be used metaphorically to describe a series of three distinct actions or stages.
  • The negotiation process was a hop, step and jump through various compromises. (The negotiation involved three clear phases.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hop (n): a short jump on one foot.
  • The athlete performed a quick hop before the step. (A single-footed leap.)
• Step (n): a movement by lifting one foot and placing it down.
  • The step in the event is taken from the opposite foot. (The second phase of the triple jump.)
• Jump (n): a forceful leap off both feet.
  • The final jump must land in the sand pit. (The concluding leap.)
• Triple jump (n): the modern, official name for the hop, step and jump event.
  • The triple jump is a standard Olympic event. (The same athletic discipline.)

Synonyms

• Triple jump: the standard term used in modern athletics.
• Three-phase jump: a descriptive synonym emphasizing the sequence of movements.

Phrasal Verbs

• Hop into: to jump quickly into something.
  • He hopped into the starting position. (He moved quickly to begin.)
• Step over: to lift one foot and cross an obstacle.
  • The athlete stepped over the line carefully. (He crossed a boundary.)

Related Idioms

• Hop, skip, and a jump: a phrase meaning a short distance or a simple process.
  • The stadium is just a hop, skip, and a jump from here. (It is very close by.)
  • The project was a hop, skip, and a jump to complete. (It was easy and quick.)