Definition

1. Noun:

   • An unexpected slide: A sudden, uncontrolled sideways or forward sliding movement, especially of a vehicle.
   • A braking device: A restraint, often a shoe or pad, applied to a wheel to slow or prevent its rotation.
   • A runner for sliding or rolling: One of a pair of long, flat pieces of wood or metal used as a track or support for moving heavy objects.

2. Verb:

   • To slide uncontrollably: To slip or slide sideways or forward, typically in an unsteady or unintended manner.
   • To apply a brake or skid to: To use a braking device to slow or stop a wheel.
   • To place on skids: To elevate or move an object using skids as supports.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The car went into a skid on the icy road.
  • The mechanic replaced the worn skids on the aircraft's landing gear.
  • They used wooden skids to move the heavy crate across the floor.

• Verb:

  • The truck's tires skidded on the wet pavement.
  • The workers skidded the logs down the hill to the river.
  • Ensure you skid the wheels before parking on a steep incline.

Advanced Usage

• "on the skids" (idiom): In a state of decline or failure; deteriorating.
  • After the scandal, his career was on the skids.
• "hit the skids" (idiom): To begin to fail or deteriorate rapidly.
  • The project hit the skids after the main investor pulled out.

Variants and Related Words

• Skidder (n): A person or machine that skids logs.
• Skidproof (adj): Designed to prevent skidding.
• Skid row (n, compound): A run-down part of a city inhabited by very poor people and alcoholics. (Note: This is a fixed compound noun with a distinct meaning).

Synonyms

• Noun (for slide): Slip, glide, slide.
• Noun (for brake): Brake shoe, drag, chock.
• Verb (to slide): Slip, slide, slue, fishtail.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Skid off: To slide uncontrollably off a road or path.
  • The bus skidded off the mountain road during the storm.
• Skid to a halt/stop: To slide before coming to a complete stop.
  • The motorcycle skidded to a halt just inches from the wall.

Related Idioms

• Put the skids under (someone/something): To cause someone or something to fail or end quickly.
  • The new evidence put the skids under the prosecution's case.

Noun

1. an unexpected slide
2. a restraint provided when the brake linings are moved hydraulically against the brake drum to retard the wheel's rotation
3. one of a pair of planks used to make a track for rolling or sliding objects

Verb

1. move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
   • the wheels skidded against the sidewalk
2. apply a brake or skid to
3. elevate onto skids
4. slide without control
   • the car skidded in the curve on the wet road