Word
ricochet
Phoneticsric·o·chet
US/ˈɹɪkəˌʃeɪ/
UK/ɹˈɪkəʃˌeɪ/
Definition
n. the way a bullet or stone bounces off a hard surface. It can also mean a sudden change in direction or a sudden increase in something like prices.
n. the act of a projectile bouncing off a surface; by extension, a sudden change in direction or a sharp increase in a specific value. Often used in military or financial contexts.
Examples
“The bullet hit the steel wall and ricochet.”
“The ball hit the wall at a sharp angle, causing a ricochet that sent it flying into the bushes.”
“The sudden rise in interest rates triggered a ricochet effect across the housing market, leading to a rapid decline in property values and a subsequent credit crunch.”
Examples
simple
“The bullet hit the steel wall and ricochet.”
contextual
“The ball hit the wall at a sharp angle, causing a ricochet that sent it flying into the bushes.”
complex
“The sudden rise in interest rates triggered a ricochet effect across the housing market, leading to a rapid decline in property values and a subsequent credit crunch.”
Real-World Examples
“It’s so large that when we are within it, we are inside an echo chamber, every individual note ricocheting around like an echo off a mountainside.” Etymology
Borrowed from French ricochet, of uncertain origin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/ricochet