RIPS
n. plural-onlyn. a sudden, strong flow of water in the ocean that pulls away from the beach. These are dangerous for swimmers because they move very fast toward deeper water.
n. powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that flow from the shore toward the ocean. Often used in the plural to describe the general phenomenon of coastal currents.
The lifeguard warned the swimmers about dangerous rips near the pier.
Strong rips can carry even experienced swimmers far out to sea within seconds if they try to swim against the current.
Coastal safety signs often illustrate how to identify rips by looking for gaps in the breaking waves or areas of unusually dark, calm water between the surf.
Commonly used in the plural when referring to the hazardous water conditions at a beach.
The rip pull me underThe rip pulled me outLearners often think rips pull swimmers underwater like a whirlpool, but they actually pull swimmers horizontally away from the shore.