Word
skid
US/ˈskɪd/
UK/skˈɪd/
Definition
v. to slide sideways in an uncontrolled way, usually because the ground is wet or slippery. You often use this to describe a car or bike losing grip on the road.
v. to slide out of control, typically as a result of a loss of traction between a vehicle's tyres and the road surface. Often describes lateral movement during braking or cornering.
Examples
“The car started to skid on the icy road.”
“The cyclist had to brake suddenly to avoid the dog, causing the rear wheel to skid across the wet pavement.”
“Experienced drivers know that if the vehicle begins to skid, they should steer into the direction of the slide rather than slamming on the brakes, which would only exacerbate the loss of control.”
Examples
simple
“The car started to skid on the icy road.”
contextual
“The cyclist had to brake suddenly to avoid the dog, causing the rear wheel to skid across the wet pavement.”
complex
“Experienced drivers know that if the vehicle begins to skid, they should steer into the direction of the slide rather than slamming on the brakes, which would only exacerbate the loss of control.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive; it describes the movement of the vehicle or person sliding.
Etymology
From Middle English skid, from Old Norse skíð (“a billet of wood, a beam or plank on which something rests”), from Proto-Germanic skīdą (“log, clapboard”), from Proto-Indo-European skey-t-, skey- (“to split, divide, separate”). Cognate with English shide, from Middle English schyd, schyde, schide (“plank, beam”), German Scheit (“piece of wood, log”). Doublet of ski.
Shortening of stepkid.
Shortened from script kiddie, probably via skiddie.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. grease the skids
02. hit the skids
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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