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Sideswipe: meaning, definitions and examples

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sideswipe

 

[ ˈsaɪdˌswaɪp ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

vehicle collision

To sideswipe means to strike or brush against something or someone, typically in a glancing manner. This term is commonly used in the context of vehicles colliding when one vehicle moves sideways into another.

Synonyms

brush, collide, graze.

Examples of usage

  • The car sideswiped the truck while changing lanes.
  • She sideswiped the tree while trying to park.
  • The cyclist was nearly sideswiped by a speeding car.

Translations

Translations of the word "sideswipe" in other languages:

🇵🇹 colisão lateral

🇮🇳 साइडस्वाइप

🇩🇪 Seitenaufprall

🇮🇩 sisi sambaran

🇺🇦 бокове зіткнення

🇵🇱 zderzenie boczne

🇯🇵 サイドスワイプ

🇫🇷 collision latérale

🇪🇸 colisión lateral

🇹🇷 yan çarpma

🇰🇷 측면 충돌

🇸🇦 اصطدام جانبي

🇨🇿 boční náraz

🇸🇰 bočné zrážky

🇨🇳 侧面碰撞

🇸🇮 stransko trčenje

🇮🇸 hliðarsmellur

🇰🇿 қатар соқтығыс

🇬🇪 მხარის შეჯახება

🇦🇿 yan çarpma

🇲🇽 colisión lateral

Etymology

The term 'sideswipe' emerged in the early 20th century, combining 'side', indicating the lateral aspect, and 'swipe', which means to strike or hit with a sweeping motion. Its usage in the context of vehicle collisions became more prominent with the rise of automobile culture and the increase of traffic on roads. Originally, 'swipe' derived from the Old Norse word 'sveipa', which means to swing or sweep. Over the years, 'sideswipe' has evolved not only to denote physical collisions among vehicles, but also metaphorically to describe subtle criticisms or attacks in conversation or debate, maintaining the core idea of a sideways, indirect engagement.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,620, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.