Slide Meaning
Slide Definition & Usage
To move smoothly over a surface, often with a gliding motion.
Examples
- "The car slid on the wet road as it turned the corner."
- "She slid across the dance floor, effortlessly moving with the music."
- "The ice skater slid gracefully around the rink."
- "He slid the paper across the desk to his colleague."
- "The boat slid through the water without a sound."
A smooth, inclined surface, often used for sliding down.
Examples
- "The children rushed up the slide and took turns sliding down."
- "He climbed to the top of the water slide and prepared to dive in."
- "The playground had a large, metallic slide that gleamed in the sun."
- "The slide at the park was too steep for the younger kids."
- "She found it hard to climb back up the slide after her turn."
To gradually or subtly pass into a worse or less favorable state, often without notice.
Examples
- "The situation began to slide into chaos after the meeting."
- "She was worried her grades might slide if she didn't study harder."
- "The project slid over budget because of unforeseen costs."
- "His health had started to slide after the accident."
- "The team's performance had slid from first place to a lower rank."
Cultural Context
The word 'slide' comes from Old English 'slidan,' meaning 'to move smoothly over a surface.' It has been used in various ways across languages and cultures, from children's playgrounds to metaphoric expressions in daily speech. The concept of 'sliding' often evokes ease or fluidity, both in physical and figurative senses.
The Unseen Slide
Story
The Unseen Slide
Lily had always loved the feeling of sliding down the park’s giant slide. Every afternoon, she raced her friends to the top, the metallic structure gleaming in the sun as they prepared for their turn. That particular day, however, there was a twist—one of her friends, Max, wasn't running up with the usual energy. Instead, he hesitated, looking down at the slide with a nervous glance. 'What’s wrong?' Lily asked, noticing his unease. 'It's just... every time I slide down, I feel like I'm losing control,' Max said, his voice tinged with doubt. 'Like I'm sliding into something I can't quite fix.' Lily raised an eyebrow, puzzled by his words. She had always associated the slide with fun, freedom, and joy, but now, Max's words seemed to haunt her. 'You mean like... you’re afraid?' she asked, sitting beside him. 'Not exactly,' Max replied. 'It’s more like I’m sliding into a place where things get harder. Like, everything is slipping away. First, I didn’t care much about school, but now my grades are sliding. It’s like I don’t have control over it.' Lily paused for a moment, watching Max's troubled expression. It wasn’t just the slide that was on his mind. 'You know, sometimes life can feel like that,' she said, standing up and brushing the dirt from her hands. 'But you can always get back on track. You just have to take a step back and start climbing again.' Max nodded slowly, the tension easing slightly from his shoulders. They both took a moment to watch as other children joyfully slid down the playground slide. Max wasn’t quite ready to join them, but the idea of sliding into control was starting to make sense. As the afternoon wore on, Lily invited him to try again, not just on the slide, but with whatever else was weighing on his mind. And this time, as Max slid down the playground slide, it felt less like a loss of control and more like a small victory.
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