quicksand
pronunciation
How to pronounce quicksand in British English:
UK [ˈkwɪksænd]
How to pronounce quicksand in American English:
US [ˈkwɪkˌsænd]
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- Noun:
- a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy
- a pit filled with loose wet sand into which objects are sucked down
Word Origin
- quicksand (n.)
- c. 1300, from Middle English quyk "living" (see quick (adj.)) + sond "sand" (see sand (n.)). Old English had cwecesund, but this might have meant "lively strait of water."
Example
- 1. The researchers call this predicament " decision quicksand . "
- 2. Try and step on them and your foot will start sinking like in a quicksand .
- 3. They eddy about my legs in a quicksand of sticky hands and pink cheeks .
- 4. The boom that was built on the quicksand of inflation then comes to a sudden end .
- 5. But for the democratic candidates in particular , a proper debate on nclb is to be avoided like political quicksand .