quicksand
word
Definition
A loose, wet, and soft sand that gives way under pressure and can trap objects or people that step on it.
Usage & Nuances
Most often used literally for the natural phenomenon, but also as a metaphor for situations that are hard to escape ('emotional quicksand', 'financial quicksand'). Uncountable noun: 'stuck in quicksand', not 'a quicksand'.
Spanish: arena movedizaPortuguese (BR): areia movediçaPortuguese (PT): areia movediçaChinese (Simplified): 流沙Chinese (Traditional): 流沙Hindi: द्रुतमृदिकाArabic: رمال متحركةBengali: ভূমিক্ষয়ের বালি - দ্রমবালিRussian: топкое болото - зыбучие пескиJapanese: 流砂Vietnamese: cát lúnKorean: 유사Turkish: bataklık kum - akışkan kumUrdu: دلدلی ریتIndonesian: pasir hisap - pasir tenggelam
Example Sentences
Be careful, there is quicksand near the river.
basic
The explorer got stuck in quicksand.
basic
Old movies make quicksand seem much more dangerous than it really is.
natural
Animals sometimes fall into quicksand by accident.
basic
She felt like her problems were emotional quicksand, pulling her down.
natural
No matter how hard he tried, it was like moving through quicksand.
natural