Meaning of "quicksand" in English

Quicksand is a unique natural phenomenon that occurs when water saturates an area of loose sand, reducing its friction and causing the ground to lose its solid state. This mixture behaves like a liquid, making it very difficult to traverse and potentially hazardous for people and animals who accidentally stumble into it. The more one struggles, the deeper they may sink, which is why the term is often used metaphorically to describe situations that are deceptively challenging or entrapping.

Meaning of "sables mouvants" in French

"Sables mouvants," the French term for quicksand, refers to a similar natural occurrence where water-saturated sand loses its stability and firmness, behaving more like a liquid than a solid ground. It is an intriguing but dangerous feature that can trap objects or beings due to its appearance of solid sand that, in reality, lacks support. In metaphorical use, "sables mouvants" can describe situations that entangle or trap someone in an unexpected and difficult-to-escape manner.

Pronunciation of "quicksand" in English

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈkwɪkˌsænd/

Pronunciation Variations: There are subtle variations in pronunciation depending on the region. In American English, the emphasis is on the first syllable, whereas in some British settings, the pronunciation may slightly vary with accent but generally remains consistent in phonetic structure.

Pronunciation of "sables mouvants" in French

Phonetic Transcription: /sablə mu.vɑ̃/

Pronunciation Variations: In French, the pronunciation of "sables mouvants" might vary slightly with accent variations across regions such as in Parisian vs. southern France accents, but it's generally uniform due to the clear phonetic rules in the French language.

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

  1. He wandered into the quicksand by accident. - (Il est entré par inadvertance dans les sables mouvants.)
  2. The movie's plot was like quicksand; the more you struggled to understand, the deeper you sank. - (L'intrigue du film était comme des sables mouvants ; plus vous luttiez pour comprendre, plus vous sombrez.)
  3. The adventurers avoided the area known for quicksand. - (Les aventuriers ont évité la zone connue pour ses sables mouvants.)
  4. Getting out of debt felt like escaping quicksand. - (Se sortir de la dette ressemblait à échapper aux sables mouvants.)
  5. Quicksand can appear deceptively solid. - (Les sables mouvants peuvent apparaître trompeusement solides.)
  6. The guide warned us about quicksand spots along the trail. - (Le guide nous a avertis des points de sables mouvants le long du chemin.)
  7. They filmed a scene with quicksand for the action movie. - (Ils ont filmé une scène avec des sables mouvants pour le film d'action.)
  8. In the novel, the hero fell into a pit of quicksand. - (Dans le roman, le héros est tombé dans un puits de sables mouvants.)
  9. Quicksand is a natural hazard in this region. - (Les sables mouvants sont un danger naturel dans cette région.)
  10. His excuses were like quicksand, trapping him further. - (Ses excuses étaient comme des sables mouvants, l'enfermant davantage.)

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "quicksand" in English

Synonyms: mire, bog, swamp, morass, slough.

Antonyms: solid ground, firm ground, rock, stability, certainty.

Similar Words: trap, enigma, puzzle, dilemma, hazard.

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "sables mouvants" in French

Synonyms: marécage, bourbier, tourbière, catadioptre, -.

Antonyms: sol ferme, terrain solide, rocher, stabilité, certitude.

Similar Words: énigme, piège, enchaînement, pépin, dilemme.

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