head first dive

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A dive in which you enter the water head first, with your arms stretched forward.

   Grammar: Countable; use 'a' or 'the' before it, and it can be plural: head-first dives.

   Patterns

   • do a head first dive
   • a head first dive into something

   She won the competition with a perfect head first dive.

   The pool is deep enough for head first dives.

   He practiced his head first dive over and over.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A start or beginning where you rush into something without thinking carefully.

   Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'a head first dive into something', especially with abstract nouns like 'business' or 'marriage'.

   Patterns

   • a head first dive into something

   Starting a restaurant was a head first dive into debt.

   Moving abroad felt like a head first dive into the unknown.

Word forms

Common combinations

do a head first dive

The instructor showed us how to do a head first dive safely.

perfect head first dive

Her perfect head first dive earned high scores.

head first dive into

He took a head first dive into the new project.

practice a head first dive

You should practice a head first dive in deep water.

Synonyms and how they differ

header

Informal; specifically a dive where you go in head first, often in soccer.

plunge

A sudden, often steep fall or dive, not necessarily head first.

Opposites

Word family

dive verb

To jump into water, usually head first or feet first.

diver noun

A person who dives, especially as a sport.

Commonly confused: head first dive or headfirst?

Practice

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