human tripod

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person who uses their body, especially their legs and torso, to support a camera steadily when no tripod is available.

   Grammar: Countable; you can say 'a human tripod' or 'two human tripods'.

   Patterns

   • act as a human tripod
   • use someone as a human tripod

   When he forgot his tripod, he acted as a human tripod by bracing his elbows against his chest.

   The photographer became a human tripod, kneeling and holding the camera firmly to avoid blur.

   In low light, a human tripod can be more stable than a shaky monopod.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A person who provides stable support for another person or object, often by standing with legs apart and holding them.

   Grammar: Countable; often used figuratively.

   Patterns

   • serve as a human tripod
   • be a human tripod for someone

   During the rescue, the firefighter was a human tripod, anchoring the ladder while his partner climbed.

   She became a human tripod for her injured friend, letting him lean on her shoulder.

Word forms

Common combinations

act as a human tripod

He acted as a human tripod so the shot would be steady.

use someone as a human tripod

The director used the assistant as a human tripod for the low-angle scene.

become a human tripod

When the ground was uneven, she became a human tripod to keep the camera level.

human tripod technique

The human tripod technique involves tucking your elbows in and holding your breath.

Synonyms and how they differ

makeshift tripod

This refers to any temporary support, not necessarily a person; 'human tripod' specifically means a person's body.

body stabilizer

A broader term for using the body to steady something; less specific than 'human tripod'.

Commonly confused: human tripod or tripod?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “human tripod”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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