Meaning & use
on piste
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
On a marked and prepared ski slope, rather than on untouched snow elsewhere on the mountain.
Grammar: Follows a verb: we stayed on piste all day.
Patterns
- stay on piste
- ski on piste
Beginners should stay on piste until they are confident.
We skied on piste all morning because of the avalanche warning.
He prefers to ski on piste, where the snow is smooth.
adjectivebefore a noun
Located or happening on a prepared ski run.
Grammar: Usually before a noun, often in the form on-piste: on-piste skiing.
Patterns
- on-piste skiing
- an on-piste route
The resort has forty kilometers of on-piste runs.
On-piste skiing is safer for new skiers.
The on-piste restaurant sits halfway down the slope.
Common combinations
- stay on piste
- Our guide told us to stay on piste because of the thin ice.
- on-piste skiing
- I only do on-piste skiing; I leave the powder to experts.
- on-piste runs
- The resort has plenty of wide on-piste runs for families.
- stick to on piste
- We stuck to on piste for the whole trip.
Synonyms and how they differ
- on the slopes
- On the slopes is a general phrase for being at a ski area, and it does not stress being on a prepared run.
- on the trail
- On the trail is the American way to talk about marked skiing routes, while on piste is the usual British phrase.
- marked
- Marked describes a route that has signs, whereas on piste also means it is groomed and patrolled.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: on piste or pest?
on piste vs pest
A pest is an annoying animal, insect or person and has no connection to skiing, although the two sound a little alike.
Practice
The avalanche risk was high, so the instructor told everyone to stay ___.
Choose one answer.
On piste means on the groomed and patrolled runs, which is the safe choice when the avalanche risk is high. Off piste is the risky opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “on piste”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.