wild ride

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableinformalfigurative

   An experience full of sudden changes, excitement or danger, often over a period of time.

   Grammar: Takes a: it was a wild ride; the plural is wild rides.

   Patterns

   • be a wild ride
   • go on a wild ride

   Starting a company was a wild ride from day one.

   The season was a wild ride, with three coaches in six months.

   Her first year as a nurse was a wild ride.

2. 2nouncountable

   A fast, bumpy or frightening trip on a vehicle or at a fair.

   Grammar: Used with a: we took a wild ride down the mountain.

   Patterns

   • take a wild ride
   • go for a wild ride

   The truck gave us a wild ride across the rough desert road.

   Kids lined up for the wild ride at the fair.

   The raft hit the rapids and we went for a wild ride.

Word forms

Common combinations

in for a wild ride

Buckle up, you are in for a wild ride.

a wild ride

Her career has been a wild ride.

take a wild ride

The stock market took a wild ride this week.

what a wild ride

What a wild ride that match was.

go on a wild ride

The readers go on a wild ride with this novel.

Synonyms and how they differ

rollercoaster

Rollercoaster suggests repeated ups and downs, while wild ride suggests excitement and unpredictability.

adventure

Adventure is more positive and planned, whereas wild ride can include stress.

whirlwind

Whirlwind stresses speed and busyness, but wild ride stresses surprises.

thrill ride

Thrill ride refers mainly to an amusement ride, but wild ride is used more widely for experiences.

Opposites

Word family

wild adjective

uncontrolled or extreme

ride noun

a trip on a vehicle or animal

wildly adverb

in an uncontrolled or extreme way

rollercoaster noun

a fairground ride; a series of highs and lows

Commonly confused: wild ride or wild goose chase?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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