boomerang

Everyday

1. A curved, flat piece of wood that comes back to you when you throw it the right way, first made by Aboriginal Australians. tree →
2. (verb) To come back to the place it started; to have the opposite effect from what was intended, often hurting the person who did it. tree →

In the lessons

In Australian history and culture lessons, boomerangs were used for hunting, sport and ceremonies by Aboriginal peoples, and not all of them return. In science, a boomerang returns because of spinning and air flow (lift). In stories, a mean plan «boomerangs» on the bully.

Examples

• He threw the boomerang and it flew back to him. tree →
• Aboriginal hunters used boomerangs for thousands of years. tree →
• His trick boomeranged and he got into trouble himself. tree →
• Not all boomerangs come back. tree →
• Throwing a boomerang takes practice. tree →
• The rumour boomeranged back to her. tree →

Note

Countable. Safety: throw boomerangs only in big open spaces, away from people. Trap: only some types return; hunting boomerangs often do not.