landslide

Everyday

1. A large mass of earth, rocks and mud suddenly sliding down a hill or mountain. tree →
2. (politics) A huge win in an election, by far more votes than the others. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and natural hazards lessons it is caused by heavy rain, earthquakes or cutting down trees; it can block roads and bury houses. In safety talk: keep away from steep slopes after storms. In politics and news, a landslide victory means one side won by a lot. Phrases: landslide victory, win by a landslide.

Examples

• After days of rain, a landslide blocked the mountain road. tree →
• Tree roots help to stop landslides on steep hills. tree →
• The village was evacuated because of the danger of a landslide. tree →
• She won the class election by a landslide, with 25 votes out of 28. tree →
• Earthquakes can trigger landslides. tree →
• Rescue teams searched the mud after the landslide. tree →

Note

Countable. Similar words: mudslide (mostly mud), rockfall (falling rocks), avalanche (snow). A landslide win is a figure of speech, not real earth moving.