sledding

Everyday

1. Riding down a snowy hill on a sled (sledge). tree →
2. (American, informal) How easy or hard progress is: «tough sledding». tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, sledding is a favourite winter game; safety: sit facing forward, go feet first, choose a hill with no trees, rocks, roads or water at the bottom, wear a helmet, and don't sled on frozen ponds. In science, sleds slide because snow and ice have little friction, and gravity pulls them down the slope. Phrases: «go sledding», «sledding hill».

Examples

• We went sledding on the big hill after school. tree →
• Always go sledding feet first, not head first. tree →
• Pick a sledding hill with no trees at the bottom. tree →
• Sledding is faster on icy snow. tree →
• Dad pulled us back up the hill after sledding. tree →
• The sledding hill was full of children on snow days. tree →
• Wear warm gloves and a hat for sledding. tree →
• Gravity pulls the sled down; friction slows it at the bottom. tree →

Note

Mostly American English; British «sledging» and «sledge», also «tobogganing». Double d: sled, sledding, sledded. Trap: in Australian cricket slang «sledging» means insulting players to put them off — a different meaning.