stunt

Everyday

1. A stunt is a daring or dangerous action, often done in a film or show, such as jumping a car or falling from a building. tree →
2. A stunt is also a trick done to get attention, like a «publicity stunt». tree →
3. To stunt something means to stop it from growing properly. tree →

In the lessons

In films, stunt performers (stuntmen and stuntwomen) do the dangerous parts so actors stay safe. In safety lessons: «Do not try this at home» — stunts are planned by experts. In science, lack of light or food can stunt a plant's growth. «Pull a stunt» means do something silly or naughty.

Examples

• The stuntwoman jumped from the roof onto a mattress. tree →
• Don't try that bike stunt — you'll break your neck! tree →
• The skateboarder did a stunt off the ramp. tree →
• The plant in the dark cupboard was stunted and pale. tree →
• Poor food can stunt a child's growth. tree →
• Painting the school statue pink was just a publicity stunt. tree →
• If you pull a stunt like that again, you'll be in trouble. tree →

Note

Verb past: stunted. «Stunted» as an adjective means smaller than it should be. A «stunt double» looks like the actor and does the risky scenes.