skid (redirected from hitting the skids)

grease the skids

Fig. to help prepare for or ease the way for the success or failure of someone or something. Ray set out to grease the skids for the right things to happen. We need someone to grease the skids for the Wilson contract.

See also: grease

hit the skids

Fig. to decline; to decrease in value or status. Jed hit the skids when he started drinking. The firm hit the skids when the dollar collapsed.

See also: hit

on the skids

Sl. on the decline. My newly started business is on the skids. Her health is really on the skids, but she stays cheery anyway.

put the skids on (something)

Sl. to cause something to fail. They put the skids on the project when they refused to give us any more money. That's the end of our great idea! Somebody put the skids on.

See also: put

put the skids under someone or something

Sl. to cause someone or something to fail. Her lateness put the skids under our presentation to the board of directors. He thought he could get promoted if he put the skids under the vice president.

See also: put

skid across something

to slip or glide across something, such as ice or wet pavement. The car skidded across the pavement and crashed into a tree. Our bus skidded across the icy bridge and ran into a ditch on the other side.

See also: across

skid into someone or something

to slip or glide into someone or something. The bicycle skidded into a pedestrian. The car skidded into a guard rail.

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be on the skids  (informal)

to be having a lot of problems and be likely to fail I hear their space programme is on the skids.

hit the skids 

1. (Australian informal) to leave a place quickly When his ex-girlfriend arrived at the party Ben really hit the skids.

2. (Australian informal) to make a vehicle stop very suddenly A car suddenly pulled out in front of us and Jake hit the skids.

3. (Australian informal) to get into a very bad situation, especially by losing your money, home, or job Poor old Dennis has really hit the skids since he split up with his wife.

See also: hit

put the skids under somebody/something   (British & Australian informal)

to make something likely to fail Opposition from local residents has put the skids under plans for a new nightclub.

See hit the skids

See also: put

skid row  (mainly American informal)

a poor area in a city where people who have no jobs and homes live in cheap rooms or sleep outdoors She works as a social worker with alcoholics on skid row. (mainly American informal)

See also: row

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hit the skids

to fail His career really hit the skids after his divorce.

Usage notes: often used in the form on the skids ( failing): I can't believe that a whole industry is on the skids.

See also: hit