freefall

free fall

1. A vertical descent of a physical body in which gravity is the only force acting upon it. If they were in true free fall, a feather and a bowling ball would both fall to the ground at the same rate.
2. In a parachute jump, the period of vertical descent leading up to and immediately before the parachute is opened. I get such a rush from the free fall when I skydive that I often wish I didn't have to open my chute at all!
3. By extension of def. 1, any sudden, rapid, and uncontrollable decline (e.g., in value, reputation, success, etc.) that continues unabated for an indefinite length of time. The stock market went into a free fall after the housing market collapsed. After getting busted by the police for using marijuana last year, John's life has been in a free fall.
See also: fall, free

go into free fall

To experience a sudden, rapid, and uncontrollable decline (e.g., in value, reputation, success, etc.) that continues unabated for an indefinite length of time. The stock market went into free fall after the housing market collapsed. After getting busted by the police last year, John's life has gone into free fall.
See also: fall, free, go

free fall

A rapid, uncontrolled decline, as in The markets threatened to go into free fall and we came close to outright panic. This term transfers the aeronautical meaning of a free fall, that is, "a fall through the air without any impedance, such as a parachute," to other kinds of precipitous drop. [Second half of 1900s]
See also: fall, free

go into freefall

JOURNALISM
COMMON If the value or level of something goes into freefall, it starts to fall very quickly. A massive £8bn was wiped off values, and the pound went into freefall. Fears are now widespread that shares could go into freefall before Christmas. Note: You can also say that the value or level of something is in freefall. Perot's ratings were in freefall, his election campaign a disaster. Note: You can also say that the value or level of something freefalls. His career seemed about to freefall into oblivion. Note: In parachuting, freefall is the part of the jump before the parachute opens.
See also: freefall, go

be in/go into ˌfree ˈfall

be falling/start to fall rapidly: Share prices are in free fall in Tokyo this morning. ♢ The value of the euro against the dollar went into free fall as soon as the news was announced.
From the moment you jump out of a plane until the moment your parachute opens, you are in free fall.
See also: fall, free, go
References in periodicals archive ?
To provide a 5 year maintenance and support service for 2 Freefall KE400 cremators and associated equipment including computer software upgrades.
Maintenance Of Freefall Cremators
Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Airport have officially launched their year-long partnership with an event showcasing the talent of one of Freefall Dance Company.
Ballet project in full flight and Freefall with airport support
in freefall. I saw just as he had started to fall down"
Worker recalls seeing colleague crushed by truck; COURT
Now the British Army's Freefall Parachute Regiment Display Team - the Red Devils - has given the virtual reality attraction, which simulates flying a paraglider, a try out.
Paratroopers test VR attraction that is selling around globe
Now, in an interesting development, a group of skydivers havesuccessfully attempted to unlock a phone using Facial Recognitionduring a freefall. The whole scene was published by Mashable in a video
Skydivers unlock phone using Face ID during freefall from 15,000 feet!
The adrenaline pumping SCAD freefall, Reverse Bungee and the Sky Coaster were clearly attracting the masses as the lines gradually grew as the afternoon progressed.
VIDEO: BIC vending area on day one of F1 weekend
They jumped from 15,000ft, which is the highest possible tandem jump altitude in the UK and meant almost a full minute of freefall.
Women jump out of plane ... for cats
Writing Without a Parachute: The Art of Freefall comes from a writing teacher who shares the method she's used for almost 30 years to help hundreds of writers publish their works.
Writing Without a Parachute
"Writing Without a Parachute: The Art of Freefall" by published author and Freefall Writing Workshop teacher Barbara Turner-Vesselago shows both beginning and experienced writers how to get the thinking mind to step aside, so that writing becomes truly creative--a vulnerable and open-hearted engagement with the moment.
Writing Without a Parachute
Turner-Vesselago presents this companion volume to her previous book, Writing Without a Parachute: The Art of Freefall. In this new book she explores the subsequent process of using Freefall in a more intentional way within a genre (fiction, memoir, and poetry) and reflects her best understanding of how to bring what we know to the service of our writing.
Freefall Into Fiction: Finding Form
Villa can't afford to botch the next appointment or the club will go into freefall and find themselves competing in League One next season.
Villa hierarchy blinded by Di Matteo's deficiences; Get in touch - tell us what you think Email: letters@birminghammail.co.uk Twitter: @birminghammail Facebook: facebook.com/birminghammail Post: Birmingham Mail, Floor 6, Fort Dunlop, Fort Parkway, B24 9FF
The green light for the freefall Para-drops came after highly secret military tests cleared high-altitude freefall attacks from the RAF's massive C-17 transport planes.
UK's special forces set to launch raids
M2 EQUITYBITES-April 29, 2016-Sacunas Acquires Marketing Agency Freefall
Sacunas Acquires Marketing Agency Freefall
A RETIRED Coventry school teacher has raised thousands of pounds in a 14,000ft freefall tandem parachute jump.
Retired daredevil teacher in freefall charity paracute jump
Dyani is a world record holder for performing a freefall on a skateboard into a 30.80 ft quarter pipe ramp.
Tap and get rolling
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