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to bounce

to bounce

57 7.2
To be returned by a bank because the account does not have enough money
  • verb
  • /baʊns/
  • Specialized
translation icon : rebotar
  • Except the next day, the check bounced... so all I got out of it was a case of poison ivy.
  • bounce a check

So, yeah, there were, and you have people bounce checks and there were tons of things.

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Examples

  • I want to know how come Anita's checks are bouncing.

  • Well, I will be available 24-7 to bounce ideas off of.

  • Uh, Mr. Wood, you have bounced your third and final rent check.

  • Do they pay their bills, parking tickets, bounced checks?

  • This is two checks that bounced.

  • And, we need to talk about the cheques that have been bouncing.

  • The car payment bounced.

  • Christie, Christie, Christie, please, I know that the check bounced.

  • Last week, I accidentally bounced a check when I didn't have enough money in my account.

  • The landlord was upset because my rent check bounced due to insufficient funds.

Antonyms

to clear
  • Formal
209 5.5

To get official permission or approval

to clear
  • Specialized
154 6.0

To earn a net profit after expenses

Idioms

1 7.4

Just after something hits the ground and comes back up, or immediately without delay

End someone's job or relationship suddenly and without warning

Phrasal Verbs

Get better quickly after an illness, problem, or setback

33 3.4

To hit a surface and move away from it

8 3.9

To tell someone your ideas to get their feedback and suggestions

to bounce around
  • Informal
1 3.9

Discuss ideas informally with other people

to bounce on
  • Informal
7.2

Act quickly to take an opportunity before others do

Compounds

3 3.0

The movement of a ball or object after it hits a surface and comes back

1 3.4

A quick recovery after a setback

1 4.3

Showing quick recovery after a setback

bounce-back
  • Texting
1 3.7

An automatic message that tells the sender their email was not delivered

1 9.3

A short rise in price after a long fall that then goes down again

Surface Forms

bounce infinitive
bounced past
bounced past participle
bouncing present participle
bounces third person singular

Etymology

Bounce for a check uses the same idea as a ball coming back; a helpful way to remember it is to imagine the bank sending the payment 'back' to you. If the bank refuses a payment, it 'bounces' the check, just like a ball that is sent back after a hit.