life belt
1
1.9
- noun
- /laɪf bɛlt/
- UK
:
salvavidas
- I want everybody with their life belts on.
- put on a life belt
Examples
-
If there's no danger, why do you want us to put our life belts on?
-
During the safety briefing, they emphasized the importance of having a life belt on at all times while on the boat.
-
I got you a life belt, John.
-
Just stay as you are, and put your life belt on.
Fiction book (1991) -
Do we get the life belts?
-
Well, give out the life belts.
-
Everybody up, get dressed, get your life belts on at once.
-
"Everyone up on deck, with life belts on."
Fiction book (1991) -
Why aren't you wearing your life belt?
-
Put your life belts on... and lower yourselves down into the water by the ropes hanging over the side.
Synonyms
10
2.5
A ring or jacket that helps a person float in water
3
3.1
A ring that floats and you throw to someone who is drowning
1
2.7
A round object you throw to someone in water to help them float
1
3.2
A floating ring used to save people who are drowning
How Buoyant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound signals purpose fairly transparently: 'life' as a modifier marks something intended to preserve life and 'belt' denotes a wearable strap, so a B1 learner would likely infer a safety-worn device. However, the precise form (a buoyant circular ring) and specialized nautical sense are not fully predictable from the everyday sense of 'belt', so the expression is only partially compositional.
Etymology
Life belt The noun life belt can also mean the ring you wear in water to float. The name comes from the idea of a belt that saves your life by fitting around your body and keeping you afloat, so it means 'a ring that helps you float'.