balance beam
4
4.4
- noun
- /ˈbæl.əns biːm/
:
barra de equilibrio
- Analysts provided extensive coverage of one gymnast's fall off the balance beam and her ensuing tears.
- dismount from the balance beam
- walking on the balance beam
- Olympic balance beam
The one that comes to mind is trying to unicycle over a balance beam over hot coals in India.
- The one that comes to mind is trying to unicycle over a balance beam over hot coals in India.
- This is high flying aerial vaults and backward flips on balance beams and jumps that defy gravity on the floor routines.
Examples
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In gymnastics, all-around scores are derived by adding the scores for the four individual events: vault, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise.
Academic text (1996) -
Her skill on multiple rotations, ranging from the vault to the balance beam, earned her a fourth-place spot out of 24 qualifying positions and at least 15 other countries.
Blog text (27) -
You even had to walk a balance beam.
Blog text (13) -
Works just like a balance beam.
Blog text (23) -
Another worked a leg press, while her daughter walked a balance beam.
Blog text (5) -
That was fine for American Kelly Garrison, who turned in the best women's performance with a 97 out of 100 on the balance beam.
Academic text (1995) -
McKayla Maroney has proven herself on the vault, the uneven bars, and the balance beam at the 2012 London Olympics, and now she's showing off her dance moves.
Blog text (29) -
During her gymnastics class, she practiced her routine on the balance beam to improve her stability.
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The coach instructed the athletes to perform a series of turns while walking across the balance beam.
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After weeks of training, he finally felt confident enough to attempt a dismount from the balance beam.
Synonyms
16
4.7
A narrow raised bar that gymnasts use to walk and do moves
How High
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'balance' (relating to equilibrium or balancing) with 'beam' (a narrow raised bar): a bar used for balancing in gymnastics. This noun–noun composition is regular and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Balance beam is a narrow wooden beam lifted above the floor that gymnasts walk on and use for skills. You must keep your balance or you may fall, so the name shows that this is the place to 'stay steady' while performing.