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rollercoaster experience

rollercoaster experience

4.1
A situation with many sudden big changes in feelings and events
  • noun
  • /ˈroʊlərˌkoʊstər ɪkˈspɪəriəns/
translation icon : experiencia de montaña rusa
  • The merger turned out to be a rollercoaster experience for everyone involved, with many unexpected ups and downs.

Examples

  • Starting my own business has been a rollercoaster experience—some days are exhilarating, others completely nerve-wracking.

  • What a rollercoaster experience it has been!

  • Her first year at university was a real rollercoaster experience, full of challenges and triumphs.

  • This year has been a rollercoaster experience for our team!

  • The team's season was a rollercoaster experience, with unexpected wins and heartbreaking losses every week.

  • Her relationship was a rollercoaster experience, filled with intense highs and painful lows.

  • Moving to a new country can be a rollercoaster experience, as you adapt to different cultures and communities.

Synonyms

roller coaster
vsrollercoaster experience
  • Informal
33 3.4

A situation with sudden extreme changes in mood or luck

centres on emotional or situational swings rather than specific conditions
wild ride
vsrollercoaster experience
15 3.6

An exciting, fast attraction at an amusement park like a roller coaster

focuses on sudden extreme changes and emotional shifts not just excitement
rollercoaster
vsrollercoaster experience
12 3.5

A situation with many sudden highs and lows in feelings

means exactly the same and highlights a period of such changes
rollercoaster ride
vsrollercoaster experience
1 4.0

An experience with many sudden ups and downs in feelings or events

is about changes in general circumstances rather than only fortunes

Antonyms

304 2.0

Not changing over time and remaining the same

52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

How Turbulent

upheaval
51 6.9
rollercoaster experience
4.1
downswing
1 6.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

rollercoaster + experience

A B1 learner who knows 'rollercoaster' (the ride with rapid ups and downs) and 'experience' can readily infer an experience characterized by emotional or situational highs and lows. The metaphorical use is directly compositional and cross-linguistically familiar, so the overall meaning is immediately recoverable from the parts.

Etymology

Rollercoaster experience comes from the loud, fast amusement-park ride: a rollercoaster lifts you high, drops you suddenly and twists so your feelings jump up and down. That's why a rollercoaster experience means a time with many sudden emotional 'ups and downs'.