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sable mouvant
/sabl muvɑ̃/
quick sand
Attention au sable mouvant près de la rivière !
Beware of the quicksand near the river!
formal
A type of wet, loose sand that behaves like a liquid, causing objects or people to sink into it due to its unstable nature.
Les enfants ont failli se noyer dans le sable mouvant.
The children nearly drowned in the quicksand.
This phenomenon occurs when sand is saturated with water, reducing its friction and making it difficult to move through.
Collocations
piéger dans le sable mouvantto trap in quicksand
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Literal vs. Figurative Use
While 'sable mouvant' primarily refers to physical quicksand, it can also be used metaphorically to describe a situation that is unstable or difficult to escape.
Word Origin
The term 'sable mouvant' is a French compound noun combining 'sable' (sand) and 'mouvant' (moving), describing the dynamic, unstable nature of the sand.
Usage Notes
This phrase is used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, often to describe situations where one is trapped or stuck in an unstable or dangerous situation.
Word Breakdown
sable
sand
rootmouvant
moving
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais