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Angliholic Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
it seems to skim over the water.
The boat goes so fast that it seems to skim over the water.
I wonder if I could say "graze over the water/graze the water/ skim the water" instead. If not, how would you say them? Thanks.
I wonder if I could say "graze over the water/graze the water/ skim the water" instead. If not, how would you say them? Thanks.
Top answer
), so your sentences with graze sound strange. 'Skim the water' is okay but 'skim over' is better. You could 'float above' the water, but it doesn't give the impression of speed.
- ), so your sentences with graze sound strange.
- 'Skim the water' is okay but 'skim over' is better.
- You could 'float above' the water, but it doesn't give the impression of speed.
- You could also say 'dart over'.
- I think 'skim over' is the best of all these though.
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7 Answers
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Hi,
We don't really use 'graze' about water, though you can graze a wall with your car, or a bullet can graze your cheek (I have no idea why!), so your sentences with graze sound strange.
'Skim the water' is okay but 'skim over' is better.
You could 'float above' the water, but it doesn't give the impression of speed. You could also say 'dart over'.
I think 'sk
We don't really use 'graze' about water, though you can graze a wall with your car, or a bullet can graze your cheek (I have no idea why!), so your sentences with graze sound strange.
'Skim the water' is okay but 'skim over' is better.
You could 'float above' the water, but it doesn't give the impression of speed. You could also say 'dart over'.
I think 'sk
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SeonaidHi,
We don't really use 'graze' about water, though you can graze a wall with your car, or a bullet can graze your cheek (I have no idea why!), so your sentences with graze sound strange.
'Skim the water' is okay but 'skim over' is better.
You could 'float above' the water, but it doesn't give the impression of speed. You could al
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I think, though this is purely my opinion, that 'skim over the water' gives the impression that the boat doesn't touch the water and 'skim the water' gives the impression that it touches the water slightly.
Maybe someone else could comment on this too?
Seonaid
Maybe someone else could comment on this too?
Seonaid
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Skim the water brings up the image of someone with a net trying to remove unsightly debris from the surface of the water. I think skim over the water successfully blocks this image.
CJ
CJ
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AngliholicThe boat goes so fast that it seems to skim over the water."So fast that it seems to" requires something that doesn't happen; whereas a rapidly moving boat quite easily might skim the water.
On the other hand, you could say "so fast that it seems to fly over the water"; except in the case of a flying boat.
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