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GainRain Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Skim

If a duck is flying:

"The duck skimmed the pond."

Does that usually mean (1) it never touched the water or (2) it dipped into the water occasionally?
  

Top answer

Hi, Neither. It flew close to the surface, and may have lightly touched the surface occasionally. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, Neither.
  • It flew close to the surface, and may have lightly touched the surface occasionally.
  • Clive
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6 Answers
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Hi,

Neither. It flew close to the surface, and may have lightly touched the surface occasionally.

Clive
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Thank you for your reply Clive.

Without any context, under normal circumstances, would a normal average think "skim" means (1) fly just close to the surface but never touch it or (2) lightly touch the surface occasionally?
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(2) lightly touch the surface occasionally ..
Like: The seagulls hovered over the sea skimming for fish.
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So, if a duck is flying:

"The duck skimmed the pond."

the duck must have made occasional contact with the surface of the water?
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Hi,

The word is used with both meanings ('almost contact' and 'slight contact'). If it's important, ask the speaker to clarify.

Clive
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Common logic tells us if the ducks were constantly flying, they remain in the air. Or if they were resting on water, then there is no need to describe them in other manners. So with this understanding, the connotation of "skimming" is the act of "touch the surface and go", as in the example of the " seagulls, in which the main action was "hovering" while "skimming " only happened when the seagulls
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