Soars/rises quickly above the horizon

Question

The city skyline soars above teh horizon, creating a magnificent view.Hi,Does "soars" in the above amount to "rises" or "rises quickly?" Thanks.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

That interpretation is possible, but I'd lean toward the other aspect of soaring. This is attributed to hawks and eagles and gliders (airplanes without motors.) The birds work hard to attain a high elevation. The glider needs to be towed upward by a plane with a motor. Once this height is achieved, it is maintained by skillfully finding and riding the rising air currents, or "thermals."

I think the skyline soars in the sense that it exists at a high elevation, seeming to own it, as the eagle owns the sky, simply maintaining its altitude.

On the other hand, you sometimes hear things like, "The powerful jet fighter suddenly soared skyward, seeming to travel straight up." To me, that's a much less common meaning. "As you drive south, the Manhattan skyline rises rapidly before you." (You are the one who is

And you do hear such phrases as, "The Empire State Building rises above the city," as though it were an action - a motion.

Ascribing motion to an immovable object is metaphoric - poetic. Don't try to pin it down exactly.

http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/spitfire/hiflight.htm

CalifJim · Answer

AngliholicDoes "soars" in the above amount to "rises" or "rises quickly?

Not in the sense of moving, no. It amounts to being in a position (not moving to a position) which makes it seem to be elevated above the horizon as viewed from a distance. In the more static meaning then, you could substitute rises, but not rises quickly, because quickly suggests motion.

CJ

Soars/rises quickly above the horizon

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