bump

Definition

  • noun: a relatively abrupt convexity or protuberance on a surface
  • verb: to hit (something, such as part of your body) against an object in a sudden and forceful way
  • verb: to strike or knock with force or violence
  • often used figuratively in U.S. English
  • synonyms: thump, protuberance, boom

Examples

  • The flight was overbooked, and I was the first to 'be bumped'. [=my seat on the flight was the first seat to be given to someone else]

  • His career hit a 'bump' in the road. = His career hit a road 'bump'. [=something happened that slowed the progress of his career]

  • The airplane landed 'with a bump'. [=the airplane went up again and then down when it hit the ground]

Movie quotes

  • (..) We planned to open in May... but Asset Containment insisted we build the walls up higher. It's bigger than expected. It's a good sign. We hit a few speed bumps early on. It began to anticipate where the food would come from. One of the handlers nearly lost an arm. The others threatened to quit (..)
    2015 Jurassic World