Skimming is to pass over the surface of water. But is there a word for doing the same on the underside?
Skimming under the surface of water?
- Thread starter mgencleyn
- Start date
It would help if we knew what was moving below the surface, and at what speed. Is it going fast or slow? and is it a person or a fish or some other object?
You can often get away with using the same terms as you would above the surface, such as gliding (as Aaron mentioned) or darting or whatever, depending upon the context of your description.
You can often get away with using the same terms as you would above the surface, such as gliding (as Aaron mentioned) or darting or whatever, depending upon the context of your description.
In that case, just about any movement you can describe above the surface can be used to express what happens underwater (besides walking and strolling and such, unless it's a crustacean or other sea creature moving along the sea floor).
You can say, "The fish skimmed below the surface," which the reader will easily understand as occurring within the water column, most likely near the top.
I'm afraid I don't like 'skimmed under the surface'. Simply 'skimmed the surface' will do. Unless, I suppose, it's a flying fish!
But...
surely skimming implies on the top of the water. The O.P. wants movement under the water?
Thus under is necessary.
Flying fish do skim the surface, then jet propel themselves upwards, as well as just shooting out of the water.
surely skimming implies on the top of the water. The O.P. wants movement under the water?
Thus under is necessary.
Flying fish do skim the surface, then jet propel themselves upwards, as well as just shooting out of the water.
Skimming means moving above or along a surface (it does not imply it). In the case of above, gravitation can result in a skipping motion (as in skimming a stone). Things can skim along a surface, as in the case of a yacht, ski or submarine. But you can't skim below a water surface because the physics doesn't allow it. A fish can skim the surface, but it cannot skim (i.e. skip) below the surface. It is buoyancy pushing it back upwards and the tail is necessarily lower because of the position of the swim bladder. The direction of propulsion cannot be down in that case to induce the skipping motion.
The point about flying fish is they can can indeed skim (above) the surface.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...g-display-flying-fish-skimming-Timor-Sea.html