whipsaw
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whip·saw
(wĭp′sô′, hwĭp′-)n.
A narrow two-person crosscut saw.
tr.v. whip·sawed, whip·sawed or whip·sawn (-sôn′), whip·saw·ing, whip·saws
1. To cut with a whipsaw.
2. To cause to move or alternate rapidly in contrasting directions: "The bond market ... continues to be whipsawed by fears of rekindled inflation" (Steven E. Levingston).
3. In card games, especially poker, for two players to raise and re-raise with one or more players in between who must call the raises in order to stay in the game.
4. To defeat or best in two ways at once.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
whipsaw
(ˈwɪpˌsɔː)n
(Tools) any saw with a flexible blade, such as a bandsaw
vb (tr) , -saws, -sawing, -sawed, -sawed or -sawn
1. (Tools) to saw with a whipsaw
2. US to defeat in two ways at once
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
whip•saw
(ˈʰwɪpˌsɔ, ˈwɪp-)n., v. -sawed, -sawed -sawn, -saw•ing. n.
1. a saw for two persons, used to divide timbers lengthwise.
v.t. 2. to cut with a whipsaw.
3. to win two bets from (a person) at one turn or play, as at faro.
4. to subject to two opposing forces at the same time.
[1530–40]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
whipsaw
Past participle: whipsawn
Gerund: whipsawing
Imperative |
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whipsaw |
whipsaw |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | whipsaw - a saw with handles at both ends; intended for use by two people pitsaw - a large two-handed saw formerly used to cut logs into planks; one man stood above the log and the other in a pit below saw - hand tool having a toothed blade for cutting |
Verb | 1. | whipsaw - victimize, especially in gambling or negotiations |
2. | whipsaw - saw with a whipsaw saw - cut with a saw; "saw wood for the fireplace" |
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