The AI-powered English dictionary
plural switchblades
A folding knife with a blade which opens automatically (under spring pressure) when a button is pressed. examples
third-person singular simple present switchblades, present participle switchblading, simple past and past participle switchbladed
(transitive) To attack or cut with a switchblade. quotations examples
I got terrible hangovers from the cheap booze; and, one night, I almost got switchbladed when I put my arm around the wrong "lady of the night.
1987, Ron Rearick, Doug Murren, Iceman, page 53
They are the American dream torn asunder, like clean fresh laundry left drying on the clothesline, switchbladed by bored boys of summer.
2015, Paul Maher Jr., Caitlin Stuart, Love That Loves Us: Reflections on the Films of Terrence Malick
Finally there was Jackie, the gold-toothed gang member (as she liked to remind us) who'd switchbladed thirty or forty or fifty people
2016, Daniel Kraus, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume Two: Empire Decayed
(intransitive) To spring open or up. quotations examples
Switchblading open their silvery cell phones, they call their mortgage brokers and say “Buy.”
2007, Richard Canning, Between Men: Best New Gay Fiction, page 253
Steering and stabilization fins switchblading out, followed by the wings.
2007, David Poyer, The Command: A Novel, page 190
I stood there waiting for the three remaining Rottweilers to come barreling toward the fence, fangs switchbladed open.
2009, Erik Raschke, The Book of Samuel: A Novel, page 200
He ticked off the facts, switchblading out a finger for each one.
2015, Jeffrey Bartsch, Two Across
(transitive, intransitive) To (cause to) make a sudden move or transition. quotations examples
He briefly rocked medical school, switchbladed to accounting and finally joked his first radio script in 1938.
1963, Cleveland Amory, Earl Blackwell, Celebrity Register
The play's principal comic manoeuvre is to have concern switchblading into callousness.
2002, Plays International - Volume 18, page 15
Daniel's smile is fixed, but his eyes are switchblading from side to side, looking at Paula, looking for an exit.
2007, Lynn Hoffman, Bang Bang, page 76
The lantern began swinging to its own rhythm, switchblading light all over the tent.
2014, Carol Muske-Dukes, Dear Digby: A Novel