About oar
/əˈbaʊt ɔr/
B1
Definition
"About oar" refers to a rowing action where the rower moves the oar so that the boat turns or changes direction. This is often done by pushing or pulling the oar in the water differently than normal rowing strokes, usually to turn the boat around or stop it.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
To turn or change the direction of a boat by moving the oar in a special way
- •The rower used the about oar to turn the boat quickly.
- •When they needed to stop, they put the oar about and held it steady.
- •About oar helps the boat face the opposite way without moving forward.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "about oar" like "turn" (A1 word), but specifically using the oar to make the boat move in a new direction.
- ✓Picture a small boat on a lake, with someone moving the oar sideways or in a circle to spin the boat around.
- ✓It feels like when you want to change the way you are facing while sitting in a chair, but here you do it with the oar to turn the whole boat.
- ✓Sounds like "about" (around) + "oar" (the long stick with a blade) → imagine turning the boat "around" using the "oar."
- ✓Think of a story of a rower who needs to quickly turn the boat to avoid hitting something, so they use the "about oar" technique.
- ✓NOT like "rowing forward" (moving straight ahead), "about oar" is about turning or stopping, not moving forward.
- ✓NOT like "paddling" (using a paddle), an oar is fixed to the boat and used differently.
Try Other Words
- •Backwater: to move the boat backward or stop by using the oar (Use when the boat moves backward rather than turning)
- •Feather the oar: to turn the oar blade flat in the air between strokes (Use when talking about preparing the oar, not turning)
- •Brace: to hold the oar steady to stop or balance the boat (Use when stopping or stabilizing, not turning)
Unboxing
- •Phrase parts: "about" (around, turning) + "oar" (a long stick used to row a boat)
- •Etymology: English phrase combining direction ("about") and rowing tool ("oar")
- •Historical development: Used in traditional rowing to describe a maneuver for turning or stopping
- •Modern usage: Still used in rowing and small boat handling to describe turning or stopping actions with the oar
Reflect & Connect
•How does using the about oar technique help rowers control their boats in different water conditions?
•Can you think of other ways to turn a boat besides using the about oar? How are they different?
Fill in the blanks
1.The rower put the oar ___ to quickly change the boat's direction.
2.When the boat needed to stop, the about oar was held ___ in the water.
3.Unlike rowing forward, using the about oar moves the boat ___ instead of straight ahead.
4.To turn the boat around, the rower moved the oar ___ the usual rowing motion.
5.The about oar helps the boat face the ___ way without moving forward.
6.When the water was rough, the rower used the about oar to keep the boat ___.
7.About oar is different from feathering because it is used to ___ the boat, not prepare the oar blade.