Hit The Skids

Posted by David FG September 13, 2004In reply to Hit The Skids posted by Bruce Kahl on September 13, 2004

Used as a noun, a skid is a group of planks used to support something.

Used as a verb, to skid is to fail to grip the roadway.

Any of you OEDers out there have an explanation as to why "hit the skids" means a losing streak?

I think (with not too much confidence) that this is a US expression. 'Skid Row' is a metaphor for being destitute (don't know why) so I assume 'hitting the skids' might derive from this. Again, I stand to be corrected.

DFG

Replies

On a downhill slide ESC 13/September/04
- My Thanks to DFG and ESC Bruce Kahl 14/September/04
  - Hit the skids. Smokey Stover 15/September/04