Ride

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ride / rīd/ • v. (past rode / rōd/ ; past part. rid·den / ˈridn/ ) [tr.] 1. sit on and control the movement of (an animal, esp. a horse), typically as a recreation or sport: Diana went to watch him ride his horse | [intr.] I haven't ridden much since the accident. ∎  [intr.] travel on a horse or other animal: we rode on horseback some of the officers were riding back. ∎  sit on and control (a bicycle or motorcycle) for recreation or as a means of transport: he rode a Harley Davidson across the U.S. ∎  [intr.] (ride in/on) travel in or on (a vehicle) as a passenger: I started riding on the buses. ∎  travel in (a vehicle) or on (a public transport system) as a passenger: she rides the bus across 42nd Street. ∎  go through or over (an area) on horseback, a bicycle, etc.: ride the full length of the Ridgeway. ∎  compete in (a race) on horseback or on a bicycle or motorcycle: I rode a good race. ∎  travel up or down in (an elevator): the astronauts rode elevators to the launch pad | [intr.] we’ll ride up in the elevator. ∎  [intr.] (of a vehicle, animal, racetrack, etc.) be of a particular character for riding on or in: the van rode as well as some cars of twice the price. ∎ inf. transport (someone) in a vehicle: the taxi driver who rode Kelly into the airport not long ago. 2. be carried or supported by (something with a great deal of momentum): a stream of young surfers fighting the elements to ride the waves | fig. the fund rode the growth boom in the 1980s. ∎  [intr.] project or overlap: when two lithospheric plates collide, one tends to ride over the other. ∎  [intr.] (of a vessel) sail or float: a large cedar barque rode at anchor. ∎  [intr.] float or seem to float: the moon was riding high in the sky. ∎  yield to (a blow) so as to reduce its impact: Harrison drew back his jaw as if riding the blow. ∎ vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with. ∎  (of a supernatural being) take spiritual possession of (someone). ∎  annoy, pester, or tease: if you don't give all the kids a chance to play, the parents ride you. 3. (be ridden) be full of or dominated by: you must not think him ridden with angst | [as adj. in comb.] (-ridden) the crime-ridden streets. • n. 1. a journey made on horseback, on a bicycle or motorcycle, or in a vehicle: did you enjoy your ride? | fig. investors have had a bumpy ride. ∎  a person giving someone a lift in their vehicle: their ride into town had dropped them off near the bridge. ∎ inf. a motor vehicle: that green Chevy over there, that's my ride. ∎  the quality of comfort or smoothness offered by a vehicle while it is being driven, as perceived by the driver or passenger: the ride is comfortable, though there is a slight roll when cornering. ∎  a path, typically one through woods, for riding horses. ∎  Can. a demonstration of horse riding as an entertainment. 2. a roller coaster, merry-go-round, or other amusement ridden at a fair or amusement park. 3. vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse. 4. (also ride cym·bal) a cymbal used for keeping up a continuous rhythm. PHRASES: be riding for a fall inf. be acting in a reckless or arrogant way that invites defeat or failure. for the ride for pleasure or interest, rather than any serious purpose: I don’t need anything at the mall, but I’m happy to go along for the ride. let something ride take no immediate action over something. ride herd on keep watch over: a man to ride herd on this frenetically paced enterprise. ride high be successful: the economy will be riding high on the top of the next boom. ride the pine (or bench) inf. (of an athlete) sit on the sidelines rather than participate in a game or event. ride the rails (or chiefly Can. rods) inf. 1. ride on a freight train surreptitiously without paying.2. be a passenger on a train. ride roughshod over carry out one's own plans or wishes with arrogant disregard for (others or their wishes): he rode roughshod over everyone else's opinions. —— rides again used to indicate that someone or something has reappeared unexpectedly and with new vigor. ride shotgun travel as a guard in the seat next to the driver of a vehicle. ∎  ride in the passenger seat of a vehicle. ∎ fig. act as a protector: The Times found itself to be riding shotgun for the Red Army. ride to (the) hounds chiefly Brit. go hunting (esp. fox hunting) on horseback with a pack of dogs. a rough (or easy) ride a difficult (or easy) time doing something: the president has been given a rough ride by this conservative Congress. take someone for a ride 1. inf. deceive or cheat someone. 2. inf. drive someone out somewhere in a car and then kill them. PHRASAL VERBS: ride someone down trample or overtake someone while on horseback. ride on depend on: there is a great deal of money riding on the results of these studies. ride something out come safely through something, esp. a storm or a period of danger or difficulty: the fleet had ridden out the storm. ride up (of a garment) gradually work or move upward out of its proper position: her skirt had ridden up.DERIVATIVES: ride·a·ble (also rid·a·ble) adj.

ride he who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount proverbial saying, late 19th century, meaning that once a dangerous or troublesome venture is begun, the safest course is to carry it through to the end.
if you can't ride two horses at once, you shouldn't be in the circus proverbial saying, mid 20th century; the British Labour politician James Maxton (1885–1946) is often quoted as saying, ‘if you cannot ride two horses you have no right in the bloody circus’.
ride a-cock-horse ride (as) on a child's hobby-horse; recorded from the mid 16th century, and apparently a nursery term applied to anything that a child rides astride upon. It is not clear whether cock-horse was originally the name of the plaything, as it appears to have become by the late 16th century.

ride pt. rode, pp. ridden sit upon and be carried by a horse, etc.; lie at anchor OE.; trans. (of ON. orig.) XIII. OE. str. vb. rīdan = OS. -rīdan (Du. rijden), OHG. rītan (G. reiten), ON. ríða, rel. to OIr. riadaim I travel, Gaul. rēda chariot.
Hence sb. XVIII. rider (-ER1) †knight XI; one who rides a horse, etc. XIII; (pl.) additional timbers to strengthen the frame of a ship; additional or supplementary clause XVII; corollary XIX. Late OE. rīdere.

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