WordGarden.ioboomerang
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈuːmərˌæŋ/
US
- /ˈbumərˌæŋ/
Meanings
Noun
a curved throwing stick associated with Aboriginal Australian tradition, often designed to return to the thrower
something, such as a plan or remark, that comes back to harm the person who started it
Verb
to fly or come back to the place or person it started from
to rebound on the person or plan that caused it; backfire
Beyond the definition
A boomerang is famously known as a curved, flat piece of wood (or plastic!) thrown into the air that returns to the thrower. Originally used for hunting and sport by Indigenous Australians, it relies on aerodynamics and spin to achieve its unique flight path. But "boomerang" isn't just about recreation! It can also describe anything that unexpectedly returns to cause problems—like a harsh criticism that "boomerangs" back at the speaker. Think of it as an action with unintended consequences that circle back around.
Have you ever heard the phrase, "What goes around comes around?" That's essentially what a boomerang does: it sends something out and then brings it right back. A politician who makes personal attacks might find those attacks "boomerang" onto their own reputation. Or perhaps a risky business decision will "boomerang" and cause unexpected financial hardship.
The word "boomerang" originates from the Dharug language of Australia, specifically referring to the throwing sticks used by Aboriginal Australians for hunting and ceremonies for tens of thousands of years. While many traditional sticks were designed as heavy, straight-flying weapons for hunting prey, the returning version is what captured the global imagination. Today, it is primarily a recreational object. Achieving its iconic circular flight path requires a careful design incorporating aerodynamic principles like lift, drag, and gyroscopic precession—it takes real practice to master!
Beyond its physical form, "boomerang" has expanded into a versatile metaphor. Figuratively, it describes any action or situation that unexpectedly reverses course and comes back to affect the originator. A policy intended to help one group could "boomerang" and harm another, implying a pattern where an initial effort leads to unintended consequences that return to haunt the creator.
Modern English also applies the term to specific social phenomena. The "boomerang generation" refers to young adults who move back to their parental home after a period of living independently. In the digital age, it even describes a popular social media feature—a short video that plays forward and then in reverse. Ultimately, whether it's soaring through the air or circling back as fate, a boomerang represents a return—whether welcome or not—to its point of origin.
Examples
- 1
Souvenir
On our trip to Australia, I bought a painted boomerang at a market.
- 2
Social backfire
His joke about her accent turned into a boomerang and made him look rude instead.
- 3
Business backfire
The company’s price increase boomeranged when customers started buying from competitors.
- 4
Delivery return
The package boomeranged back to my apartment because I wrote the wrong address.
- Phraseboomerang back
return to the place it came from
See also
Similar
- returning throwing stick
- throwing stick
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- throw a boomerang
- boomerang comes back
- wooden boomerang
Word family
Explore
- projectile
- aerodynamics
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- boomerangnounverb
Forms
- boomerangspluralnounverb
- boomerangedpast tenseverbnoun
- boomeranging-ing formverbnoun