Jump to content

collision -Word of the Day - Sun Mar 1, 2026

Myr

Entry posted by Myr in Word of the Day

123 views

 Share
Quote

collision -(n) - a forceful meeting of opposing elements or intentions.

Crash Snowboard GIF

Quote

Their collision was inevitable, shaped by long-avoided truths.

Quote

Author tip: Collisions often resolve underlying tension.
Genre tags: Action, Drama

 

  • Like 7
 Share

7 Comments

Recommended Comments

  • Site Moderator
  • Popular Comment
drpaladin

drpaladin 107,558
Zorro

Posted

  • Site Moderator
  • Popular Comment

Dawn comes as a collision of  light and sound  across the senses.

  • Like 6
  • Popular Comment
Bill W

Bill W 61,469
Monday Blues

Posted (edited)

  • Popular Comment

"Collision" originated in the early 15th century from the Latin collisiō (nominative collisio), meaning "a dashing together", referring to the action of striking.  It is derived from collidere ("to strike together"). It combines com- ("together") and laedere ("to hurt or strike"). The term signifies a violent impact or clash, frequently used for moving objects.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the noun collision was first used in English during the Middle English period (1150—1500).  The earliest known evidence for the word in the OED is from before 1475, appearing in R. Higden's Polychronicon.  The verb collide came later, in the 1620s. 

Edited by Bill W
  • Like 6
  • Popular Comment
Bill W

Bill W 61,469
Monday Blues

Posted (edited)

  • Popular Comment
Collision—often referred to as conflict, opposition, or the "clash of ideas"—is essential in storytelling because it serves as the engine that drives the plot, develops characters, and keeps the readers engaged.  It is defined as the tension that arises when a character's goals meet resistance, forcing them to act and evolve. Without this collision, a story lacks necessary stakes and becomes a stagnant, uninteresting narrative. 
 
The importance of collision in writing stories:
Driving the Plot and Creating Momentum: 
The "Engine" of the Story: Collision introduces obstacles that force characters to make decisions, propelling the narrative forward. 
Preventing Monotony: It turns a simple sequence of events into a compelling journey by ensuring every scene carries weight. 
Raising Stakes: A powerful collision between opposing forces (such as opposing character goals or beliefs) creates high stakes, making the reader invested in the outcome. 
 
Developing Characters and Depth: 
Revealing Character: Collision tests characters, forcing them to confront fears, weaknesses, and limitations, which reveals their true nature. 
Forcing Change: Characters grow and transform when forced to adapt to challenges, rather than remaining static. 
Internal vs. External: Collision isn't just physical; it includes internal, emotional, and psychological conflicts that add layers to a story. 
 
Enhancing Reader Engagement: 
Generating Tension and Suspense: When readers feel tension, they stay invested in seeing how the conflict is resolved. 
Creating Empathy: Readers connect with characters who are struggling to overcome difficult, realistic situations. 
Unpredictability: A well-placed collision or unexpected twist keeps the story fresh and avoids clichéd, predictable plotlines. 
 
Defining Theme and Meaning: 
Exploring Ideas: Stories often emerge from the collision of two or more, sometimes contradictory, ideas. 
Highlighting Core Themes: The obstacles characters face help highlight the central ideas or messages of the work. 
 
Types of Collision: 
Character vs. Character: Opposing goals (e.g., protagonist vs. antagonist). 
Character vs. Self: Internal struggles with morality, fear, or doubt. 
Character vs. Nature/Society: Battling external forces or systemic issues. 
Idea Collision: Transplanting elements (like a character or situation) into an unexpected or "wrong" venue. 
 
Techniques for Using Collision: 
Ensure Every Scene Has Conflict: Even in calm scenes, tension can arise from subtext or hidden agendas. 
Raise the Stakes: Make the consequences of failure high. 
Use Foils: Introduce characters who naturally push the protagonist's buttons to create natural, rather than forced, conflict. 
 
Collision (or conflict) is the "magic sauce" that transforms a simple, mundane, or "ho-hum" story into one that is engaging, emotional, and memorable. 
Edited by Bill W
  • Like 3
  • Love 3
  • Popular Comment
Paladin

Paladin 18,513
Inactive

Posted

  • Popular Comment

A collision in the 1000 metre speed skating event in the 2002 winter Olympics gave gave Australia a new term, Doing a Bradbury or just a Bradbury. 

Near the end of the race there was a collision that brought down all the other competitors. Australian, Steven Bradbury, was able to stay on his feet and skate through the mass of fallen bodies to win gold. To do a Bradbury means to achieve an unexpected and unlikely success. A new expression all because of a collision

  • Like 5
  • Love 1
  • Wow 1
Bill W

Bill W 61,469
Monday Blues

Posted

7 minutes ago, Paladin said:

A collision in the 1000 metre speed skating event in the 2002 winter Olympics gave gave Australia a new term, Doing a Bradbury or just a Bradbury. 

Near the end of the race there was a collision that brought down all the other competitors. Australian, Steven Bradbury, was able to stay on his feet and skate through the mass of fallen bodies to win gold. To do a Bradbury means to achieve an unexpected and unlikely success. A new expression all because of a collision

My question is, who caused the collision that Bradbury benefitted from? 

  • Like 5
  • Popular Comment
Paladin

Paladin 18,513
Inactive

Posted

  • Popular Comment
3 minutes ago, Bill W said:

My question is, who caused the collision that Bradbury benefitted from? 

The race is available on YouTube but YouTube would not allow me to post the link. However here is a description of what happened.

Coming into the five-man final, Steven Bradbury was the rank outsider and as the race progressed his chances looked slimmer with each passing lap. But as the leading quartet rounded the final bend, Lia Jiajun (CHN) tried an over-ambitious overtaking manoeuvre outside Apollo Ohno (USA), sending them both onto the ice and bringing down Mathieu Turcotte (CAN) and Ahn Hyun-soo (KOR) in the process. This left the way clear for a nonplussed Bradbury to cross the line unchallenged and claim the most unexpected of gold medals.

 

  • Like 6
  • Love 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...