Tumble, extension, bobble, jump. Simple words that we all use often throughout the day, but to the average cheerleader (and all retirees), these words take on a whole different meaning. Cheerleading has changed the way most cheerleaders use and understand these words, now and forever. Here are 14 everyday words that mean the exact opposite than their Merriam-Webster definition.
1. Squeeze
Everyday definition: to press together the parts and especially the opposite sides of (something), or remove (something) by squeezing something.
Cheerleader definition: word usually yelled by bases/backspots at their flyers while they are in the air and are starting to fall.
2. F5
Everyday definition: the highest category of a tornado on the Fujita scale; winds reach above 200 mph.
Cheerleader definition: A top ranking team that continues to put out world champion routines and exceptional athletes. **Snaps for the Queens**
3. Hit
Everyday definition: to move your hand, a bat, etc. quickly so that it touches someone or something in a forceful or violent way.
Cheerleader definition: a word yelled by coaches/audience during a competition/practice urging the team to hit their jumps on the correct time and all together.
4. Tick-Tock
Everyday definition: the ticking sound of a clock.
Cheerleader definition: a stunt where a flyer quickly switches her legs, and the bases must catch her new foot (or else it will result in a foot to the face) while stabilizing and keeping the stunt in the air.
5. Touchdown
Everyday definition: in American football: a score that is made by carrying the ball over the opponent's goal line, or by catching the ball while standing in the end zone.
Cheerleader definition: in the middle of a routine, when a cheerleader does not fully execute their tumbling and their hands touch the mat during a skill. During a competition, this typically results in a deduction from the team's final score. May or may not cause tears.
6. Elevator
Everyday definition: a machine used for carrying people and things to different levels in a building.
Cheerleader definition: the most basic stunt, typically consists of two bases holding a flyer two feet shoulder width apart at chest level.
7. Shooting Star(s)
Everyday definition: a small, rapidly moving meteor burning up upon entering the earth's atmosphere.
Cheerleader definition: The Jersey Queens. 2015 World Champions. The Large-Senior 5 all girl team that regularly places in the top three each year at the Cheerleading Worlds.
8. Full
Everyday definition: containing or holding as much or as many as possible; having no empty space
Cheerleader definition: a highly desired tumbling skill, a full-twisting layout or double twisting layout usually performed after a single or multiple backhandspring or whips.
9. Tease
Everyday definition: to laugh at and criticize (someone) in a way that is either friendly and playful, or cruel and unkind
Cheerleader definition: what cheerleaders have to do to their hair before every competition. May or may not cause hair loss after the competition.
10. One Man
Everyday definition: one, single individual.
Cheerleader definition: A stunt where a single base holds a flyer over their head.
11. Scorpion
Everyday definition: : a small animal related to spiders that has two front claws and a curved tail with a poisonous stinger at the end.
Cheerleader definition: While in the air, a flyer brings a leg behind her and reaches back overhead to grab her foot and tries to extend it over her head. Requires great flexibility and constant stretching (usually forced by the backspot/bases before stunting).
12. Bow and Arrow
Everyday definition: (arrow):a projectile with a straight thin shaft and an arrowhead on one end and stabilizing vanes on the other; intended to be shot from a bow. (bow): a weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow
Cheerleader definition: A stunt that is a variation of a liberty. While in the air, a flyer grabs the leg she is not standing on by the ankle with the opposite arm and pulls it around her body. Her leg is typically straight and she pulls her other arm through that is not holding her foot. The position of her body resembles a bow, hence the name bow & arrow.
13. World(s)
Everyday definition: the earth and all the people and things on it
Cheerleader definition: The Superbowl of Cheerleading. Top teams and athletes come from all over the world to the House of the Mouse (AKA Disney) to compete for the gold every April.
14. Cheerlebrity
Everyday definition: ???
Cheerleader definition: Drew Tyler, Jamie Andries, Maddie Gardner. Cheerleaders on World Champion Level 5 teams that everybody in the cheer world knows about, dreams about being and obsesses over meeting.
Written by a retired cheerleader, and a special thanks to my other retired cheer friends for helping me with this list, xoxo.
