English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

dive +‎ bomb

Verb edit

divebomb (third-person singular simple present divebombs, present participle divebombing, simple past and past participle divebombed)

  1. (of an aircraft) To bomb whilst in a steep dive.
  2. (of a bird) To attack (especially the head of) a person or animal that strays into their territory.
  3. (auto racing) To attempt an overtake by braking very late on corner entry.
  4. (of a motorist) To overtake slower traffic by way of a more circuitous route, such as a pair of freeway exit and entrance ramps.
    • 2015 April 21, Robert Thompson, “Drivers protest those who seek the inside track on highways”, in The Washington Post[1], retrieved 2022-10-07:
      Dive-bombing is perfectly legal as long as you do not cross any double solid white lines.

Synonyms edit

  • (to overtake slower traffic by way of a more circuitous route): rat run

Related terms edit