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bounce
/baʊns/
The word 'bounce' is primarily used as a verb, but it also functions as a noun. As a verb, it's highly versatile, covering physical actions like a ball rebounding, energetic movement, and even figurative rejection. Pay attention to the context to understand which meaning is intended. For example, 'The email bounced' means it was undeliverable, while 'The kids bounced on the bed' means they jumped energetically. The noun form, 'bounce', often refers to the quality of liveliness or elasticity, like 'the bounce of a new ball' or 'she has a lot of bounce'. It's generally considered informal, especially when used to describe energetic movement or rejection.
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Hey, my email to the board just bounced. Any ideas?
Probably because you attached a 50MB file. Try again.
Meanings
To be rejected or refused.
"My proposal was bounced."
Collocations & Compounds
ball bounce
The rebound of a ball off a surface.
This court has a fast bounce.
good bounce
A strong or satisfactory rebound.
The trampoline gives a good bounce.
energy bounce
A surge or return of energy.
I felt an energy bounce after the coffee.
bounce house
An inflatable structure for children to jump in.
The kids loved the bounce house.
Phrasal Verbs
bounce around
To move energetically or randomly; to discuss ideas.
Ideas were bouncing around the room.
bounce back
To recover quickly from a setback or illness.
She always bounces back quickly.
bounce off
To rebound from a surface; to reflect ideas.
Let me bounce this idea off you.
bounce out
To be eliminated from a competition or game.
He was bounced out in the first round.
Idioms & Sayings
bounce a check
To have a check returned by the bank because of insufficient funds.
He had to bounce a check to pay rent.
bounce ideas off someone
To discuss ideas with someone to get their opinion.
Can I bounce some ideas off you?
bounce someone on the knee
To make a baby jump up and down on one's knee.
She loved to bounce the baby on her knee.
Etymology
The word 'bounce' entered English in the late 15th century, likely originating from Middle Dutch 'boncen' or Middle Low German 'bonzen', meaning 'to strike or beat'. It's thought to be an imitative word, suggesting the sound of repeated impacts. Initially, it was used to describe the act of striking something forcefully, often with a drum-like sound. By the 16th century, its meaning evolved to include the action of springing back after hitting a surface, particularly seen in the context of balls or other elastic objects. This shift reflects a growing interest in games and sports that utilized such rebound properties. The sense of moving energetically or jumping up and down developed later, around the 18th century, capturing the lively, repetitive motion associated with rebounding. The figurative sense of being rejected or refused emerged in the late 19th century, possibly influenced by the idea of something being thrown back or denied.