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Jessicamessica
Hello everyone!
I bought a ball but it "deflated" (fizzle out).
What is the correct way to say when the ball loosed air that was inside ?
Thank you!
Aug 17, 2022 2:33 PM
Answers · 6
1
We often talk about a ball 'going flat'. So 'the ball went flat'. Perhaps 'the ball went flat after only a week' or 'the ball went flat immediately after I had pumped it'! We might use this term for our bicycle tires 'the tire was flat' or 'the tire went flat after a few miles'. A ball can 'burst' as well but that usually implies an explosion or at least a loud 'popping' sound which means the ball has been 'punctured'!
August 17, 2022
Q. What words describe a ball losing air?
A. Commonly, we would say ‘to go flat’.
The ball went flat over the winter. Where’s the pump?
It wouldn’t be technically incorrect to use ‘deflate’ for a ball, but not that natural. We’d more likely say ‘deflate’ for smaller losses of air, or in a more technical setting. For example
My air mattress does deflate a little overnight, but not enough to be uncomfortable.
Note that ‘loses air’ and ‘has a leak’ are perfectly natural and native things to say too.
‘This ball loses air. Throw it out and buy a new one.’
‘I think this inner tube has a leak. See if you can patch it.’
August 18, 2022
The ball deflated.
August 17, 2022
Not necessarily. That's why context matters; which few posting here seem to grasp.
August 17, 2022
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Jessicamessica
Language Skills
English, Russian, Ukrainian
Learning Language
English
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