dogpaddle
Paws-forward swimming motion
Dogpaddle, also written as dog paddle or dog-paddle, is a basic swimming stroke in which a person stays mostly upright and moves the arms and legs in a paddling motion beneath the water's surface, resembling how a dog swims.
It's often the first stroke children learn because it keeps the head above water and requires no formal technique.
As a verb, to dogpaddle means to swim using this stroke: We dogpaddled across the shallow end.
Liquid scattering on impact
- kickFoot-delivered strike
- floatBuoyant object or vehicle
- treadSurface that grips ground
- flailSwing limbs erratically
stroke · wade · thrash · churn · propel · scoop · windmill · sculling
Existing since birth
- naturalNot artificially produced
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
- inbornExisting from birth
- primitiveIn earliest form
intuitive · automatic · spontaneous · instinctive · unlearned · hardwired · primal · mammalian
Struggle awkwardly, or seafood
- gaspSudden sharp breath
- splutterSpeak confusedly, in bursts
- chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
exhaustion · fatigue · clumsy · awkward · inefficient · labored · tire · strain
Buoyant vest for water
- rescueSave from harm
- adriftFloating without control
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- flotationAbility to stay afloat
distress · stranded · endurance · raft · shipwreck · overboard
splash
Liquid scattering on impact
flail · stroke · wade · thrash · churn · propel · scoop · windmill · sculling
innate
Existing since birth
primitive · intuitive · automatic · spontaneous · instinctive · unlearned · hardwired · primal · mammalian · self-preservation
flounder
Struggle awkwardly, or seafood
panic · exhaustion · fatigue · clumsy · awkward · inefficient · labored · tire · strain · desperate
lifejacket
Buoyant vest for water
flotation · distress · stranded · endurance · raft · shipwreck · overboard
puppy
Juvenile canine
pond · lake · paws · snout · fur · labrador · instinct · four-legged
learner
One gaining knowledge
- noviceInexperienced newcomer to field
- rookieInexperienced newcomer
- newbieInexperienced person, informally
amateur · floaties · kickboard · instructor · practice · confidence · gradual · basics
dogpaddlebutterfly
Winged insect from caterpillar
butterfly stroke · Olympic swimming · competitive swimming · freestyle · front crawl