dogpaddling
Novice water locomotion
Dogpaddling is swimming with a basic stroke that mimics how dogs swim—arms paddling alternately underwater while legs kick beneath the surface, head kept above water.
It's inefficient but intuitive, often the first stroke children learn.
Figuratively, to dogpaddle is to barely stay afloat: I'm just dogpaddling through this semester.
Liquid striking noisily
- kickingStriking with foot
- treadingWalking on a surface
- flailingUncontrolled limb movement
- thrashingDecisive, lopsided defeat
churning · stroking · scooping · wading · bobbing · floating · sculling
Experiencing serious difficulty
- strainingExerting intense effort
- tiringCausing fatigue
- laboringWorking strenuously
- exertionVigorous physical effort
fatigue · gasping · inefficient · splashing · flailing · persisting · endurance · exhausting
Inexperienced newcomer to field
- learnerOne gaining knowledge
- beginnerOne who lacks experience
- rookieInexperienced newcomer
- newbieInexperienced person, informally
amateur · child · toddler · first-timer · non-swimmer · inexperienced · untrained · learning
Not artificially produced
- innateExisting since birth
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
- unlearnedLacking acquired knowledge
intuitive · primal · automatic · spontaneous · inborn · untaught · primitive · self-taught
Walking on a surface
- flotationAbility to stay afloat
- rescueSave from harm
- lifejacketBuoyant vest for water
- strugglingExperiencing serious difficulty
exhaustion · distress · emergency · panicking · drowning · lifeguard · floundering
Sudden brain blood blockage
- freestyleWithout prescribed technique
- backstrokeSupine aquatic locomotion
- breaststrokeArms circle, legs splay
- butterflyWinged insect from caterpillar
crawl · sidestroke · elementary · recreational · pool · lap · aquatics
splashing
Liquid striking noisily
thrashing · churning · stroking · scooping · wading · bobbing · floating · sculling
struggling
Experiencing serious difficulty
exertion · fatigue · gasping · inefficient · splashing · flailing · persisting · endurance · exhausting
novice
Inexperienced newcomer to field
newbie · amateur · child · toddler · first-timer · non-swimmer · inexperienced · untrained · learning · starter
natural
Not artificially produced
- innateExisting since birth
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
unlearned · intuitive · primal · automatic · spontaneous · inborn · untaught · primitive · self-taught
treading
Walking on a surface
- flotationAbility to stay afloat
- rescueSave from harm
- lifejacketBuoyant vest for water
struggling · exhaustion · distress · emergency · panicking · drowning · lifeguard · floundering
stroke
Sudden brain blood blockage
- freestyleWithout prescribed technique
- backstrokeSupine aquatic locomotion
- breaststrokeArms circle, legs splay
butterfly · crawl · sidestroke · elementary · recreational · pool · lap · aquatics
dogpaddlingbutterfly stroke
Bilateral arm-recovery swim technique
freestyle · front crawl · competitive swimming · Olympic swimming · breaststroke
dogpaddlingrelay swimming
Team race, alternating swimmers
paddle, paddling, paddler, paddlers, dogpaddles, dogpaddled, dogpaddle