falling knife
Tumbling sharp object
A falling knife is a stock, asset, or market experiencing rapid, steep decline.
The image warns against trying to catch it—buying during the plunge hoping for a bargain: Don't try to catch a falling knife.
The phrase suggests you'll get hurt if you grab too soon, before the decline has bottomed out.
Economic decline period
- recessionProlonged economic decline
- slumpExtended period of decline
- collapseSudden structural failure
- nosediveSudden steep descent
tailspin · spiral · plummet · drop · dive · slide · descent · contraction
Seize or snag
- bottom-fishingBuying at depressed prices
- averaging downBuying more to lower basis
- buy the dipInvest during market declines
- dead cat bounceBrief uptick before continued decline
capitulation · distressed · oversold · correction · bear market · sell-off · panic selling · bloodbath
Source of potential harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- riskPossibility of harm
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- precariousDangerously insecure
reckless · foolhardy · gamble · warning · caution · ill-timed · premature · costly mistake
Two-person timber cutter
- choppinessIrregular, bumpy quality
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- swingsRhythmic back-and-forth movements
uncertainty · unpredictability · fluctuation · gyration · oscillation · spikes · variance · erratic
downturn
Economic decline period
nosedive · tailspin · spiral · plummet · drop · dive · slide · descent · contraction · deterioration
catch
Seize or snag
- bottom-fishingBuying at depressed prices
- averaging downBuying more to lower basis
- buy the dipInvest during market declines
dead cat bounce · capitulation · distressed · oversold · correction · bear market · sell-off · panic selling · bloodbath · crash
hazard
Source of potential harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- riskPossibility of harm
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
precarious · reckless · foolhardy · gamble · warning · caution · ill-timed · premature · costly mistake
whipsaw
Two-person timber cutter
- choppinessIrregular, bumpy quality
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
swings · uncertainty · unpredictability · fluctuation · gyration · oscillation · spikes · variance · erratic · jittery
falling kniferocket ship
Propelled vehicle for space
moonshot · rocket · vertical climb · melt-up · hockey stick
falling knifedead cat bounce
Brief uptick before continued decline
support level · accumulation zone · springboard · breakout · soft landing
falling knifesafe haven
Protected place of shelter
blue chip · sure thing · cash cow · safe bet
fall, falls, fallen, falling, fallout, downfall, freefall, knife, knives