A tangle that forms in fishing line on a reel, usually when the spool turns faster than the line leaves it.
Examples
My first cast ended in a backlash on the reel.
Keep light pressure on the spool to prevent a backlash.
How do I clear a backlash without cutting the line?
The line formed a tight backlash after the lure hit the water.
She adjusted the brake and had no more backlashes that afternoon.
A severe backlash can bury loops deep inside the spool.
Similar words
tangle
snarl
bird's nest
Etymology
Formed from back and lash, it first described sudden backward movement in machinery in the early 1800s. Its familiar sense of a strong hostile reaction grew from that physical image.
FAQ
What does backlash mean?
Backlash usually means a strong negative public reaction to a change, decision, event, or idea.
What commonly causes a backlash?
A policy, public statement, product change, or social development can cause a backlash when many people strongly oppose it.
What is backlash in gears?
In gears, backlash is the small amount of free movement between connected teeth before motion passes from one part to another.
What is a fishing backlash?
A fishing backlash is a tangle on a reel caused when the spool releases line faster than the cast carries it away.
Is backlash always negative?
The public-reaction sense of backlash is negative, while the engineering and fishing senses describe physical problems or movement.
Which words are close to backlash?
For a public reaction, reaction, opposition, pushback, and outcry are close alternatives, with different levels of force and formality.
Comments & contributions
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