What's the difference between headlong and plunge?

Headlong


Definition:

  • (a. & adv.) With the head foremost; as, to fall headlong.
  • (a. & adv.) Rashly; precipitately; without deliberation.
  • (a. & adv.) Hastily; without delay or respite.
  • (a.) Rash; precipitate; as, headlong folly.
  • (a.) Steep; precipitous.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) But if May rushes headlong into a panicked triggering of article 50 without a clear idea of what she wants out of negotiations, she will have left us at the mercy of 27 countries who have heard little but table-thumping and empty threats from ministers.
  • (2) Photograph: Amelia Jacobsen A second successive nomination for Long, whose increasing public prominence has coincided with a political awakening that has seen her dive headlong into activism as part of groups like UK Uncut .
  • (3) This does not have to be a headlong charge, but there is no doubt in my mind that it must happen."
  • (4) "But the danger always is that the debate becomes very quickly polarised between one side which says this is the moment to rush headlong towards further integration, new treaties, new intergovernmental conferences, new arcane debates about EU powers, and another side that says this is the moment to unravel the whole thing.
  • (5) Theresa May’s tactic is clear: to accuse anyone who dares question her headlong, blindfold charge towards hard Brexit of being democracy deniers.
  • (6) Before slaughtering the chickens are hung up headlong.
  • (7) These moves are significant because the above list includes some strongly backed National candidates – especially Goold, who led the Headlong company, and Featherstone – but no recent appointee to another theatre could now express interest in Hytner's job without disqualifying themselves because of the appearance of fickleness.
  • (8) Teunis Brosens at ING Financial Markets described the July home sales reading as a "headlong plunge".
  • (9) The lesions of C2 seen in hyperextension injuries of the cervical spine following motor vehicle accidents, diving accidents, and headlong falls resemble the cervical lesion found in judicial hangings.
  • (10) Inspired by Coltrane's development of a packed and fervent sax style - not only bursting with headlong arpeggios but often featuring overtones and multiphonics allowing more than one note to be sounded at a time - Jones's expansion of Art Blakey's technique became appropriately hectic, too.
  • (11) Some shook their heads ruefully, sadly noting that they had long warned such violence would be the result of the headlong rush to a multicultural, rainbow-hued future.
  • (12) It showed itself, physically, in such feats as his famous headlong deathfall off a 12-foot-high platform in Coriolanus (Olivier was 52 at the time).
  • (13) The ignominy of a great country, a country of world famous humanists and scientists, turning headlong into a backwards Asiatic province.
  • (14) Politics The Red Army arrives In the film's first scene, Polish families fleeing east from the invading Nazis run headlong into Polish families fleeing west from the invading Soviets.
  • (15) February 21, 2014 Updated at 10.31pm GMT 9.54pm GMT “Yanukovych’s position looks increasingly untenable ,” writes Guardian Europe editor Ian Traynor (@ TraynorBrussels ), in his report on a headlong day of political activity: But, with the opposing sides entrenched and highly polarised as seldom before as a result of this week’s bloodshed, it was also not clear whether the core of the protesters, who have camped out in winter conditions for three months, would accept anything less than Yanukovych’s resignation.
  • (16) Such eerie parallels may well be found during the nationwide tour of The Absence of War , staged by Headlong and directed by Jeremy Herrin .
  • (17) The strategy adopted by the Kremlin, under the tutelage of the IMF and the US treasury, involved a headlong dash towards privatisation and liberalisation that became known as "shock therapy".
  • (18) I was out on my own for the first time, throwing myself headlong into making my mark, and letting the world mark me.
  • (19) If this Conservative government cared about Britain and cared about what makes our country great they would not be running headlong towards a hard Brexit like this.
  • (20) They have put a brake on the Tories headlong rush to shake up the NHS.

Plunge


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To thrust into water, or into any substance that is penetrable; to immerse; to cause to penetrate or enter quickly and forcibly; to thrust; as, to plunge the body into water; to plunge a dagger into the breast. Also used figuratively; as, to plunge a nation into war.
  • (v. t.) To baptize by immersion.
  • (v. t.) To entangle; to embarrass; to overcome.
  • (v. i.) To thrust or cast one's self into water or other fluid; to submerge one's self; to dive, or to rush in; as, he plunged into the river. Also used figuratively; as, to plunge into debt.
  • (v. i.) To pitch or throw one's self headlong or violently forward, as a horse does.
  • (v. i.) To bet heavily and with seeming recklessness on a race, or other contest; in an extended sense, to risk large sums in hazardous speculations.
  • (n.) The act of thrusting into or submerging; a dive, leap, rush, or pitch into, or as into, water; as, to take the water with a plunge.
  • (n.) Hence, a desperate hazard or act; a state of being submerged or overwhelmed with difficulties.
  • (n.) The act of pitching or throwing one's self headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse.
  • (n.) Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) It was an artwork that fired the imaginations of 2 million visitors who played with, were provoked by and plunged themselves into the curious atmosphere of The Weather Project , with its swirling mist and gigantic mirrors that covered the hall's ceiling.
  • (2) Likewise, Merkel's Germany seems to be replicating the same erroneous policy as that of 1930, when a devotion to fiscal orthodoxy plunged the Weimar Republic into mass discontent that fuelled the flames of National Socialism.
  • (3) Obama conceded that the revelations had caused trust in the US to plunge around the world.
  • (4) For some people, free cash will persuade them to take the plunge.
  • (5) Those Labour MPs plunging their party into an unwanted crisis are betraying not only the party itself but also our national interest at one of the most critical moments any of us can recall.
  • (6) As Cavani was shunted of the ball, it broke to Suarez, who aimed a quick-witted toe-poke at the bottom corner from 15 yards, only to be denied by Buffon, who showed tremendous agility to plunge to his right and tip it around the post!
  • (7) Thus: wanting to cut public spending more slowly than the coalition plans isn't about protecting state activity or putting debt on future generations, it's about not plunging back into recession, Dublin-style.
  • (8) Grid reference: 54.5763, -2.8734 Photograph: www.wildswimming.com Lower Ddwli Falls, Waterfall Woods, Brecon Beacons In the south-west hills of the Brecon Beacons , near Ystradfellte, you'll find some of the most amazing waterfall plunge pools in Britain.
  • (9) The City regulator also used its Prudential Risk Outlook to reveal that the UK's biggest banks have been told they must have enough capital to withstand a plunge back into recession in the next four years.
  • (10) She says that, while she stayed away from the more difficult ramifications of that upbringing, she nevertheless plunged right into the "hot quicksand" of the Arab-Israeli conflict, right down into the Biblical roots of Jewish-Muslim conflict in the story of Abraham, Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael (which she meditates upon in the opera's Hagar chorus), and into the vortex of questions about Israel's right to exist and what motivates terrorists.
  • (11) The surprise return of Saleh last month, after recovering in Saudi Arabia from an assassination attempt, has plunged the country into deeper uncertainty and sharpened the differences between pro- and anti-government camps.
  • (12) We’re being transparent about what we are doing and what we’re not doing, so all the Iguala investigations will be checked, reviewed and assessed by an independent group of experts we’ve called in from the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights .” Asked whether Peña Nieto – whose approval rating recently plunged to 39% – had the support and strength needed to address the security crisis, Gómez Robledo said: “He has the intelligence, the conviction, the strength and the youth to face all of the challenges.
  • (13) Campa was speaking as the Ibex index of Madrid's most traded stocks plunged for a second day and the cost of protecting investors against a default of Spanish debt reached a record high.
  • (14) A sub-index measuring new orders plunged to 52, the lowest since June 2009, from 58.5 in July.
  • (15) Athens was unravelling into chaos, unable to form a government and forced into fresh elections , plunging the markets into freefall as Europe's leaders abandoned any pretence that a Greek exit from the euro might not be imminent.
  • (16) But an "intensified euro area crisis" would wipe out growth in Europe, plunging the economy into a deep recession.
  • (17) A three-week plunge has knocked about 30% off Chinese shares since mid-June.
  • (18) For every 1% increase in gas and electricity bills, it is estimated a further 40,000 households are plunged into fuel poverty.
  • (19) Share holdings were assumed to have plunged 20% in the two years of the test, leading to a cumulative rout of 36%.
  • (20) But the world's largest insurer has seen its shares plunge in recent weeks as it reels from the effects of the credit crunch.