What do you do on a see-saw?

[pne]

What's the verb in English for what you do on a see-saw?

"Rock"? "See-saw"? "Swing"? "Go back and forth"?

(In German, the noun is "Wippe" and the verb, transparently enough, is "wippen".)

Comments

[ubykhlives.livejournal.com]

"See-saw" is also the verb for me.

[fledchen.livejournal.com]

See-saw is the only one I've heard, though I expect it's different in different dialects.

[pne.livejournal.com]

So you might say "They were see-sawing on the playground all morning" or "Tom see-sawed until it got too dark to see anything any more"?

[fledchen.livejournal.com]

Yes, but one might also say "They were playing on the see-saw at the playground all morning" or "Tom played on the see-saw until it got dark."

At least where I'm from, one generally speaks of a particular piece of equipment being at the playground rather than on it. We'll also use the construction "it got dark" rather than specifically stating that it got too dark to see.

[bluewingedcat.livejournal.com]

"Played on" is probably the most common. Techincally (as in, was taught in my grammar class which everyone forgets when they walk out the door) it's rock. But I can't recall anyone actually saying, "Tim and Jane rocked on the see-saw." My recollection has it as always being "Time and Jane played on the see-saw."

[sovereigna.livejournal.com]

normally, 'played on the see-saw'.

You could, I guess say 'they see-sawed in the playground' but that'd be a made up word. I don't believe there's actally a correct term for it.

Personally I'd rather avoid talking about a see-saw altogether than use it as a verb!

:)

[pthalo]

I'd say "ride"

[arthur-sc-king.livejournal.com]

I agree. I most often hear "played on the see-saw" (90%?), with the occasional "see-sawed" (10%?). I don't think I've ever heard "rock" for a see-saw.

Also, they're also often called "teeter-totters" here in Canuckistan. However, I've never heard that used as a verb. I'm trying to remember (a) how frequent that use is, and (b) if there's any regionalism to it ... maybe 40-50%, and maybe more frequent in Western Canada, but I'm not too sure.

[kait-the-great.livejournal.com]

"Do you want to go see-saw [with me]?"

"Do you want to play on the see-saw [with me]?"

Both equally correct to me

[bluewingedcat.livejournal.com]

I know teeter-totter is more common on the east coast of the US than the west...

...this is because I'll call something by a name I learned as a child and people look at me like I grew a second head.

[nik-w.livejournal.com]

I was just going to say - "ride" fits just fine, but "see-saw" can be a verb as well

[conuly]

Play, go, or sit.

My answer will be in the form of a song, Alex

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Ride, ride my see-saw,
Take this place
On this trip
Just for me.

Ride, take a free ride,
Take my place
Have my seat
Its for free.