rough landing

Meaning

A rough landing refers to a bumpy, hard, or unstable touchdown of an aircraft. It usually happens due to bad weather conditions like strong crosswinds, heavy rain, or turbulence. While it can be scary for passengers, it is often a safe and necessary technique used by pilots.

Examples

• The strong crosswinds caused a very rough landing, but everyone was safe.

  The strong crosswinds caused a very rough landing, but everyone was safe.

• Hold on tight because this storm might result in a rough landing.

  Hold on tight because this storm might result in a rough landing.

• It was a rough landing, and several bags fell out of the overhead bins.

  It was a rough landing, and several bags fell out of the overhead bins.

• I always get nervous when a flight ends with a rough landing.

  I always get nervous when a flight ends with a rough landing.

• The pilot apologized for the rough landing, blaming the wet runway.

  The pilot apologized for the rough landing, blaming the wet runway.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The plane had a hard land.

  ✓ The plane had a rough landing.

  'Landing' is the correct noun form here, and 'rough' or 'hard' are the standard adjectives.

• ✗ We experienced a violent landing.

  ✓ We experienced a rough landing.

  While a landing can feel aggressive, 'violent' is too extreme and dramatic; 'rough' or 'hard' is the standard terminology.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The plane bounced twice on the runway during that ___.

  💡 An uncomfortable, bumpy touchdown.

  Show answer

  rough landing

• Because of the heavy snowstorm, we are expecting a ___.

  💡 The opposite of a smooth touchdown.

  Show answer

  rough landing