bend sideways

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bend sideways" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a physical action where something or someone is bending to the side, often in a flexible or contorted manner. Example: "The gymnast was able to bend sideways with ease during her routine, showcasing her incredible flexibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

After a long moment, he instructed the boy to bend sideways and a little bit forward.

Huffington Post

If your hand cannot touch the bottom shoulder blade or you feel you need to bend sideways or shrug your shoulders in this attempt, your external shoulder rotators might be tight.

Huffington Post

Joints were not bent to bend sideways.

WikiHow

Perform several twists to either side, turning from your hips, and then bend sideways each way while keeping your feet in place.

WikiHow

Bend sideways to the left for 10 repetitions.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

She bent sideways as easily as backwards.

The New York Times - Arts

The pools are sparkling in the sunlight and the palm trees are no longer bent sideways.

The Guardian - Travel

And the demon Thodsakarn, while keeping one leg bent sideways, sometimes hops powerfully on the spot as if stamping sculpturally.

The New York Times - Arts

Sallie bent sideways toward me and extended her smooth perfect face to be kissed as I went past the bed with my baggage.

The New Yorker

I feasted repeatedly on the way the dancers' torsos easily bent sideways, this way or that; on the expressive detail of fingers (used both individually and together), hands and arms; on the strikingly fluent command of sustained turned-out leg-bend deep squats (like ballet's grand pliés); and on the springing sideways jumps with feet tucked up together (like pas de chat).

The New York Times - Arts

To make matters worse, the injury is in fact a re-injury: in March, in a game against the Mavericks, Kobe came down from a contested jump shot at such an odd a degree that the bulb of his ankle, bent sideways, kissed the court.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing exercises or physical movements, use "bend sideways" to clearly indicate a lateral flexion of the body, as this term is well-understood in fitness and medical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "bend sideways" metaphorically when a more appropriate term like "compromise" or "deviate" would better suit the intended meaning. "Bend sideways" is generally reserved for physical actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bend sideways" functions primarily as a verb phrase describing a physical action involving lateral flexion. Ludwig examples show its usage in the context of exercises, physical therapy, and describing body movements.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bend sideways" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe a lateral bending movement. Ludwig AI analysis of its usage reveals that it is most frequently found in news, media, and wiki sources. While its usage is not as common as other similar phrases, it's perfectly acceptable and clear to use when describing physical actions or exercises. When writing, be mindful to use it only in the appropriate physical context to avoid misuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lean to the side

Focuses on inclining the body or object laterally, rather than a distinct bending action.

flex laterally

Emphasizes the act of bending sideways using muscles.

incline sideways

Describes a more gradual tilting motion rather than a sharp bend.

tilt to the side

Suggests a slanting or sloping movement to one side.

curve to the side

Implies a smooth, continuous arc-like movement.

list to the side

Suggests an unbalanced leaning, potentially due to external force.

angle sideways

Highlights the formation of an angle relative to the original position.

deflect to the side

Suggests a forced change in direction towards the side.

divert laterally

Implies a more significant redirection of movement away from the original path.

cant to the side

A more technical term for tilting, often used in specific contexts like construction or photography.

FAQs

How can I use "bend sideways" in a sentence?

You can use "bend sideways" to describe a physical action. For example: "The instructor asked us to "bend sideways" during the stretching exercise."

What's a good alternative to "bend sideways"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "bend sideways" include "lean to the side" or "tilt to the side".

Is "bending sideways" the same as "side bending"?

"Bending sideways" and "side bending" are generally interchangeable, both referring to the act of flexing the body to the side. However, "side bending" is often used as a noun to name a specific type of exercise or movement, while "bending sideways" is used in a gerund form describing the same exercise.

When should I use "bend sideways" instead of "turn sideways"?

Use "bend sideways" when describing a lateral flexion or curvature of the body or an object. Use "turn sideways" when describing a rotation or change in orientation to face the side.