The plural of skid, meaning to slide uncontrollably or the marks left by something sliding; also refers to wooden platforms used to move heavy objects.
From Old Norse 'skíð' meaning 'stick' or 'piece of wood.' The sliding sense emerged in the 17th century when the word was applied to logs or devices that reduced friction during movement.
The phrase 'on the skids' meaning in decline actually comes from old logging camps where greased wooden skids helped move massive logs downhill—so your bad luck literally 'slides' like timber!
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