rough ride
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The practice of not applying a seat belt to a handcuffed detainee in a transport vehicle before driving erratically, causing that detainee to be violently shaken about.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Near-synonym: diesel therapy
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “rough ride” mean?
The practice of not applying a seat belt to a handcuffed detainee in a transport vehicle before driving erratically, causing that detainee to be violently shaken about.
Is “rough ride” formal or informal?
rough ride is generally slang.