joyride

• joy ride

joy +‎ ride

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɔɪˌɹaɪd/

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• Hyphenation: joy‧ride

joyride (plural joyrides)

1. A ride in a vehicle taken for enjoyment.

   Synonym: (Canada) rip

   • 2004 October, John Brodie, “Driving Privileges”, in Vanity Fair, number 530, New York: Condé Nast, page 158:

     Launched last March, the H.C.C. is similar to a country club-except, instead of playing golf, members take joyrides or leisurely weekend trips in any of the top-of-the-line cars housed in a Century City garage.

   • 2013 July 7, Heather Salerno, “Go for a Wet and Wild Joyride Down the Hudson”, in The Journal News, White Plains, New York: Gannett Co.:

     It's called the Beast for a reason: You literally hold on to your hat -- and your sunglasses, and anything else that isn't secured -- for a 30-minute joyride. Painted to look like a bright green, sharp-toothed shark, this 70-foot racing boat zips down the Hudson, skips over waves and zooms past the Empire State Building and other landmarks at up to 45 mph.

2. An instance of driving a motor vehicle in a carefree or reckless manner, especially a vehicle which has been taken without the permission of the owner.
   • 2008 September 13, Sam Emanuel, “Thieves go for spin in stolen go-karts”, in Norwich Evening News‎, retrieved 25 September 2008:

     Thieves took three go-karts for a joyride through the streets of Norwich.

3. An enjoyable experience.
   • 2018 March 13, Rick Steves, “First time in France? Here are some tips from Rick Steves”, in The Seattle Times, Seattle, Washington:

     Treat your taste buds. A good meal is a three-hour joyride for the senses — as rich as visiting an art gallery and as stimulating as a good massage.

• (ride taken for enjoyment): joy-flight

joyride (third-person singular simple present joyrides, present participle joyriding, simple past joyrode, past participle joyridden)

1. (intransitive) To take a joyride.
   • c. 1969, Richard Brautigan, Death is a Beautiful Parked Car Only:

     You joyride around for a while listening / to the radio, and then abandon death, walk / away, and leave death for the police / to find.

   • 2008 August 27, Laura Albanese, “Joyriding teen arrested on delinquency charge”, in Newsday‎, retrieved 25 September 2008:

     His parents were out shopping and he used the opportunity to snatch the keys to the 1999 Suzuki Esteem and joyride around the neighborhood.

• joyrider
• joyriding