Spider-like?

[seun]

If you read a description of a character moving spider-like, how would you picture it? Running fast but with purpose or in a jerky, stop start motion?

[Use Her Name]

jerky stop start, also a bit timid, tapping uncertainly.

[Fenika]

Dashing about with legs wide (which would give me a funny image). Not jerky at all, but sudden starts and stops. (Which, btw, is b/c their primitive lungs can only handle a short sprint) :D

[blacbird]

Advancing in the manner of Richard Nixon.

caw

[Lady Cat]

I wouldn't picture them running at all, more like crawling or climbing.

Like Spiderman when he climbs walls. :D

[seun]

I pictured the character (she's supernatural which might make some difference, I suppose) moving in a jerky, discomforting way. I want my human characters to see the approaching thing and be unsure how she will move. What came to mind first was a certain scene in Ringu...

[RedScylla]

The word "scuttling" comes to mind.

[seun]

The word "scuttling" comes to mind.

Exactly.

[Inky]

Eight legs came to mind.
Then something shooting from his/her rear...suddenly, character is dangling...

It brought a few giggles....

I think scuttle would be better.

[Lady Cat]

Whenever I've watched spiders (making sure they're moving away from me so I don't have to call my husband to deal with them) I've noticed they move quickly, with a definite purpose, but freeze if they're sensing danger or movement.

One of my favorite Charles de Lint books, Forests of the Heart, features a woman who can change into a spider and a couple of the descriptions for the spider's movement are: ". . . the spider suddenly launched itself forward, leaping ove rthe rocks and scuttling down the far side with blinding speed." and "At one point, the spider eschewed a slower, more roundabout passage by securing a dragline and dropping them down a thirty-foot drop with a stomach-lurching motion."

[Inky]

See, now THAT works because the description went more into word painting depth!

[dpaterso]

Indeed, creepy well girl from O Ringu. My laptop screen is doing weird things.

-Derek

[seun]

My laptop screen is doing weird things.

-Derek

Enough of your personal problems.

[HeronW]

I think of Catherine Zeta-Jones in the movie Entrapment with Sean Connery. The way CZJ moves over the lazer grid is very spider-like--precision motions, careful placement of all 4 limbs. Clambering quickly on 4 limbs over rubble is the closest to running like one. On 2 legs it doesn't feel like a good metaphor.

[Charlie Horse]

John McCain immediately comes to mind.

[gabbleandhiss]

Like Linda Blair in The Exorcist.

http://www.best-horror-movies.com/images/Exorcist-spider-girl.jpg

[Inky]

Thank you.
It only took 26 years to get that vision outa my head.

*Googles brain-bleach*

[MumblingSage]

If you read a description of a character moving spider-like, how would you picture it? Running fast but with purpose or in a jerky, stop start motion?

When I used this word myself (only once, and then I deleted if--you'll see why), I used it to mean a way of moving that consists of rapid movements that individually are smooth, and the limbs sort of 'unfold' as the person moves, but when you put the movements together you get a somewhat jerky motion. It was meant to be graceful, in an eerie sort of way. So that's probably how I'd read it.

[tehuti88]

If you read a description of a character moving spider-like, how would you picture it? Running fast but with purpose or in a jerky, stop start motion?

Scuttling along on all fours, quickly and nimbly, darting from place to place.

Our house is host to numerous wild spiders. None of them ever move in a jerky way. They're always very adept at getting where they're going. But they do stop and start a lot as they dart from spot to spot. It's not jerky or halting, it's just...well, stop-start-stop-start-stop-start, dart dart dart. Zip zip zip. Almost like they're not moving at all, but are teleporting from one spot to another. When they're moving a longer distance, they scuttle, legs all trundling along rapidly, but still gracefully. Ziiiiiiiiiip.

And in truth, I would never describe somebody running on two feet as moving in a spiderlike fashion. They'd have to be on all fours. But that's just me.

ETA: Hey cool! I didn't even read the previous posts and I see "scuttling" is already repeatedly mentioned! I have to add, too, that the strides (while crawling) would be very wide--very long reaches with arms and legs.

[josephwise]

The word "scuttling" comes to mind.

Or "skittering."

[The Lonely One]

I recently wrote a science fiction story where the characters were described as "spider-like."

Consequently, the characters were from Europa and had 10 legs/20 eyes each and resembled giant spiders.

Probably not what you were going for...

[hammerklavier]

The really big ones (hand sized) do move in a jerky manner when they are running. I guess it's because they get moving almost too fast for their legs to keep up, sort of like a toddler.

[Adam Hammonds]

I have absolutely no mental image of a man moving spider-like. For me, a spider's image is all about a motionless but terrifying creature. I think if you use spider-like as your adjective here you're asking it to do much more than it's capable of.

[seun]

The really big ones (hand sized) do move in a jerky manner when they are running. I guess it's because they get moving almost too fast for their legs to keep up, sort of like a toddler.

That's more or less how I pictured it. Frightening thought.