Quicksand

Origin

From Middle English quyksande, from Old English cwecesand ("quicksand"), from Proto-Germanic *kwikwaz ("living, active") + Proto-Germanic *samdaz, *samdÄ… ("sand"), equivalent to quick("living") + sand. Cognate with Dutch kwikzand ("quicksand"), German Quicksand ("quicksand"), Icelandic kwiksandur, kviksyndi ("quicksand"). More at quick, sand.

Full definition of quicksand

Noun

1. Wet sand that things readily sink in, often found near rivers or coastsMy feet were firmly lodged in the quicksand, and the more I struggled the more I sank into it.
2. Anything that pulls one down or buries one metaphoricallyThe quicksands of youth...