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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jim M." data-source="post: 1235081" data-attributes="member: 60675">Well, I agree there is no entirely straightforward explanation, but I never had to ask anybody what "dip" meant.  According to my dictionary, one of the meanings of "dip" is "to drop or sink out of sight, especially suddenly", also "to lower or drop suddenly".  If you dip in this sense, such as while driving, you will be unable to see things you would have otherwise.  So perhaps the reason I find it intuitive is that if you " dip" on a bird, you would miss seeing it just as you would miss things if you dipped while driving or walking.   Or perhaps just the idea that a "dip" is an omission from the ordinary course of affairs makes it easier to guess.Best,Jim</blockquote>