Sports idioms

Glossary of Sports Slang and Idioms Used in Casual American Conversation

ace

Baseball: A team’s best starting pitcher. Also used as a verb, meaning “did very well.” Example: “I aced that test today.”

ball is in one's (or another's) court

Tennis: Responsibility now belongs to the person named; often in the sentence "The ball is in your court", meaning it is now up to you.

bare-knuckle

Boxing: Characterised by a fiercely unrelenting or implacable character. Bare-knuckle boxing is the more savage precursor to forms of boxing that mandate gloves.

beat (someone) to the punch

Boxing: To make the first decisive move. A boxer who first strikes his opponent has beaten him to the punch.

beezer

Boxing: The nose. Example: “I got hit in the beezer.”

behind the eight-ball

From the game of pool. In a very bad position, perhaps inextricably bad.

bench; on the bench; warm/ride the bench

To bench someone is to remove someone from participation; to be on the bench or to warm or ride the bench is to be so removed, to observe without participating, or to wait for one's chance to participate. A bench-clearing fight is a fight that breaks out on the playing field and draws all players from the dugout or bench.

blitz

Football. A defensive attack in football where several defensive players who normally cover running or passing routes rush the passer. In common usage, an intense campaign to get a job done, as in “I went on a housework blitz over the weekend.”

blow-by-blow

Boxing: In reference to a verbal or written account, means providing great detail: for example, "a blow-by-blow description of the movie." Sometimes simplified to the nominal phrase "blow-by-blow" as in "You saw what happened, give me the blow-by-blow."

bowl over

Cricket: To astonish or overwhelm. The cricket term means to knock both of the bails off the wicket.

bump and run

Football. A technique used to slow down a player so something else can be accomplished on the field. Also, a car theft technique.

bush league

An amateur play or behaviour.

carry the ball

Football, rugby: To take charge, to assume responsibility.

cheap shot

A deliberate foul against an unsuspecting player. In conversation, an unfair or unsporting verbal attack on a vulnerable target.

come out fighting or come out swinging

Boxing: To go immediately on the offensive, often pre-emptively; or, to strongly defend oneself or one's beliefs.

curve ball

Baseball. A pitch that veers to one side in order to trick the batter. Anything unexpected or designed to deceive.

down and out

Boxing: Lacking money or prospects; penniless or destitute. A boxer who is "down" has been knocked to the canvas, and one who is also "out" is unconscious or unable to resume the fight. Thus, a down-and-out person is utterly defeated.

down for the count; out for the count

Boxing: To be defeated. Refers to a boxer being knocked down; the referee will count off ten seconds, the time allotted for the boxer to regain his feet or lose the fight. Down for the count may imply a temporary setback, as down does not necessarily imply out.

down to the wire

Horse racing: To the very end or last minute. From the length of wire stretched across a racetrack at the finish line.

drop the ball

Baseball, rugby, American football, etc: To make an error, to miss an opportunity.

drop back and punt

Football. It means that you are running out of options and you need to go with your last resort, or cut your losses by moving away from the situation.

drop the gloves

Ice hockey: To engage in a fight, whether figurative or literal. Refers to the act of hockey players throwing off their gloves to punch with bare knuckles.

full-court press

Basketball: An all-out effort to exert pressure. In basketball, full-court press is an aggressive defense strategy in which the defenders put pressure on the opposing team over the entire court, trying to disrupt their dribbling and passing.

fumble

Football: When any offensive player loses possession of the ball before a play is blown dead. To touch or handle nervously, as in “I am fumbling for my keys.”

gambit

Boxing: A strategy or tactic; chess: an opening system that involves a pawn sacrifice to gain the initiative right from the start. Often used in the expression “opening gambit.”

get the ball rolling

Some ball games: To start an endeavor. Some ball games are started by rolling a ball into play. “John, why don’t you get the ball rolling at our staff meeting this morning?”

glass jaw

Boxing: Vulnerability, especially of a public figure, to destructive criticism. In boxing, a fighter who is especially vulnerable or susceptible to a knockout is said to have a glass jaw.

the gloves are off

Boxing, Hockey: See take off the gloves.

go the distance

Boxing: Carry through a course of action to completion. A boxer goes the distance when he can fight through all the scheduled rounds.

go to bat

Baseball: Stand up and support someone, or take someone’s side, usually in a dispute.

go to the mat

Wrestling: To engage in an argument or dispute, especially until one side is victorious.

move the goalposts

Football: To change the rules to make it difficult or easier for others to achieve something.

Hail Mary

Football: Any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success.

hands down

Horse racing: With great ease; unconditionally; often in the phrase to win hands down.

hang time

Basketball: Amount of time a player or ball is in the air. In common usage, people “hang around” or “hang out.”

hat-trick

Cricket: A threefold feat in an endeavor. In bowling, three strikes in a row is known as a “turkey.”

have someone in your corner

Boxing: To have the support or help of someone.

heavy hitter

Boxing: An important or influential individual or organisation.

heavyweight

Boxing: A person of great influence or importance. A boxing weight division of 175 pounds (79.5 kg) or higher.

hit below the belt

Boxing: To act unfairly or unscrupulously, in disregard of the rules.

hit it out of the park

Baseball: Doing something very well. Refers to a powerful hit that leaves the ballpark.

hit a home run

Baseball: Scoring by hitting the ball and running all four bases. Also called a homer, dinger, or moon shot.

home stretch or homestretch

Horse racing: The final phase of an endeavour or project.

hoops

Slang for the game of basketball.

huddle

When players group to discuss an upcoming play. Also used in meetings or brainstorming.

hurler on the ditch

Hurling: A non-participant who criticises from outside.

in-fighting, infighting

Boxing: Close-quarter fighting. Also, internal conflict within an organisation.

work out, work-out, workout

To exercise or practise, especially in terms of physical training.

kayo, K.O.

Boxing: To put out of commission. From the boxing phrase "knockout" (knock unconscious), abbreviated "K.O." and pronounced and often written as "kayo".

keep one's eye on the ball

Ball games: To remain alert. In most games involving balls, it is important for players to keep track of the ball.

keep the ball rolling

Some ball games: To keep a conversation or endeavour from flagging.

kisser

The mouth or face, as in “He got smacked right in the kisser.”

lead with one's chin

Boxing: To speak without caution, or to leave oneself unprotected.

lightweight

Boxing: (A person or thing) of little importance or ability. A boxing weight division of boxers weighing no more than 135 pounds or 60.7 kg.

low blow

Boxing: An unscrupulous or unfair attack or insult. Refers to an illegal punch below the belt.

Monday morning quarterback

American football: A person who criticises or passes judgement with benefit of hindsight.

no holds barred

Wrestling: With all restrictions relaxed.

by a nose

See win by a nose.

on deck

Baseball: The player who will bat next. Also used for anyone next in line.

on the ropes

Boxing: On the verge of defeat.

one-two (punch), the old one-two

Boxing: An attack consisting of two punches in rapid succession.

play ball (with)

Baseball: To cooperate or act fairly.

pull one's punches

Boxing: To use less force than one is capable of; to be gentle or lenient.

punch-drunk

Boxing: Dazed, confused, or behaving erratically due to repeated blows.

punchy

Boxing: Similar to punch-drunk; also, in a state of nervous tension or fatigue.

push it over the goal line

Football: Complete the activity or project.

quarterback

American football: One who directs or leads; also used as a verb.

redshirt

A college player who skips a year of play without losing eligibility. Also used in education.

ringer

Horse racing: An imposter, especially one misrepresenting their ability in competition.

ringside judge

Boxing: A person who follows a topic closely.

ringside seat, ringside table

Boxing: A place providing a good view of something.

roll with the punches

Boxing: To adapt to difficult circumstances.

round

A single phase of an endeavour or contest.

run interference

Football: To handle problems for someone or clear the way.

saved by the bell

Boxing: To be saved from misfortune or unpleasantness by a timely interruption.

sideline; on/from the sidelines

To remove from participation. Used when someone is benched or forced to observe.

slam-dunk

Basketball: A forceful, dramatic move. In basketball, a powerful shot into the basket.

slap-happy

Boxing: Synonym for punch-drunk; also means carefree, casual, or irresponsible.

sparring partner

Boxing: A person with whom one routinely argues or practises for improvement.

square off

Boxing: To assume a fighting stance or attitude.

subway alumni

The followers of a college team who didn’t attend or graduate from the institution.

sucker punch

Boxing: An unexpected blow.

Sunday punch

Boxing: A destructive blow that knocks an opponent out.

take a dive

Boxing: To pretend to be knocked out to intentionally lose a fight.

take it on the chin

Boxing: To suffer misfortune or defeat.

take off the gloves

Boxing, hockey: To attack earnestly or without mercy.

take the (full) count

Boxing: To be defeated by not getting up before the 10-count.

throw in the towel

Boxing: To surrender or admit defeat.

throw one's hat into the ring

Boxing: To signify one’s candidacy or enter a contest.

thursday morning tippy tappys

Soccer: A person who criticises with hindsight, especially after midweek matches.

under the wire

Horse racing: At the very last moment; barely within limits.

utility player

A player who fills in at many positions. Used to describe someone who multitasks well.

win by a nose

Horse racing: To succeed by a very narrow margin.

wheelhouse

Baseball: A person’s area of expertise or comfort zone.

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