Sports & Games

Competition, recreation, and the language of play

はじめに

スポーツは英語にとびきりカラフルな表現をもたらしました。クリケットの「sticky wicket（やっかいな状況）」から野球の「out of left field（予想外の方向から）」まで、スポーツのメタファーは英語圏の日常会話に深く浸透しています。

イギリス英語はクリケット、フットボール（サッカー）、競馬から多くを取り入れ、アメリカ英語は野球、アメフト、バスケットボールの用語が豊富。オーストラリア英語は独自のフッティ（オーストラリアン・フットボール）スラングと賭け好きな文化を反映しています。

この章では競争の言葉を学びます——グラウンドからパブまで、勝利から敗北まで、そしてその間のすべて。

テーマ

この章の英語スラング一覧（65）

• Sticky wicket A difficult or awkward situation.
• Not cricket Not fair or not proper; unsporting behaviour.
• Bowl a googly To deceive or confuse someone with an unexpected move.
• Curveball An unexpected or deceptive situation or question.
• Out of left field Completely unexpected or unusual.
• Ballpark figure A rough estimate or approximate number.
• Bowled over Extremely impressed or surprised.
• Kick off To start something; also to become angry (British).
• Score an own goal To accidentally harm your own side; a self-defeating action.
• Move the goalposts To unfairly change the rules or requirements midway.
• Level playing field A fair situation where everyone has equal opportunity.
• On the ropes In serious trouble; near defeat.
• Throw in the towel To give up or admit defeat.
• Below the belt Unfair or unsporting; a mean or underhanded action.
• Down for the count Defeated; unable to continue.
• Heavy hitter An influential or powerful person.
• Touch base To make brief contact with someone.
• Home run A complete success; achieving everything you wanted.
• Slam dunk A sure thing; a guaranteed success.
• Full-court press An aggressive all-out effort.
• Hail Mary A desperate last-ditch attempt.
• Monday morning quarterback Someone who criticizes decisions after the fact.
• Game plan A strategy or plan of action.
• Playbook A set of strategies or standard procedures.
• Run interference To protect someone from obstacles or distractions.
• Punt To delay or give up on something (American); to bet or take a risk (British).
• Par for the course Normal or expected; typical for the situation.
• Under par Below standard; feeling unwell.
• Front runner The leading candidate or competitor.
• Dark horse An unknown competitor who might surprisingly win.
• Down to the wire Remaining uncertain until the last moment.
• Photo finish A race or competition so close it needs a photograph to determine the winner.
• Neck and neck Exactly even in a race or competition.
• Have a flutter To place a small bet, usually on horses or games.
• Straight from the horse's mouth Information from the most authoritative source.
• The ball is in your court It's your turn to take action or respond.
• Underdog The competitor expected to lose.
• In the running Still having a chance to win or succeed.
• Good sport Someone who accepts defeat gracefully or goes along with things cheerfully.
• Sore loser Someone who gets angry or bitter when they lose.
• Fair and square Honestly and according to the rules.
• Play ball To cooperate or participate.
• The whole nine yards Everything; the complete amount or effort.
• Bench warmer A substitute player who rarely gets to play.
• Huddle up To gather together for a private discussion.
• Batting a thousand Having a perfect record; succeeding every time.
• run rings around outperform someone completely
• kick into touch postpone or abandon something
• on a sticky wicket in a difficult situation
• play with a straight bat behave honestly and fairly
• go the distance complete something despite difficulty
• roll with the punches adapt to difficulties
• hole in one perfect first attempt
• tee up prepare or set up something
• full court press aggressive all-out effort
• whole new ballgame completely different situation
• ace up your sleeve secret advantage held in reserve
• play your cards close to your chest keep plans secret
• show your hand reveal your plans or intentions
• up the ante increase the stakes or demands
• checkmate defeat with no escape possible
• pawn in the game someone used by others
• on the home straight approaching completion
• the odds are the probability is
• long shot unlikely to succeed