Sports & Games

Competition, recreation, and the language of play

Introduction

Sport has given English some of its most colorful expressions. From cricket's "sticky wicket" to baseball's "out of left field," sporting metaphors have infiltrated everyday speech across the English-speaking world.

British English draws heavily from cricket, football (soccer), and horse racing. American English is rich with baseball, American football, and basketball terminology. Australian English contributes its unique footy slang and love of the punt.

This chapter covers the language of competition—from the playing field to the pub, from winning to losing, and everything in between.

Themes

All British Slang & Idioms in This Chapter (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