20 Sports Expressions That Have Changed Spoken English Forever
This morning, I was casually listening to Jason Derulo's summer jam "Colors" - the official theme song of this year's FIFA World Cup, and it occurred to me: there are so many sports words and expressions in English out there that we, and particularly native speakers, use on a regular basis. I immediately pulled my laptop out of my bag and decided to write an article about it.
The song was still playing in the background while I was writing this, by the way...
Now, whether you're a fan of sports or not, chances are you'll really like this song. But, to give you a head start on other English learners, I decided to give you a look at some of the most important sports idioms that have totally reshaped the English language. Originating from a variety of sports, many of these have become widely adopted in everyday conversation over time.
Trust me, sports idioms are a big thing in the English language, in both formal and informal settings.
Just look at the ever-increasing popularity of the NBA, NFL, or even Major League Soccer in the United States, now that Zlatan is playing for the L.A. Galaxy. On the other end, we have the Grand Slam tournaments in tennis across the United Kingdom and Australia. Sports is rooted in the tradition of many native English-speaking countries, and as such, it's all around us.
So, let's dive right into it. (See what I did there? Dive? Sports? Ahh, never mind.)
A Quick Overview
Before we get the ball rolling, let's quickly touch base on what idioms actually are. In short, they're words which cannot be understood literally. They usually have a very specific meaning that you cannot simply guess from the words you see.
If you'd like to learn a ton more about idioms, read my previous article on the most frequently used idioms in English here.
Now, it's game time!
To get/set/start the ball rolling
Origin: croquet
Meaning: to begin something (synonym: to kick things off)
Example:
To get the ball rolling this semester, our first lesson will be about idioms!
To have the ball in one's court
Origin: tennis, basketball
Meaning: one needs to do something because it's their turn
Example:
We've brought you here. The ball's in your court now, so do as you please.
To bat a thousand
Origin: baseball
Meaning: to be extremely successful in one or multiple things; to never fail, regardless of the number of attempts you make
Example:
For the University of Oxford, Kenny was batting a thousand, and they would've given him an even higher scholarship if it meant having him enroll there.
Below the belt
Origin: boxing
Meaning: cruel, unfair, unacceptable
Example:
What you did was completely below the belt! It's unacceptable!
To throw a curve ball
Origin: baseball
Meaning: to deceive; to give false pretenses about something; to confuse someone by doing something tricky or unexpected
Example:
It's my fault! He threw me a curve ball and I didn't realize it up until now.
To jump the gun
Origin: foot racing
Meaning: to do something ahead of time; to rush (into) something
Example:
Stay patient. Don't jump the gun regardless of what happens.
To drop the ball
Origin: American football, baseball, cricket
Meaning: to fail to do something important; to make a (costly) mistake
Example:
I'm so disappointed right now. You've really dropped the ball with this one.
Down for the count
Origin: boxing
Meaning: almost defeated (synonym: to hang by a thread)
Example:
This was the first time Jasmin got knocked out let alone down for the count.
To throw in the towel
Origin: boxing
Meaning: to surrender
Typically, a boxer's trainer, who's sitting outside of the ring in their corner, has the right to throw a towel inside the ring at any point during a fight (typically when their fighter is getting badly beaten) to signal to the referee that they want the fight to be stopped immediately. At that point, the fight automatically stops and the win is credited to the opponent.
Example:
Are you throwing in the towel already? Don't you give up on me!
Eye on the ball
Origin: sports in general
Meaning: to have your focus on something
Example:
Once you have your eye on the ball, I want to you keep it there and never take it off!
Photo finish
Origin: racing in general
Meaning: extremely close ending
Whether it's foot, horse, or car racing, having a photo finish at the end of a race means that the race was extremely close. Typically, the winner is decided by milliseconds.
Example:
This competition had a photo finish. It was very close until the end.
Level/Even playing field
Origin: sports played on the ground, in general
Meaning: a situation (typically in a competition) in which neither party has the advantage over the other; when equal rules apply to all parties in a particular competition or situation
Example:
Oh, now it's on! It's an even playing field and I'm coming for the win!
Up to par
Origin: golf
Meaning: up to the standard/quality (of something/someone else)
Example:
We tried our best, but our skills are just not up to par with theirs.
To play hardball
Origin: baseball, softball
Meaning: to do something very aggressively/passionately (without regard for the possibly tougher competition)
Example:
You've got your serious face on. You must be here to play hardball.
In the ballpark
Origin: baseball
Meaning: similar to; in the same range as
Example:
The car we want is in the ballpark of some other Ford and Opel cars.
Saved by the bell
Origin: boxing
Meaning: to be saved from disaster by a sudden, unexpected event
Example:
Phew, that was very close. He definitely got saved by the bell.
Smooth sailing
Origin: sailing
Meaning: Before sailing even became a sports discipline at the Olympics, sailors of the world would describe their journeys as smooth if they had no obstacles in the way to their destination.
Example:
This semester was a smooth sail for Adrian. His GPA is 5.0.
To pitch something
Origin: baseball
Meaning: to suggest, design, or say something about an idea or product with the intent to sell it (most commonly used as a "sales pitch")
Example:
For the next meeting, I want all of you to pitch me your campaign ideas.
To hit the bull's eye/bullseye
Origin: darts
Meaning: to get/do something exactly right (synonym: to hit a home run)
Example:
Bull's eye! That's the answer I was looking for!
To give a blow-by-blow account of something
Origin: boxing
Meaning: to give a very detailed account/summary of something; to not omit a single detail about something when talking about it
Example:
When you come back home from your trip, I want you to give me a blow-by-blow account of everything that happened.
Conclusion
You know what they say:
"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
True, indeed. Knowing any of today's sports expressions is a unique way for you to step up to the plate as an English language learner. As we've mentioned in the beginning, native speakers use them in speech all the time. So, why not add this supercool vocabulary to your language, as well?
Until next time, the ball's in your court. Happy learning, everyone!