Sports Idioms
Sport plays an important role in many cultures, and can bring people together as well as cause tension. It also has an effect on the way people speak. Throughout the years, many sports idioms have appeared in the English language.
Here are some of the most common sports idioms in everyday use. See if you can use any of them in conversation. If you use them already, do you know where the phrases come from?
The ball is in your court
Meaning: the responsibility is with that person to make a decision
Origin: Tennis, or other court-based games. The ‘court’ is the area you play a tennis match in, so when the ball is in the opponent’s court, it is their turn to play.
Example: “I sent Walter the details, so the ball is in his court.”
Down to the wire
Meaning: When the outcome of something is only decided at the very end
Origin: Horse racing. Before cameras, there was a wire placed along the finish line at horse races, to help see which horse crossed the line first.
Example: “Tonight’s pub quiz could go right down to the wire.”
Music can be a great way to learn vocabulary: The Wire by HAIM uses the repeated phrase: "when it came down to the wire".
http://youtu.be/1TffpkE2GU4
Home straight (UK)/ Home stretch (US)
Meaning: the final part to a task or event
Origin: Horse racing. The final part of a race course is called the home straight, which leads to the finish line.
Example: “I’ve been practicing for my English test for weeks, but I’m finally on the home straight.”
Jump the gun
Meaning: to start too quickly
Origin: Racing. The phrase probably originates from foot-racing in athletics, where races are started by the firing of a gun. If you jump the gun, you begin running before the race has started.
Example: “We are still waiting for confirmation, so don’t jump the gun on this.”
Par for the course
Meaning: the expected result
Origin: Golf. A ‘par’ is the expected number of strokes you need to get the ball in the hole. If the hole is a ‘par 4’, you are expected to need 4 shots to complete it.
Example: “I can’t believe my coffee cost £4.” “That’s about par for the course.”
Saved by the bell
Meaning: to escape something bad happening at the last moment
Origin: Boxing. In boxing, a bell is rung at the end of each round. If a boxer is knocked down, the referee counts to ten. If they cannot get up, they lose the contest. If the bell rings while the count is going on, the boxer has until the start of the next round to recover. Hence they are saved by the bell.
Example: “I was in trouble with my girlfriend, but then she got a phone call.” “Saved by the bell!”
Do you know any other sports idioms? Use the comment section below to let us know your favorites.