{"id":15656,"date":"2023-04-18T22:09:24","date_gmt":"2023-04-19T05:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><br><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">80+ Sports Idioms with meanings and Examples<\/mark><br><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading --"},"modified":"2023-04-18T22:09:27","modified_gmt":"2023-04-19T05:09:27","slug":"80-sports-idioms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/80-sports-idioms\/","title":{"rendered":"80+ Sports Idioms"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"words-head\" id=\"words-1194946396\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5017566440575750\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5017566440575750\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3340569236\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">80+ Sports Idioms with meanings and Examples<\/mark><br><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sports Idioms! List of commonly used <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/idioms?category=idioms-about-sport\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/idioms?category=idioms-about-sport\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sport idioms<\/a><\/strong> in English with meaning and examples. Learn these sports phrases (baseball idioms, football idioms, tennis idioms\u2026) to improve your English.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">At the top of your game<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>performing at your best<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The tennis player was at the top of his game during the finals.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Ball is in your court<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>it&#8217;s your turn to take action<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>We&#8217;ve made our offer, now the ball is in their court.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Bend over backwards<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to make a great effort or sacrifice to please someone<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>He bent over backwards to make sure his client was satisfied.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Beat the buzzer<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to complete something just in time<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The basketball team beat the buzzer with a last-second shot.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Caught off guard<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>taken by surprise<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The team was caught off guard by the sudden change in the game plan.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Clear the bases<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to hit a home run with runners on base, clearing them all<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The baseball player cleared the bases with a grand slam.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Dead in the water<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>unable to make progress or achieve a goal<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The team&#8217;s lack of funding left them dead in the water.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Drop the ball<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to make a mistake or fail to do something<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The quarterback dropped the ball, costing his team the game.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Ballpark Figure<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>A rough estimate<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>A ballpark figure for the cost of the new stadium would be $150,000,000.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Field of dreams<\/mark><\/strong><br><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>a place or situation where anything can happen and great things are possible<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The basketball court was a field of dreams for the young players.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Get a second wind<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to regain energy or enthusiasm after being tired or discouraged<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>After struggling in the first half, the team got a second wind and came back to win.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Get the ball rolling<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to start something<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Let&#8217;s get the ball rolling on this project and see what we can accomplish.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Set the Bar (Too) High<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>To set a high standard for something<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The college sets the bar high when it comes to admission. You have to have really good grades, plus a variety of extracurricular activities.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Go for broke<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to take a big risk in pursuit of success<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The entrepreneur decided to go for broke and invest all his savings into his startup.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Hand in glove<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>working together seamlessly<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The quarterback and wide receiver worked hand in glove to score a touchdown.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Give Someone a Run for Their Money<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Compete effectively with the leader in a particular field<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Toyota has been the best-selling car in this country for many years, but I think that this year Honda will give them a run for their money.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Hit it out of the park<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to achieve great success or do something exceptionally well<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The singer hit it out of the park with her latest album.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Heavy Hitter<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>A powerful, influential person<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Swedish producer Max Martin has been one of the heavy hitters in the music industry for more than 20 years.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Hurdle<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>an obstacle or challenge<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The team had to overcome many hurdles to win the championship.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">In the home stretch<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>nearing the end of a race or project<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>We&#8217;re in the home stretch of this project and just need to finish a few more tasks.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Hang Tough<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Maintain one\u2019s resolve<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>When I asked my boss for a raise, I told myself I should hang tough. But I agreed to keep working for the same salary.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Jump the gun<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to start something too soon or prematurely<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The basketball player jumped the gun and committed a foul before the game began.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Keep your eye on the ball<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to stay focused on your goal or task<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The coach told the team to keep their eye on the ball and not get distracted by the opposing team.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Knock it out of the park<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to do something exceptionally well<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The sales team knocked it out of the park with their latest campaign.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">On Deck<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Next; having the next turn<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>I\u2019ll call you back in an hour. The speaker is almost finished, and I\u2019m on deck.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Leave it all on the field<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to give your best effort and not hold anything back<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The soccer team left it all on the field in the championship game.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">One-Two Punch<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>A powerful sequence of two events<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The area has been devastated by the one-two punch of a cyclone followed by a gas leak.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Jump Through Hoops<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Complete a series of tasks in order to satisfy someone<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The boss is making me jump through hoops on this project, but I\u2019m almost finished.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Level the playing field<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to create a fair and equal opportunity for everyone involved<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The new policy was designed to level the playing field for all employees.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Monday Morning Quarterback<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Someone who offers criticisms or comments after already knowing the outcome of something<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>It\u2019s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and say we should have sold the stocks, but the fact is there was no way to know they were doing to decline in value.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Light a fire under<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to motivate or inspire someone to take action<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The coach lit a fire under the team at halftime and they came out with renewed energy.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Kick Ass, Kick Butt<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Defeat badly<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Madrid won most of our matches during the season, but we kicked ass in the playoffs.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">On the ropes<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>in a difficult or vulnerable position<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The boxer was on the ropes and in danger of losing the fight.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Out of left field<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>unexpected or surprising<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The new proposal came out of left field and caught everyone off guard.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Hit the Ground Running<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>To begin a job or project with no learning or training period needed<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>If you hire Jean, you won\u2019t need to train her; she\u2019ll be ready to hit the ground running.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Play hardball<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to be aggressive and unyielding in negotiations<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The company decided to play hardball in the contract negotiations.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Par for the Course<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>What would normally be expected. This has a negative connotation.<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Patricia asked for the job at the last minute again. I\u2019d be annoyed, but I guess it\u2019s par for the course.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Pull out all the stops<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to do everything possible to achieve a goal<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The team pulled out all the stops to win the championship.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Raise the Bar<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Increase standards in a certain competition or area of endeavor<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The Tesla cars have raised the bar for all makers of electric cars.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Put all your eggs in one basket<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to focus all your resources or efforts on one thing, with the risk of losing everything if it fails<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The investor put all his eggs in one basket and invested heavily in a single company.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Roll With the Punches<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Deal with problems by being flexible<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The boss gave Jason a really hard time during his first year on the job, but Jason rolled with the punches, and now he has an easier time of it.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Rally the troops<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to gather and motivate a group of people to work together towards a common goal<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The CEO rallied the troops to launch a new product line.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Rookie Mistake<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>An error made by an inexperienced person<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Trying to put in too many subplots is a common rookie mistake among first-time novelists.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Play Ball<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Cooperate, agree to participate<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>We\u2019d love to have our competitors participate, but if they won\u2019t play ball, we\u2019ll go it alone.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Run interference<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to block or distract someone from a goal or task<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The assistant ran interference for the CEO, keeping distractions at bay so he could focus on his work.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Score a touchdown<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to achieve great success<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The new product launch scored a touchdown with customers.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Skate on thin ice<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to take a risk that could have negative consequences<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The employee was skating on thin ice when he missed his deadline for the third time.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Take one for the team<\/mark><\/strong><br><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>to make a sacrifice for the benefit of the group<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The employee decided to take one for the team and work overtime to finish a project.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">(The) Ball\u2019s in Your Court<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>It\u2019s your turn to make an offer or decision.<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>We\u2019ve lowered the price as much as we can. Now the ball\u2019s in your court.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Take the ball and run with it<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to take advantage of an opportunity and make the most of it<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The new employee took the ball and ran with it, impressing the CEO with her initiative.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Come Out Swinging<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Respond to something very aggressively<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The president came out swinging after his aides were accused of corruption.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Pick Up the Slack<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Do something that someone else is not doing; assume someone else\u2019s responsibilities<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>I\u2019m going on vacation, but please contact Janelle in my office for anything you need. She\u2019ll be there to pick up the slack.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">The ball&#8217;s in your court<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>it&#8217;s your turn to take action<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>I&#8217;ve given you all the information you need, now the ball&#8217;s in your court to make a decision.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">(To Throw Someone a) Curveball<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Say or do something unexpected to someone<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The boss really threw me a curveball when he told me I\u2019d have to work through my vacation.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Throw in the towel<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to give up or surrender<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The boxer threw in the towel after the tenth round, unable to continue.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">A Horse in This Race<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>To have no preference in the outcome of a competition<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>I\u2019m fine with either Olivia or Jason as president. I don\u2019t have a horse in this race.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Toe the Line<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Accept authority, follow the rules<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>There\u2019s room for debate about the new sales program, but we need everyone to toe the line in presenting it consistently.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Pipped to the Post<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Defeated by a narrow margin<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The incumbent president was leading for most of the campaign, but he was pipped to the post by the opposition leader in the end.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Time out<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>a break or pause in the action<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The coach called a time out to regroup the team and come up with a new strategy.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Against The Run Of Play<\/mark><\/strong><br><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>Atypical of the way a game has been going<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Man United scored two goals against the run of play but lost badly in the end.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Touch base<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to check in or make contact with someone<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Let&#8217;s touch base next week to go over the project status.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Get in Shape<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Undertake a program of physical conditioning; exercise regularly<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>I gained a lot of weight over the holidays and never left the house. I really need to hit the gym and get in shape.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Up to par<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>meeting the expected standard<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The employee&#8217;s performance was up to par and exceeded expectations.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Nail-Biter<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>A suspenseful event<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Last night\u2019s soccer (football) match was a real nail-biter, finally decided by a shootout.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Win by a nose<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to win narrowly, by a small margin<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The horse won by a nose in the photo finish.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Hat Trick<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Scoring three goals in hockey or soccer (football), or accomplishing three of anything.<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The striker scored a hat trick in the first five minutes, and after that the match was never close.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Victory Lap<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Visible public appearances after a victory or accomplishment<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The president has been taking a victory lap, appearing on numerous talk shows after his re-election.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Up to Scratch<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Meeting a basic standard of competence or quality<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>I\u2019m going to have to send Katrina back to headquarters for more training. Her work is just not up to scratch yet.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">X-factor<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>an unknown or unquantifiable quality that sets someone or something apart<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The athlete&#8217;s x-factor was his incredible work ethic and determination.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">You can&#8217;t make an omelette without breaking eggs<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>you can&#8217;t achieve something great without taking some risks or making sacrifices<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The CEO knew that expanding the business would be risky, but reminded the team that you can&#8217;t make an omelette without breaking eggs.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Step Up to the Plate<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Prepare to take action, be the person in a group who takes action<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>We can sell cars in the Brazilian market, but someone is going to have to step up to the plate and research the import regulations.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Zero sum game<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>a situation in which one person&#8217;s gain is equal to another person&#8217;s loss<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The negotiations turned into a zero sum game, with both parties unwilling to compromise.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Step Up One\u2019s Game<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Work to advance to a higher level of a competition<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>You need to step up your game if you want to win the championship. Sanchez is going to be very difficult to beat.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Tough Sledding<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Difficult progress<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Our competitor\u2019s model dominates the market, so ours is facing tough sledding.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Ace up your sleeve<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>a secret or advantage that can be used to gain an advantage<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The negotiator had an ace up his sleeve, a key piece of information that he used to gain leverage.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Back to square one<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>back to the starting point or beginning<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>After months of negotiations, the two companies ended up back at square one with no progress made.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Take a Hike<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Go away<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>Maybe you could take a hike while we discuss salaries.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Sink or Swim<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Fail or succeed<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>I\u2019ve helped him as much as I can in that class. Now he\u2019s going to have to sink or swim.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Behind the eight ball<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>in a difficult or disadvantageous position<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The team was behind the eight ball after losing their star player to injury.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Take a Deep Dive<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Explore something extensively<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>In today\u2019s lecture, we\u2019re going to take a deep dive into quantum physics. Hope you\u2019re ready to take notes!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Big cheese<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>an important or influential person<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The CEO was the big cheese at the company.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Slam Dunk<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>An effort that is certain to succeed<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>I have studied so hard \u2013 acing the exam should be a slam dunk.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Bounce back<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to recover quickly from a setback<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The team bounced back from their loss and won the next game.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Sticky Wicket<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>A difficult, tricky situation<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>There are strong trade relations between China and Malaysia, but the issue of the South China Sea is something of a sticky wicket.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Cutting corners<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>to take shortcuts or skip steps in order to save time or money<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The contractor was accused of cutting corners to finish the project on time.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Take the Gloves Off<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>Negotiate in a more aggressive way<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>We\u2019ve already offered concessions to management, but they haven\u2019t responded. It\u2019s time to take the gloves off and threaten a strike.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Dead in the water<br><\/mark>Meaning: <\/strong>without any hope of success or progress<br><strong>Example: <\/strong>The proposal was dead in the water after it was rejected by the board.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.users.wordsdaily\" target=\"_blank\"><br>Download Word Coach Application<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.english.app.wordsearch\" target=\"_blank\">English Word Search Game<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark>Play Word Coach Game:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/quiz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click Here.<\/a><\/mark><br><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>80+ Sports Idioms with meanings and Examples<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9341,81,146],"tags":[29,82,147,13162],"class_list":["post-15656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-9341","category-idioms","category-phrases","tag-english","tag-idioms","tag-phrases","tag-sports-idioms"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15656\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}