How to Play the Game: American English Sports & Games Idioms

By Jean Henry

Sports idioms are a great way to learn the concept of idioms by the association of a sport or game. How to Play the Game: American English & Games Idioms is a book of idioms derived from terms used in sports and games played in the United States. This book contains over 250 sports idioms ranging from American football to card games.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483560953

Book preview

AUTHOR

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE STUDENT OF AMERICAN ENGLISH

How to Play the Game: American English Sports & Games Idioms is a book of idioms derived from terms used in sports and games played in the United States. Sports, gambling and card games are a major part of the American way of life. People in the United States work hard and play hard. Games have captured the American heart and mind; terms associated with play have become associated with work and the way Americans do business. The deal, derived from card games is the business transaction, the basis of our capitalist society.

Listen carefully and one will be amazed at the number of people and institutions, particularly businessmen and businesses, who use idioms to make a point. To Americans, to pinch hit or carry the ball means to take over a task for someone; a slam dunk is an easy deal. A limited understanding of games and their related idioms hinders everyday communication.

This book is intended to teach all who want to learn how to play the game. It is an essential tool and reference book for anyone unfamiliar with American sports and games, and entertaining for everyone else.

Idioms are words or phrases which cannot be understood literally. Webster’s dictionary defines an idiom as, a peculiar way of saying something which has become established after long use. Because sports and games have been a part of the American way of life from the time the first settlers arrived on its shores, there are many American English idioms derived from these sources.

After the introduction to each sport or game, each idiom associated with that game or sport category is presented with its original or literal meaning and at least one sentences illustrating this meaning (MEANING 1 and SENTENCE 1) and then presented using the idiomatic meaning (MEANING 2 and SENTENCE 2). Two strikes against him, an statement from the sport of baseball, denotes that one strike is left before the batter is declared out and He hit a home run into left field with two strikes against him is the sentence given for the student to practice using this phrase in its literal sense. The idiomatic meaning, to have only one more chance, is then given followed by a sentence, such as He had two strikes against him when he interviewed for the job, because he had no experience.

A DERIVATION for each idiom is given if there is interesting background information. Some phrases, such as play hardball are much more common in the derived or idiomatic sense. The sentence, Let’s play hardball on this contract, used in business or negotiations is more typical of this phrase than, We play hardball when we play baseball. If the idiom is infrequently or never used in its original sense, no first sentence is given.

Students or readers will find an alphabetized list of idioms with page numbers in the appendix for easy access to individual idioms. However, the learning process will be facilitated if the student tries to learn groups of idioms within the context of groups of sports and games with which they are associated.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Like many of our games, American football derived from English games. The colonists brought a form of soccer with them, which was later played at east coast universities. These universities then tried another English game, rugby, which became more popular than soccer. The ball in rugby could be moved with the hands as well as the feet. In the second part of the nineteenth century Walter Camp attended Yale University and played rugby, which he liked but thought could be improved. He changed many of the rules of rugby to make a new game, the early version of American football. Further changes have been made to the game in the 20th century.

Players are lined up in formations or lines, with an offensive and defensive line. The team receiving the ball is the offensive team. It tries to move the ball down the field towards the opponent’s goal for a touchdown. The offensive team has four chances (plays or downs) in which to do this. If the ball is moved 10 yards within the four downs, a first down is made and the ball may be kept for another four downs. The ball is moved by throwing (passing) or running with it (carrying it). The offensive line helps block or stop the opposing team so its players can run or throw the ball. If the ball is not moved ten yards in four tries, the offensive team must give the ball to the opposing team. Often, the offensive team kicks (punts) the ball to the opposing team on the fourth down, in order to move it further down field. The offensive team can also kick the ball through the goal posts for a field goal and for an extra point after a touchdown. The defensive team tries to stop the offense by tackling players and blocking passes.

   CARRY THE BALL

Meaning 1

to carry the ball in football

Sentence 1

The tailback carried the ball.

Meaning 2

to be responsible for a project, a business deal

Sentence 2

Will you carry the ball this time? Fumi did it last time.

   DROP BACK

Meaning 1

to move back behind the offensive line in order to pass or run around the end

Sentence 1

The quarterback dropped back and passed twenty-five yards for a first down.

Meaning 2

to go back

Sentence 2

She was shy and dropped back behind the crowd.

   FIRST DOWN (AND TEN TO GO)

Meaning 1

A team makes a first down if it moves ten yards towards the opponents goal post. The team has four chances or downs to do this.

Sentence 1

The fullback made it look easy to get first downs for his team.

Meaning 2

to have accomplished an objective on the way to a goal

Sentence 2

We have a first down. Everyone work hard and maybe we’ll get the contract. The surgeon