Southpaws & Sunday Punches and Other Sporting Expressions

CHRISTINE AMMER

SOUTHPAWS & SUNDAY PUNCHES

AND OTHER SPORTING EXPRESSIONS

Copyright Christine Ammer 1992 Trust, 1993

ISBN: 978-1-61842-261-3

PREFACE

The box score's in , but don't jump the gun and leave our white hope out of the money. So let's keep the ball rolling, right down to the finish line, and we'll have a field day.

These three sentences contain nine idioms from sports, and that's not a ballpark figure! They may not be a model of elegant prose, but they show how terms from sports have become part of everday speech.

All of the six hundred or so terms in this book are associated with sports -- most actually originated in one or another sport -- but they have acquired far more extensive meaning. For example, a southpaw now simply means a left-handed person, whether or not he or she has ever picked up a baseball. Similarly, hit and run now just means leaving the scene of a motor-vehicle accidren, and most wearers of boxer shorts don't realize they are so called because prizefighters first wore them.

For the derivation and history of these words and phrases, I relied on the standard sources used by most lexicographers, especially the Oxford English Dictionary (abbreviated OED in the text) and the work of modern linguists such as Eric Partridge, John Ciardi, and William Safire. I also consulted the work of numerous sportswriters and sportscasters, from Grantland Rice and Red Barber to John Madden.

I am deeply indebted to the many sports-minded friends and acquaintances who originally inspired this project and generously shared their expertise. Among them are my former tennis partners of many years' standing, especially Lee Hatfield. Special thanks also are due to family friend and all-round athlete Jorge Rodriguez; hockey expert John J. McWeeney; soccer coach Robert T. Hartshorn; my late husband and best singles opponent, Dean S. Ammer; our younger son and baseball player Dave Ammer; and our older son John Ammer, hiker, backpacker, canoeist, and tennis enthusiast. This book is much better for their help Its errors and shortcoming are solely my own.

-- Christine Ammer

CONTENTS

PREFACE

A

ace, to

across the board

against the clock

ahead of/behind the count

ain't over till it it's over: see IT AIN'T OVER TILL. . .

Alibi Ike

Ali shuffle

all-out

all over but the shouting

all-star

all the way, to go

all-time

also-ran

amateur

anchorman/woman

angling

Annie Oakley

après-ski

armchair quarterback

asist, an

at bay

A team

ahlete's foot

athletic supporter: see JOCKSTRAP.

B

backpack, toto

back-pedal, to

back to back

bait, to

ball boy

ballpark, in/out of the

ballpark figure: see BALLPARK, IN/OUT OF THE

ball's in your court, the

bare-knuckle

baseball cap

baseball diplomacy

bat around, to

batting average

batting order

battle royal

Bat two for three, three for four, etc.

bean,, to

beat around the bush, to

beat the bushes for, to

beat to the punch, to

Because it's there"

beer and skittles, not all

behind the eightball

below the belt

bench, on the

bench jockey

big game

Bigger they come (the harder they fall ), the

big hitter

big league

bird-dog, to

black belt

blanket finish

bleachers

blind-side, to

block, to

blow-by-blow

boat people

bob and weave, to

body blow

body English

boner

bookie

bowled over, to be

Bowling Green

boxer shorts

box score

break cover, to

breaks, the (lucky)

breeze (through), to

Bronx cheer

buck fever

bullpen

bull's-eye, to score a

bush league

butterfingers

by a nose

C

caddie

caddie cart

Call 'em as I/you see 'em

call the game, to

call the shots, to

call the signals, to

can't hit the broad side of a barn

can't lay a glove on (someone)

carry the ball, to

catbird seat, (sitting) in the

catch-as-catch can

catch-up, to play

caught in a squeeze play: see SQUEEZE PLAY.

cauliflower ear

center court

champ, champion

change of pace

charley horse

cheap shot

cheerleader

Chinaman's chance: see NOT A CHINAMAN'S CHANCE

choke, to

circus catch

clay pigeon

cleanup hitter

clinch

close call, a

close counts only in horseshoes

close finish

clutch hitter

come up smiling, to

come up to scratch, to

connect, to

counterpunch, to

count out, to

cricket: see NOT CRICKET

curve, (throw) a

cut corners, to

D

daily double

daisy-cutter

dark horse

dash, hundred-yard

dead heat

deck, to

decoy

designated hitter

Dick Smith

dirty pool

disabled, list, on the

Don't look back, something might be gaining on you

doubleheader

double play

down and out

down but not out

down to the wire

dop one's guard, to

drop the ball, to

dunk shot

E

early innings, it's

easy out, an

end run

end zone

enter the arena, to

extra innings

F

face-off, a

fair game

fair play

fake out, to

fall short (of the mark), to

false start, a

fan

fancy Dan

fancy footwork

fanny pack

fast break

featherweight

fencing

field, to

fielder's choice

fill the gap, to

finish in/out of the money: see under MONEY.

finish line

first base, get to

first string

fish, to

fishing expedition

fish or cut bait

fish story

flag on the play

flake, flaky

flat-footed, to catch/be caught

flat-out

flooding the zone

floored, to be

flying start

football, a (political)

football knee

foot in the bucket, to have one's

footwork: see FANCY FOOTWORK

forward pass

foul ball

foul off, to

.400 hitter

free-for-all

free-wheeling

from pillar to post

from start to finish

from the word go

front runner

full count, the

full-court press

fumble on the play

G

game, to be

game isn't/ain't over till it's over:

game plan

gamesmanship

game, set, and match

Garrison finish

gate-crasher

get a rise out of someone, to

get in a huddle: see HUDDLE.

get/set/start the ball rolling, to

get the hook, to

get to first base: see FIRST BASE.

give someone a leg up: see LEG UP.

give someone his/her head, to

glass jaw

go all the way: see ALL THE WAY.

go for it

golf ball

golf cart

golf widow

good innings

good loser/sport

go the distance, to

go to bat for, to

go to the mat, to

grand slam

grandstand play, to make a

ground rules

H

hail Mary play

halftime

Hall of Fame

handicap

handler

hand-off

hands down

handsprings, to do

hang up the gloves, to

hardball: see PLAY HARDBALL.

hat trick

have one's innings, to

have something on the ball: see on THE BALL.

haymaker

head start

heads up

hear footsteps, to

heavy hitter

heavyweight

He shoots -- he scores!

hidden ball trick

high dive, to take a

high five

high-sticking

hike: see TAKE A HIKE.

hit-and-run

hit or miss

ht the mark

hold with the hare and run with the hounds, to

hole-in-one

home run

homestretch

home team

hook , line, and sinker

horse player

horse race

horses

hot-dog, to

hot hand

how you play the game

huddle

hurdle, to

I

I call 'em as I see 'em: see CALL 'EM.

I'm the greatest"

in at the death/finish

infighting

in full cry

Inning, innings

in play

Inside game, the

inside track, the

in someone's corner, to be

instant replay

Interference: see RUN INTERFERENCE, TO

in the bag

in the ballpark: see BALLPARK

in the long run

In the money: see under MONEY.

in there pitching, to be

in the running, to be

in the same league, to be

in the swim

in your face

iron man

it' ain't over till it's over

it's a whole new ball game: see WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.

it's your ball/catch

Ivy League

J

jinx

jock

jockey for position, to

jockstrap

jump the gun, to

K

karate chop

keep the ball rolling, to

keep your eye on the ball

kick off, to

killer instinct

kingpin

knock-down drag-out

knockout

knock the ball over the fence

know the score, to

L

late inning

lateral pass

lead the field, to

lead with one's chin, to

left at the post

left field: see OUT IN LEFT FIELD.

left hook

leg up, (give someone) a

let the side down, to

level playing field, a

lightweight

line of scrimmage

lineup

little old lady in tennis shoes

locker-room

long shot, a

loser: see GOOD LOSER.

Lou Gehrig's disease

low blow

lucky break

M

magic number

main event

major league

major player: see PLAYER

make the cut, (not) to

marathon

mascot

meal ticket

minor league

miscue

miss the mark, to

moment of truth

Monday-morning quarterback

money, to finish in/out of the

mop/wipe the floor with, to

morning glory

Most Valuable Player:

move, a

move the goalposts, to

moxie

muff, to

muscle-bound

muscleman

MVP

N

name of the game, the

neck and neck

neutral corner, in a

never change a winning game

new ball game: see WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.

nice guys finish last

nineteenth hole

ninth-inning rally

no harm, no foul

no holds barred

no pain, no gain

no runs, no hits, no errors

no skin off my nose

not a Chinaman's chance

not cricket

not in one's league: see IN THE SAME LEAGUE.

O

oddball

odds-on favorite

off and running

off base

offside

off the hook

off the mark: see MISS THE MARK.

off the wall

old college try, (let's give it) the

Olympic-size

on deck, to be

one-on-one

one that got away, the

one-two

on one's toes, to be

on the ball, to be/have something

on the button

on the fly

on the nose

on the ropes

on the sidelines

on track

on your mark

open season on

outclass, to

outdistance, to

out in left field, (way)

out of bounds

out of one's league: see IN THE SAME LEAGUE.

out of the money: see under MONEY.

out of the running

P

pacesetter: see SET THE PACE.

palooka

paper chase

par for the course

parry, to

penthouse

pep talk

percentage play, a

phenom

photofinish

pinch hitter

ping-pong, to

pitch for, to

pit stop

Play ball!

play ball with, to

play-by-play

play catch-up: See CATCH-UP.

player

play fair, to

play hardball, to

playing against air

playing fields of Eton, the

playing games

playoff

play the ball as/where it lies

play the field. to

play the game, to

poach, to

pole position: see under INSIDE TRACK

poolroom (atmosphere)

poor sport/sore loser

pop-up

power hitter

power play

pro

psych(ed) out, (to be)

pull no puhches, to

pull one's weight, to

punch drunk

punching bag

punch line

push comes to shove, if/when

put one's oar in, to

put on the gloves, to

put up your dukes

Q

quarterback, to

R

rabbit punch

racehorse

racing form

rain check

rain out, to

razz, to

real McCoy, the

rebound

relay

rhubarb

ride, to

ride the bench, to

right off the bat

ringer

ringside seat

riposte

rodeo

roll with the punches, to

root for, to

rought-and-tumble

roundhouse

rub of the green, the

rugby shirt

run but you can't hide, he/you can

run for one's money, to have/give (someone) a

run interference, to

runner's knee

running mate

running start

run-off

run out the clock, to

run to ground, to

run with the ball, to

S

safe by a mile

sandlot

sand trap

saved by the bell

say it ain't so, Joe

score

scratch, to

screwball

scrimmage, to

second, a

second-guessing

second-string

second wind

send to the showers, to

set the pace, to

seventh-inning stretch

shadow boxing

shoo-in

shoot the gap. to

shotmaking

showboat

shutout

sideline, to: see ON THE SIDELINES.

sit on the ball, to

sitting duck

sitting on the pole: see under INSIDE TRACK.

skate, to

skate on thin ice, to

skate the wing hard, to

ski mask

slam dunk

slaphappy

slap shot

sleeper

slugger

snookered, to be

snow bunny

softball

sore loser: see POOR SPORT.

southpaw

spar, to

spectator sport

spitball

split decision

sport, a

sporting chance

sports car

sportsmanship

springboard

spring training

sprint

squeeze play

stalking horse

start from scratch, to

starting gate, (at) the

stay the course, to

sticky wicket

stiff-arm, to

stonewall, to

straight from the shoulder

stranglehold

strike(s) against, to have a/two

strike out, to

strike zone

stymie, to

sudden death

Sunday punch

Super Bowl

swimmer's ear

swing for the fences, to

switch-hitter

swordplay

T

tackle, to

tag team

take a hike

take a rain check: see RAIN CHECK.

take the count: see DOWN BUT NOT OUT.

talk a good game, to

tank, to

teamwork

tee(d) off, to (be)

Tennis, anyone?

tennis elbow

textbook play

That's the way the ball bounces

thoroughbred

.300 hitter/class/man

three strikes against you, to have

throw in the sponge/towel, to

throw off the scent, to

throw one's hat in the ring, to

time out

Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance

titleholder

toehold

toe the line/mark/scratch, to

toe-to-toe

touch (all) base(s), to

touché

track record

training, to be in

triple threat

tug of war

turning a hair, without

two strikes against: see STRIKE(S) AGAINST.

U

ugly customer

unassisted: see ASSIST.

under the wire

up, to be

upshot

up to scratch: see COME UP TO SCRATCH

V

volleyball diplomacy

W

Wait till next year

walk a tightrope, to

walkover, a

warm up, to

Way to go!

white hope

whitewash

whole new ball game, a

wide of the mark: see MISS THE MARK.

wild goose chase

wild pitch

win hands down: SEE HANDS DOWN.

Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing

Win (this) one for the Gipper

win on points, to

win some, lose some, (you can)

wipeout

wipe the floor: see MOP UP THE FLOOR.

with the gloives off: see BARE-KNUCKLE.

workout

World Series

wrestle to the ground, to

XYZ

yacht club

You can/could look it up

You can't win 'em all

zone defense

A

ace, to

To do extremely well; to get high marks. Although the noun ace was used in dice-playing as early as the 13th century, when it began to signify a throw of one, it was not used to describe an outstanding performer until World War I. The French called an airman who had shot down ten enemy planes as, a term quickly translated into English (ace) and applied to other kinds of expert. However, a century earlier an ace meant a winning point scored at racquets and badminton, and in the late 19th century it began to be used to describe an unreturnable stroke in these older racket sports and in tennis -- particularly an unreturnable serve.

By the 1920's the expression had taken verbal form, to ace, meaning to serve an ace. And in the mid-20th century it began to be used figuratively, to score high in any endeavor. Smart students might be said to ace their final exam.

An ace still means an unreturnable serve in tennis, as well as a hole-in-one in golf. In baseball it generally means the best pitcher on a team. At least one writer believes this last sense was derived from Asa Brainard who pitched for the Cincinnati Red Stockings. In 1869 that team won 56 out of a total of 57 games, using only Brainard as their pitcher, and, the writer claims, his name came to mean a good pitcher and was shortened to Ace.

The way his horses ran could be summed up in a word. Last.

-- Groucho Marx, Esquire, 1972

across the board

Applying to all individuals, groups, or categories. The term comes from betting on horse races, where it signifies a combination bet on every winning possibility, that is, win (first place), place (second place), or show (third place). By the mid-20th century it was extended to other endeavors, particularly those involving money, such as an across-the-board price reduction (for all items being sold), a wage increase (for all employees), or tax reduction (for all brackets).

against the clock

In competition with the passage of time, so as to finish faster than anyone else, or by a certain time.

This term comes from various athletic races in which the competitors are not lined up against one another but are timed individually, and the winner is the one with the best (fastest) time. This procedure is followed in contests ranging from running marathons, which follow a prescribed street course, to Olympic ski and skating races. In the mid-20th century the term began to be transferred to other endeavors, particularly those that involve meeting a deadline. For example, "The writers were working against the clock to come up with a new episode for L.A.Law" (The Bulletin, 1990).

ahead of/behind the count

In an advantageous/disadvantageous position. The term comes from baseball. A pitcher is said to be ahead of the count if he has thrown more strikes than balls. The reverse is true for a batter ahead of the count (more balls than strikes have been called). Conversely, a pitcher is behind the count when the umpire has called more balls than strikes, a situation similarly reversed for the batter. The term is used figuratively as well, as in, Marge has not only made up the assignments she missed but she's way ahead of the count in her reading.

ain't over till it it's over: see IT AIN'T OVER TILL. . .

Alibi Ike

A person who constantly makes excuses for his or her shortcomings or failures. This term comes from the title and main character of a popular short story by Ring Lardner. Published in 1924, it tells of a ball player named Frank X. Farrell who is constantly making excuses for himself, and never accepts responsibility for his mistakes. The story was made into a motion picture in 1932 with Joe E. Brown playing Alibi Ike, which helped establish the general use of the name as a term for a self-exonerating fast talker. However, it is heard less often today.

Ali shuffle

Exceptional nimbleness of foot. The term refers to boxer Cassius Clay, who adopted the Islamic name Muhammad Ali. Heavyweight champion from 1974 to 1978, Ali was famous for his fast talk (see I'M THE GREATEST) and his outstanding footwork. See also FANCY FOOTWORK.

all-out

Using all of one's strength or resources. Although the term was used as an adverb meaning entirely or completely as long ago as 1300, the present adjectival meaning of making an immense effort dates only from late-19th-century America and was originally used in athletics, particularly in races or other feats of physical exertion. Irvine...was willing...to 'go all out,' as he put it, in an utmost attempt to reach the top, wrote E.F. Norton in his Fight for Everest (1925). Today we transfer such an effort to just about any enterprise. For example, one might make an all-out effort to produce a fuel-efficient automobile or a highly successful dinner party.

In cricket, incidentally, the term has a totally different meaning: a team that is all out is retired because each batsman has been dismissed.

So we won the first game. Some of the other players may have felt it was all over but the shouting, but I wasn't one of them. I thought the Red Sox were a good team.

-- Yogi Berra on the 1949 pennant race (Yogi, It Ain't Over. . .1989)

all over but the shouting

The result of a contest or an action appears to be certain. This term originated in 19th-century British sports; the OED cites its first use in Charles J. Apperley's Life of a Sportsman 1842). It soon was applied to other kinds of contest, particularly elections, and continues to be so used.

all-star

Consisting of the most outstanding performers. Although the word star was used for stage celebrities in Britain as long ago as 1779, it was first applied to outstanding athletes in the United States in the late 19th century and soon crossed the Atlantic. The first

all-star game featuring the outstanding baseball players of the year from the American and National Leagues, took place on July 6, 1933, in Chicago's Comiskey Park, and thereafter became an annual event. At first the all-star players were chosen by the fans; later the managers made the selection, and still later the players joined in the vote. Since 1970 this honor has been accorded by the fans, who vote by balloting. The term all-star soon was applied by advertisers to all varieties of entertainment, which purported to present an all-star cast, and continues to be used in this way.

all the way, to go