SPORTS
on the bench
sitting, waiting for a chance to play in a game. (In sports, such as basketball, football, soccer, etc.)Bill is on the bench now. I hope he gets to play.John played during the first quarter, but now he's on the bench.
out of bounds
outside the boundaries of the playing area. (In various sports.)The ball went out of bounds, but the referee didn't notice.The play ended when Sally ran out of bounds.
time out
[a call to] stop the clock (in a sporting event that is played in a fixed time period).The coach made a sign for time out, and the clock stopped and a buzzer sounded.After someone called time out, the players gathered around the coach.
warm the bench
[for a player] to remain out of play during a game—seated on a bench.John spent the whole game warming the bench.Mary never warms the bench. She plays from the beginning to the end.
SPORTS - BASEBALL
in the bullpen
[for a baseball pitcher to be] in a special place near a baseball playing field, warming up to pitch.You can tell who is pitching next by seeing who is in the bullpen.Our best pitcher just went into the bullpen. He'll be pitching soon.
pop up
1.
[for a baseball batter] to hit a baseball that goes upward rather than outward.
The catcher came to bat and popped up.I hope I don't pop up this time.
2.
[for a baseball] to fly upward rather than outward.
The ball popped up and went foul.The ball will always pop up if you hit it in a certain way.
put someone out
to make someone "out" in baseball.The pitcher put the runner out.I thought the catcher put out the runner.
steal a base
to sneak from one base to another in baseball.The runner stole second base, but he nearly got put out on the way.Tom runs so slowly that he never tries to steal a base.
strike out
[for a baseball batter] to be declared "out" after three strikes.Bill almost never strikes out.John struck out at least once in every game this season.
strike someone out
[for a baseball pitcher] to get a batter declared "out" after three strikes.I never thought he'd strike Tom out.Bill struck out all our best players.
throw someone a curve
to pitch a curve ball to someone in baseball.The pitcher threw John a curve, and John swung wildly against thin air.During that game, the pitcher threw everyone a curve at least once.
SPORTS - BOXING
pull one's punches
[for a boxer] to strike with light blows to enable the other boxer to win. (Slang.)Bill has been barred from the boxing ring for pulling his punches.“I never pulled my punches in my life!" cried Tom.
SPORTS - FOOTBALL
first and ten
[in football] the first down [of four] with ten yards needed to earn another first down. (Fixed order.)It is first and ten on the forty-yard line, and Army has the ball.There will be no first and ten on the last play because there was a flag on the play.
kick off
to start a football game by kicking the ball a great distance.Tom kicked off in the last game. Now it's my turn.John tripped when he was kicking off
take someone out
to remove someone who is acting as a barrier, especially in football. (Informal.)Okay, Bill. Get in there and take the quarterback out.Our player ran fast and took the other player out.
baller
n. an athlete. (One who plays with footballs, basketballs, baseballs, etc.)You will make a lot of money as a professional baller.Most of the highpaid ballers are out of a job by the age of forty.
ballhead
n. an athlete. (Perhaps a stupid one.)My dorm is full of ballheads.If you want to be a ballhead, you have to have talent and stamina.
bench
tr. to take someone out of a ball game.The coach benched Jim, who injured his arm.If you don't stop fouling, I'll bench you!
bench jockey
n. a player who sits on the bench and calls out advice.The coach told all the bench jockeys to shut up.Do what you are told, or be a bench jockey for the rest of the season!
bench warmer
n. a ballplayer who spends most of the game on the bench waiting to play; a second-rate player.You'll never be anything but a bench warmer.I do what I'm told so I can play every game. I don't want to be a bench warmer.
grunt
n. a wrestler. (Possibly in reference to a grunting pig.)Two big grunts wearing outlandish costumes performed for the television cameras.One grunt threw the other grunt out of the ring.
in play
mod. being played; inbounds. (Said of a ball in a game.)The ball's in play, so you made the wrong move.No, it wasn't in play, you twit!
jock
n. an athlete.The jocks are all at practice now.She's dating a jock who has to be home by ten.
jockstrap
1.
in. to work as a professional athlete.
I jockstrapped for a few years and then lost my interest in it.I made a lot of money jockstrapping.
2.
and jockstrapper n. an athlete. (From the name of the supporting garment worn by male athletes.)
The jockstrappers are all at practice now.Here comes one of the best jockstrappers on the team.
point man
n. a ballplayer who habitually scores points.Fred is supposed to be point man for our team, but tonight he is not doing so well.Paul is our favorite point man.
ref
1.
n. a referee. (Also a term of address.)
Hey, ref! Get some glasses!The ref did a fine job.
2.
tr. to referee or officiate at something, such as a game.
Are you going to ref this one, or am I?I don't like to ref night games.
rock-jock
n. a mountain or rock climber.The serious rock-jocks practice in North Wales.The sides of every mountain are covered with rock-jocks.
shutout
1.
n. a game where one team prevents the other from scoring at all.
He was still reveling from last week's shutout.It was another shutout at Klum Field House last night.
2.
mod. having to do with a game where one team has no score.
Another shutout game gave the fans nothing to cheer about this afternoon.I was hoping for a shutout contest, and I got one.
stanza
n. an inning in baseball or some other division of a ball game.He's doing better than he was in the last stanza.Jerry Clay is pitching again in this stanza.
strap
n. an athlete, not necessarily male. (From jockstrap.)A whole gang of straps came in the bar and ordered milk.The guy's a strap all right, but he's not dumb.
superjock
n. an excellent athlete.Mike is a real superjock. He plays four sports.All those superjocks get special meals and tutors to help them pass their classes.
sweat sock
n. an athlete; a jock. (Usually plural.)I live in a dorm with a bunch of sweat socks. They feed us well, anyway.Both Bill's roommates are sweat socks and smell like it, too.
ump
n. an umpire.The ump was gonna get killed if he didn't open his eyes.The ump has a pretty rough job.
zebra
n. a referee. (Because of the black and white striped shirt.)The zebra blew the whistle on almost every play.There were not enough zebras to start the game.