Sports Lingo
Instructions: Can you decode these sports terms and expressions?
- 1.
In baseball, what is a 'home run'?
ARunning to first baseBA run scored from stealing a baseCThe final run of the gameDA hit that allows the batter to circle all bases and score - 2.
In basketball, what does 'slam dunk' mean?
AA bounce pass to a teammateBA long-distance shotCA shot where the player jumps and pushes the ball down through the hoopDA free throw attempt - 3.
In tennis, what does 'love' mean as a score?
AZero pointsBMatch pointCA tied scoreDFifteen points - 4.
What does the term 'hat trick' traditionally refer to?
AA magic trick performed at halftimeBA penalty kick in soccerCWinning three games in a rowDScoring three goals in a single game - 5.
In golf, what is a 'birdie'?
AA score of one under par on a holeBA score of one over par on a holeCA hole-in-oneDA score of two under par on a hole - 6.
In boxing, what does 'southpaw' mean?
AA defensive stanceBA knockout punchCThe referee's positionDA left-handed fighter - 7.
In football (soccer), what is an 'offside'?
AWhen the ball goes out of boundsBWhen a player commits a foulCWhen an attacking player is closer to the goal line than the second-to-last defender when the ball is playedDWhen the goalkeeper leaves the penalty area - 8.
In swimming, what is a 'medley' event?
AA relay race with only two swimmersBA synchronized swimming routineCA race using only one strokeDA race combining multiple swimming strokes - 9.
In cricket, what does 'wicket' refer to?
AThe batting helmetBThe field of playCThe ball used in the gameDThe set of three stumps and two bails that the bowler aims at - 10.
What does the expression 'down to the wire' mean in sports?
AA race or competition decided at the very last momentBA type of fence around a playing fieldCA penalty for crossing a boundary lineDA radio broadcast of a game - 11.
In golf, what is an 'albatross' (also called a double eagle)?
AA score of three under par on a single holeBA score of one under parCA score of two under parDA hole-in-one on a par-3 - 12.
In basketball, what does 'triple-double' mean?
AMaking three consecutive three-point shotsBAccumulating double-digit numbers in three of five statistical categories in one gameCPlaying three overtime periodsDScoring 30 points in a game - 13.
What does the term 'Grand Slam' mean in tennis?
AWinning five consecutive matchesBScoring a perfect game without losing a pointCWinning a single major tournamentDWinning all four major tournaments in a calendar year - 14.
In horse racing, what is a 'furlong'?
AA type of horse breedBThe starting gateCA unit of distance equal to one-eighth of a mileDA type of racing saddle - 15.
In fencing, what does 'touche' (touché) mean?
AAn acknowledgment that a hit has been scoredBA defensive parryCThe starting command for a matchDA missed attack
Answer Key
A home run is a hit in baseball where the batter successfully circles all four bases and scores a run, typically by hitting the ball over the outfield fence. It is one of the most exciting plays in the sport.
A slam dunk is a type of basketball shot in which a player jumps and forcefully pushes the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands. The term is also used metaphorically to mean something that is a sure success.
In tennis, 'love' means zero or no points. The origin is debated, but one popular theory suggests it comes from the French word 'l'oeuf' (the egg), as a zero resembles an egg. A score of 'love-love' means neither player has scored.
A hat trick is when a player scores three goals in a single game. The term originated in cricket in the 1850s, when a bowler who took three consecutive wickets was rewarded with a new hat. It is now commonly used in hockey and soccer.
A birdie in golf is a score of one stroke under par on a hole. For example, completing a par-4 hole in 3 strokes is a birdie. The term originated in the early 1900s in American golf slang, where 'bird' meant something excellent.
A southpaw is a left-handed boxer who leads with the right hand and foot forward, using the stronger left hand for power punches. The term is also used in baseball for left-handed pitchers and has expanded to mean any left-handed person in sports.
Offside is called when an attacking player is nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender at the moment the ball is played to them. This rule prevents attackers from simply waiting near the opponent's goal.
A medley in swimming is an event that combines all four competitive strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. In an individual medley, one swimmer uses all four strokes. In a medley relay, four different swimmers each swim one stroke.
A wicket in cricket is the set of three vertical stumps topped by two horizontal bails at each end of the pitch. The bowler aims to hit the wicket to dismiss the batsman. The term is also used to describe a dismissal itself.
'Down to the wire' means a contest that is not decided until the very end. The phrase comes from horse racing, where a wire was stretched across the finish line to help determine the winner. A race that was 'down to the wire' was extremely close.
An albatross (or double eagle) is a score of three under par on a single hole. For example, completing a par-5 hole in just 2 strokes. It is an extremely rare achievement in golf, much rarer than a hole-in-one.
A triple-double occurs when a player accumulates double-digit totals (10 or more) in three of five statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks—in a single game. It is considered a mark of exceptional all-around performance.
A Grand Slam in tennis refers to winning all four major championships—the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open—within a single calendar year. Very few players have achieved this feat in the history of the sport.
A furlong is a unit of distance equal to one-eighth of a mile (220 yards or approximately 201 meters). It is the standard unit used to measure race distances in horse racing. The word comes from 'furrow long,' the length of a furrow in a plowed field.
'Touché' is used in fencing to acknowledge a valid hit or touch scored by an opponent. The French word means 'touched.' In everyday language, 'touché' is used to acknowledge that someone has made a clever or valid point in an argument.