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englishidiomsc1
Idioms from sport
Everyday idioms borrowed from boxing, baseball, racing and other games, with where each one comes from.
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jump the gun
to act too soon, before the proper momentathletics
par for the course
what you would expect, usually something unwelcomegolf
throw in the towel
to admit defeat and stop tryingboxing
below the belt
unfair and hurtful, especially of a remarkboxing
the ball is in your court
it is now your turn to act or decidetennis
move the goalposts
to change the rules or targets unfairly while something is under wayfootball
a level playing field
a situation in which everyone has the same chancefootball
down to the wire
of a contest, undecided until the very last momenthorse-racing
saved by the bell
rescued from trouble at the last possible momentboxing
step up to the plate
to take on a responsibility and act when you are neededbaseball
on the ropes
close to defeat or collapseboxing
drop the ball
to fail at something you were responsible for, through carelessnessball-games
throw someone a curveball
to surprise someone with an unexpected difficultybaseball
a ballpark figure
a rough estimatebaseball
a dark horse
a little-known competitor who does surprisingly wellhorse-racing