the whole nine yards
Everything possible, done to the fullest extent.
Example: For their anniversary, he planned dinner, flowers, music — the whole nine yards.
C118 words · Advanced
Sport Idioms vocabulary — C1
Sport idioms for describing expectation and challenge, with phrases like par for the course, pass the baton and throw a curveball.
18 questions
Words in this set
18par for the course
Typical and expected, nothing unusual given the circumstances.
Example:
Delays like this are par for the course during the rainy season.
down for the count
Defeated and temporarily unable to continue.
Example:
After the third setback, the team seemed down for the count.
throw a curveball
To present someone with an unexpected and tricky difficulty.
Example:
The interviewer threw a curveball with an unrelated question.
a hail mary
A desperate, long-shot attempt made as a very last resort.
Example:
With seconds left, the coach called for a Hail Mary play.
pass the baton
To hand over a responsibility, task or leadership role to someone else.
Example:
After thirty years, she passed the baton to the next director.
a game changer
Something that dramatically shifts the way a situation or activity happens.
Example:
The new software was a game changer for the whole team.
sudden death
A way of deciding a winner immediately, used when a result is very close or tied, or more generally for a high-stakes final decision.
Example:
The match went to sudden death after a tied score.
raise your game
To improve your performance, especially when facing a difficult challenge.
Example:
She had to raise her game to beat the defending champion.
on the back foot
Forced to defend yourself rather than attack.
Example:
One bad headline put them on the back foot for a month.
an own goal
An action that accidentally harms your own side.
Example:
The press release was an own goal of impressive size.
a clean sweep
Winning everything available.
Example:
They made a clean sweep of all four categories.
a walkover
A victory won with no real effort.
Example:
With two withdrawals it became a walkover.
a marathon not a sprint
Something requiring sustained effort over a long time.
Example:
Restoring that building is a marathon not a sprint.
in pole position
In the best position to win.
Example:
Two good quarters put them in pole position for the contract.
the home straight
The final part of a long effort.
Example:
We are on the home straight and nobody is celebrating yet.
a knockout blow
A decisive action that ends a contest.
Example:
The third witness delivered a knockout blow to the whole case.
a lap of honour
A celebration after a victory.
Example:
He took a lap of honour that lasted the whole of the summer.
