Sports Idioms # 2 - Listening - Kenneth | Learn English at EnglishCafe

 

 

This is the second in a series of blog posts about sports idioms used in every day business settings. In this post, you'll listen to a sentence using an idiom. The idiom, its original usage, and a definition for its usage in the listening example illustrating the idiom is provided. For more practice, you can visit my first Sports Idioms post.

 

 

 

 

a long shot - archery / a difficult shot to hit because of great distance

 

As an idiom -> to be very difficult to achieve success

 

 

 

 

ante up - cards / to place the initial bet

 

As an idiom -> to make an initial commitment to something

 

 

 

 

bail out - boating / to take water that has entered a boat out of the boat

 

As an idiom -> to save from financial ruin

 

 

 

 

blind-sided - general sports term / to get hit from an unexpected side

 

As an idiom -> to be completely surprised by something

 

 

 

 

have the cards stacked against one - card playing / not get any good cards in a game

 

As an idiom -> to be at a great disadvantage

 

 

 

 

hound someone or something - hunting / having the dogs chase

 

As an idiom -> to keep after something or someone

 

 

 

 

huddle - football, rugby / to come together in a tight group

 

As an idiom -> to come together to discuss

 

 

 

 

inside track - running / advantageous lane  

 

As an idiom -> a privileged position or information

 

 

 

 

it's your ball - basketball, other ball sports / possession of the ball

 

As an idiom -> it's your turn to do something

 

 

 

 

keep one's head above water - swimming / literal  

 

As an idiom -> survive financially with great difficulty

 

 

 

 

open a can of worms - fishing / literal

 

As an idiom -> to discuss a problem that has many complications

 

 

 

 

play hardball - baseball / play a serious major league version of the game

 

As an idiom -> to do business very aggressively

 

 

 

 

play into someone's hands - general sports / give the advantage to someone else

 

As an idiom -> to give someone else the advantage

 

 

 

 

punt - football / kick the ball to the other team

 

As an idiom -> to pass on the responsibility for something to others  

 

 

 

 

riding for a fall - horseback riding / riding in a dangerous manner

 

As an idiom -> extremely risky behavior

 

 

 

 

root for - general sports / to cheer on a team

 

As an idiom -> to support someone or something

 

 

 

 

row upstream - boating / going against the current

 

As an idiom -> to work hard against great odds

 

 

 

 

saddle with - horseback riding / to put on a saddle

 

As an idiom -> to place a great responsibility on someone

 

 

 

 

step up to the plate - baseball / move to bat

 

As an idiom -> to take responsibility  

 

 

 

 

throw good money after bad - card playing / continuing to bet after having lost a lot

 

As an idiom -> to continue investing in a project after it has proven to be a poor choice

 

 

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