Sports Idioms

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hard yards

Meaning: Significant effort or hard work, especially in challenging tasks.

Example: She's already done the hard yards to establish her business. Read more ➺


move the goalposts

Meaning: To unfairly change the rules, criteria, or conditions of a task or competition in the middle of it.

Example: After I submitted the project, my boss decided to move the goalposts by adding three new requirements that were not in the original brief. Read more ➺


on the back foot

Example: After the unexpected merger announcement, our company found itself on the back foot in the market. Read more ➺


maiden century

Meaning: A "maiden century" refers to a cricketer's first-ever score of 100 runs in a single innings.

Example: The young batsman celebrated his maiden century with great enthusiasm. Read more ➺


bush league

Meaning: describes something that is substandard, unprofessional, or lacking in sophistication.

Example: The company's presentation was so bush-league that the clients left halfway through. Read more ➺


par for the course

Meaning: as expected under the circumstances.

Example: Finding traffic on the way to work is par for the course in this city. Read more ➺


throw in the towel

Meaning: to give up a struggle

Example: After hours of struggling with the complex math problem, Jane decided to throw in the towel. Read more ➺


step up your game

Meaning: to enhance performance, quality, skills, or talents.

Example: Matthew said to Sarah, "Step up your game," to which she replied, "I already have by memorizing every act in Shakespeare's The Tempest this week." Read more ➺


a whole new ball game

Meaning: a significant change in circumstances.

Example: For most young adults, moving out is a whole new ball game. Read more ➺


down for the count

Meaning: doomed, finished, or defeated.

Example: I doubt she'll leave the hospital. Her illness has her down for the count. Read more ➺


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