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Sports & Games

Hail Marys, hat tricks, and dark horses — the metaphors business, politics, and dating relentlessly borrow from the playing field.

11 entries

Level

Core

Common

All

phrase

Sports & Games

Armchair Quarterback

Someone who critiques decisions from a position of zero personal risk.

character

Sports & Games

Bruce Lee

The Chinese-American martial artist and actor who put kung fu on the global screen, founded his own fighting philosophy, and died at thirty-two.

phrase

Sports & Games

Dark Horse

An unexpected contender who could win despite low odds.

phrase

Sports & Games

Hail Mary

A desperate last-second attempt with little chance of success.

phrase

Sports & Games

Hat Trick

Three successes in a row in a single performance.

character

Sports & Games

Michael Jordan

The Chicago Bulls guard who won six NBA championships, made the air-leap-with-tongue-out the universal logo for basketball, and gave English a new word for the best at anything.

character

Sports & Games

Mike Tyson

The youngest heavyweight champion in history, the boxer who bit Evander Holyfield's ear off, and the source of two of sports' most quoted lines.

character

Sports & Games

Muhammad Ali

The heavyweight boxer who declared himself the greatest, refused to fight in Vietnam, and went on to prove the boast right.

phrase

Sports & Games

Out of Left Field

Unexpected and from an unusual source.

phrase

Sports & Games

Slam Dunk

An outcome considered guaranteed.

phrase

Sports & Games

Throw in the Towel

To give up.