Back To Square One - How Sports Phrases Became Part of Language!

Have you ever heard people say funny lines like “hat trick”, “hands down” or “the ball is in your court”? We use these sentences in daily life, in school, offices, and even at home. But here is a surprise — many of these English phrases were born on playgrounds, stadiums, and sports fields. Let us go back to the beginning and see how sports quietly entered our language.

To ace something

When someone does very well in an exam or a job, we say they “aced it”. This word comes from games. In dice, an ace is the number one. In tennis, an ace is a powerful serve that the opponent cannot hit back. Even in baseball, the best pitcher is called an ace. So, “ace” slowly came to mean “the best”.

The ball is in your court

This sentence means it is now your turn to act or decide. This idea comes straight from tennis. When the ball comes into your court, you must hit it. In life too, when others have done their part, it is now your responsibility.

Winning hands down

This means winning very easily. In horse racing, when a jockey knows he will surely win, he relaxes and lowers his hands while holding the reins. That relaxed winning style gave us this phrase.

Hat trick

A hat trick means doing something successfully three times in a row. This phrase comes from cricket. Long ago, if a bowler took three wickets with three balls, people gifted him a hat. That special achievement is now called a hat trick, even in football and hockey.

Boxers or the Boxer shorts

Boxer shorts get their name from boxing players. Their loose and comfortable shorts inspired this style of underwear, which became popular after the First World War.

On the bench

In the business world, especially in software, we frequently hear the term ‘bench’. It refers to putting people on hold when there’s no active project or work for them to do. This term comes from sports like baseball, football and cricket, where players sit on the bench during the game, waiting to be called in to play.

Athelete’s foot

It is a fungal infection that spreads easily and affects the skin on your feet. It got its name in the 1920s because the fungus loves to grow in the warm, damp places like changing rooms and gyms, where it is often passed around.

There are lots of other phrases like this. If you want to learn more, subscribe to this magazine and keep an eye out for future editions!

Now a question for you to guess: The phrase ‘Back to square one’ comes from which ancient Indian board game, also called Moksha Patam?

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