Sports idioms refers to the parlance (i.e. idioms or terminology) originating from various athletics.
Baseball[]
Batting a thousand[]
To be batting a thousand was to get a hit every time one batted the ball. Metaphorically, it meant to be continually successful or correct at whatever one tried. (ENT: "Oasis", "Shockwave")
Cover all the bases []
To cover all the bases was to have a player standing on or at each base, ready to catch the ball. Metaphorically, it meant to have every aspect of a situation in control.
In 2366, Jean-Luc Picard commended William T. Riker for his readiness upon detection of the Borg in Federation space, saying he'd covered all the bases. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds")
Eye on the ball []
To have or keep one's eye on the ball was to literally watch the incoming baseball being pitched to you. Metaphorically, it meant to remain focused on any main objective.
In 2374, Benjamin Sisko justified his growing disinterest in the minute ethics of his actions by saying he had to keep his eye on the ball – "Win the war, stop the bloodshed.". (DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight")
In 2375, he reminded Rom to keep his eye on the ball while training for a baseball game against the crew of the USS T'Kumbra. (DS9: "Take Me Out to the Holosuite")
Grand slam []
To hit a grand slam was to hit a home run with the bases loaded. (DS9: "Take Me Out to the Holosuite") Metaphorically, it could refer to any big achievement.
In 1953, while talking with baseball player Willie Hawkins, Benny Russell described having one of his Sisko stories published at a pay rate of three cents a word as him having hit a grand slam. (DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars")
In 2375, while preparing for a baseball game against the crew of the USS T'Kumbra, Ezri Dax quizzed Miles O'Brien on what a grand slam was. He replied that it was "a home run hit when the bases are crowded", and she corrected him, saying it was "loaded", not "crowded". (DS9: "Take Me Out to the Holosuite")
At the Federation's Division of Advanced Synthetic Research, creating sentient synthetics that appear Human inside and out was considered the grand slam. However, it was also considered far out of reach. (PIC: "Remembrance")
Play ball []
Miss your one chance at bat []
To miss your one chance at bat was to miss out on one's only opportunity to do something memorable. It was how Paul Stubbs described missing out on a chance to attempt his experiment to Wesley Crusher in 2366 (TNG: "Evolution")
Out of one's league[]
To be out of one's league was to be beyond one's understanding or ability to handle or deserve.
In 2154, Trip Tucker admired T'Pol's skill at "crunching numbers", but noted she was a little out of her league when it came to applied engineering duties. (ENT: "The Aenar")
In 2365, Q told Picard that he was out of his league compared to the threat of the Borg. (TNG: "Q Who")
Also that year, Picard described his cadet self as "an undisciplined, loud-mouthed, opinionated young man who was way out of his league" when it came to the Nausicaans he had picked a fight with. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")
In 2366, Geordi told Wesley Crusher that Suzanne Dumont was out of his league. (TNG: "Sarek")
In 2367, Geordi described the equations Reginald Barclay wrote on a blackboard as being out of both of their leagues. (TNG: "The Nth Degree")
Scorcher[]
A scorcher was an extremely fast hit.
In a 1957 game, Dix hit a scorcher down the right field line. (ENT: "Carbon Creek")
Squeaker []
A squeaker was a hit baseball that narrowly missed from being stopped in play.
In 2369, while conversing in the operations center, a recreation of Buck Bokai talked about his days in baseball, saying "But I remember. I remember all the games, all the opening days. The home run that won the '42 World Series. The squeaker that went under Eddie Newsom's glove. The day I broke DiMaggio's consecutive streak." (DS9: "If Wishes Were Horses")
Strike three / Strike out[]
Strike three referred to one's third unsuccessful attempt to hit a baseball. (DS9: "Take Me Out to the Holosuite") It could also refer to an individual's last unsuccessful attempt at doing anything, and was otherwise referred to as striking out.
In 1953, after Willie Hawkins attempted to charm Cassie, she rejected his advances, prompting Benny Russell to comment to the baseball player, "Strike three, you're out." (DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars")
Swing for the fences []
To swing for the fences was to hit a baseball hard enough to hit a home run. The phrase was used to describe someone who gave an objective their all.
In 2374, when trying to deter Captain Charlie Reynolds of the USS Centaur from attacking an attack ship commandeered by members of Deep Space 9's crew, Benjamin Sisko, familiar with Reynolds, noted that the other captain liked to "swing for the fences" and recommended the tight maneuver attack pattern omega. (DS9: "A Time to Stand")
Boxing[]
Blow-by-blow []
The blow-by-blow was a detailed description of an event that described each step of it.
In 2375, after the series 5 long-range tactical armor unit expressed its desire to know what B'Elanna Torres was doing to it, she commented that she couldn't concentrate on her work and give a blow-by-blow description of what she was doing at the same time. She then asked Harry Kim to do so.(VOY: "Warhead")
In 2376, responding to a call from Chakotay, Torres asked him whether he was calling to give a blow-by-blow description of the tsunkatse match he was at. (VOY: "Tsunkatse")
Glass jaw []
A glass jaw was a term used in boxing to describe someone's inability to take a blow to the jaw without losing consciousness.
In 2369, after socking a Hunter in the jaw and knocking him out, Miles O'Brien remarked that he had a glass jaw. (DS9: "Captive Pursuit")
In (someone's) corner[]
- TNG: "Lonely Among Us", "Deja Q"; VOY: "The Fight"
Ringside seats []
To have ringside seats to something was to have the best possible vantage point from which to witness it, such as front row or next to the ring.
In 2374, Julian Bashir opined that the best part about Damar and Weyoun 5 visiting Deep Space 9 was that he and the other geniuses from the Institute would have ringside seats to the peace talks happening there. (DS9: "Statistical Probabilities")
Saved by the bell []
To be saved by the bell was to be rescued from a knockout by the ringing of the bell that signaled the end of a round. It could also referred to being rescued from an uncomfortable situation by another's summons or appearance.
In 2369, William T. Riker was interrupted in the latest of many attempts to master the solo section of "Night Bird" by Data's summons to the bridge of the USS Enterprise-D, prompting him to remark that he had just been saved by the bell. (TNG: "Second Chances")
In 2376, after his inquiry into Tuvok's age was met with resistance on the Vulcan's part, Tom Paris was interrupted by his communicator chirping, after which he commented, "Saved by the bell." (VOY: "Alice")
Toe-to-toe[]
Football[]
An end run[]
End zone[]
- See: End zone
Run interference []
To run interference was to make room for another individual to do something by occupying the attention of an opponent.
In 2369, Sisko suggested using a Rigelian freighter to run interference between Odo and Ah-Kel's raider. (DS9: "Vortex")
Tackle[]
- See: Tackle
Triple threat[]
A triple threat was someone who was equally and highly skilled at three different disciplines.
In 2381, Winger Bingston, Jr. used the term to describe himself (namely, his skills being acting, singing, and dancing) and Pandronians, who could split their bodies into three segments. (LD: "I, Excretus")
Golf[]
Par for the course []
Stemming from the expected score for a golf course, par for the course meant a typical result.
In 2285, after Carol Marcus sarcastically thanked her son David Marcus for not respecting her, he replied that it was par for the course. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
Horse racing[]
By a nose []
To win by a nose was to win with little difference between the first and second finishers. The phrase referred to one horse's literal nose crossing the finish line before that of another.
In 2377, the Delta Flyer won a short race between itself and Irina's ship by a nose. (VOY: "Drive")
Dead heat []
- VOY: "Extreme Risk"
Inside track []
Neck and neck []
Under the wire []
To come in under the wire was to finish just in time.
In 2269, Doctor Leonard McCoy believed that the USS Enterprise landing party had time to gather and process more ryetalyn after their initial samples contained an unacceptable amount of irillium, saying they probably had time to get in under the wire before the outbreak of Rigelian fever aboard the Enterprise grew to epidemic proportions. (TOS: "Requiem for Methuselah")
Tennis[]
The ball's in your court[]
To have the ball in your court was to have it be one's turn to reciprocate after the other party had made their move.
In 2152, Jonathan Archer reminded Soval that the Andorians were willing to talk with the Vulcans and therefore the ball was in their court. T'Pol further explained that the Human expression meant they would have to move next. (ENT: "Cease Fire")
Track and field[]
Jump the gun[]
To jump the gun was to start too early.
When Nog donned a Starfleet uniform in anticipation of joining Starfleet, Sisko said, "I'm afraid you jumped the gun putting on that uniform." (DS9: "Facets")
Multiple sports[]
Dropped the ball[]
To drop the ball was to make a mistake that was out of character.
In 2370, Sisko apologized to a replicant of Miles O'Brien for re-assigning DeCurtis without O'Brien's knowledge, saying he guessed he had dropped the ball. (DS9: "Whispers")
Even the score[]
- See: Even the score
Home field advantage[]
To have home field advantage was to have a greater chance of success conferred on one by virtue of the location or situation in which a goal was being pursued.
In 1996, Henry Starling believed himself to have home field advantage over the crew of USS Voyager, as they were visiting his century, the 20th century, rather than theirs, the 24th century. VOY: "Future's End"
Out of bounds[]
To be out of bounds was to be located somewhere outside the area of play, and therefore not usable. It could also refer to someone who had said or done something they ought not to have done, either by overreacting to a situation or acting/speaking with authority they did not have.
- DS9: "Captive Pursuit"
- DIS: "All In"
Second wind[]
Finding a second wind meant regaining one's energy anew while engaging in a certain activity.
During a 2153 engine test aboard Enterprise, field fluctuations dropped to zero, which led captain Archer to suggest that they had gotten their second wind. That impression was incorrect. (ENT: "Similitude")
Upon James Kirk asking Montgomery Scott if the Enterprise could hold its speed while rushing to the Genesis Planet in 2285, Scott remarked in the affirmative, saying that she had just gotten her second wind. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
Sidelines[]
The sidelines were the location outside of play. To be sidelined was to be uninvolved in the action going on, either due to one's inability to participate or orders prohibiting the same.
In 2375, after Vice Admiral Dougherty expressed his surprise at seeing the USS Enterprise-E, Jean-Luc Picard told him that the matters he was involved in were too important for the Enterprise-E to be on the sidelines. (Star Trek: Insurrection)
| Figures of speech |
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