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About This Quiz
Sports all have their own little terms. Are you familiar with some terms from more popular sports that may sound a bit far-out or unusual? Then take this quiz to find out how well you know them!
In tennis, when you're in "love," it's not a good thing. How many points does this mean?
tied points
zero points
"Love" in tennis is when a player hasn't scored a single point. It supposedly has French origins.
close in points
one point only
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"Par for the course" means something was expected of the situation. In what sport did this term originate?
horse racing
lacrosse
table tennis
golf
In golf, a score that is par for the course means it is the average score players get on a particular course. If you're doing as well as can be expected, then it's par for the course.
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The "curveball" can be the most unpredictable weapon in a pitcher's arsenal in baseball. Why is it called that?
it changes speeds
it travels at an unpredictable angle
it curves in flight
A curveball is called that because it really does curve in flight, which can be different for every pitcher. That makes it difficult for batters to hit it.
it's very, very fast
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When people "drop the gloves," you know that it's about to get messy in a fight. In which sport did this term originate?
skiing
skating
hockey
In ice hockey, when players drop their gloves, you know a fight is about to happen. Gloves get in the way of a good fistfight.
luge
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In boxing, aggression is important. When you're ready and willing to win, you come out doing this. What's the right word?
running
dancing
punching
swinging
The "swing" is how your arms move in boxing when you're punching your opponent. To come out swinging means you're going to give it your all.
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When you're the one to do the "break," this means you're the very first player to strike the balls on the table. Which sport uses this term?
billiards
Billiards is a game where you have to gather all of the balls in the middle, and break them apart with an opening shot. That's why they say "break it" when you do the opening shot.
skating
hang gliding
base jumping
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When you "lunge" or "parry," it means you're attacking or defending yourself from an armed opponent. In which sport did these terms originate?
clay shooting
gymnastics
fencing
When you're fencing, you lunge when you attack, or you parry to defend yourself.
archery
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In this sport, "stealing a base" is a good thing. Which sport is this?
soccer
football
baseball
Baseball is a sport where stealing is permitted. In particular, stealing a base is good, since you get to inch closer to scoring a run.
tennis
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When you say "no holds barred," that usually means all rules are out the window. In which sport did this term originate?
wrestling
"No holds barred" originated in wrestling. Some moves, or holds, aren't legal, but if none are barred, it means anything goes.
boxing
karate
fencing
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In this classic full-contact sport, "going to the mats" means getting down to serious business, or a fight. What hand-to-hand sport is this?
wrestling
Wrestling today has protective mats, so people don’t get too hurt when playing. "Going to the mats" means that both players are already trying to outmaneuver each other. It can also mean getting into a fight, when tempers flare.
football
weightlifting
boxing
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It goes to show that anyone can get religious, if there's hope. In American football, what do you call a last-ditch attempt to score?
amen
Hail Mary (pass)
Some players and coaches feel that prayers can turn the tide. A Hail Mary can mean a last attempt to score, particularly if that scoring attempt can win the game.
wing and a prayer
act of God
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When you "go down the wire," it means you're going to make it barely on deadline. What sport was originated this phrase?
football
polo
horse racing
In horse racing, the finish line used to be a wire that would be broken once a horse and rider crossed over the finish line. "Down to the wire" must be a close race, indeed.
soccer
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When you’re a swimmer preparing for a meet, there is a period called “taper.” What happens during this period?
cut back strategically on exercise
In swimming, tapering means cutting back just enough on your exercises to let your muscles recover. By the time the swim meet happens, you should have balanced correctly for your recovery and your fitness level.
exercise even more
dieting for less weight
gain back some weight
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This sport doesn't endorse violence, but its players like it when they get a "strike." Which sport is this?
bowling
A bowling strike means all of the pins are knocked down with one strike of the ball. Hence, a strike.
basketball
baseball
aikido
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When you're doing a "flying kick," you're practicing this kind of sport. Which one is it?
rappelling
dragonboat race
football
martial arts
In martial arts, you hear the term "flying kick." This literally means you're up in the air when you give a blow with your foot.
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In volleyball, when you're warming up, there's a popular sequence named after a famous herb. What is this herb?
garlic
oregano
pepper
Pepper is a volleyball term for a specific warm-up exercise. The action sequence is bump, set, spike, and repeat.
thyme
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In hockey, there's a term known as "deke." Where does this term come from?
dead
decoy
It's straightforward. "Deke" stands for decoy, where a hockey player puts another out of position with a fake move.
deep
destroy
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A "hat-trick" means that you've had a couple of successive wins under your belt. In which sport did the term originate?
American football
soccer
cricket
The hat-trick is a term in cricket for multiple consecutive wins. This is done by knocking three batsmen out of the game, one after the other.
baseball
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You experience a "wipeout" when you're knocked off your board when you're above water. In which sport is this term used?
swimming
jai alai
surfing
When you wipeout in surfing, it means you encountered massive waves head-on. They're so huge, you get knocked off your surfboard.
handball
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In every sport, there are players who are either stuck just cheering or are sitting the game out. What is the term when people are benched like this?
cooling heels
fouled out
stuck on the sidelines
This is a term used in many sports. When you're "stuck on the sidelines," it means that for one reason or the other, you can just observe, not participate.
stuck in a bad place
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In golf, you always have a club -- but it's not for partying. What's it for?
to rest in between games
to hit the ball
A golf club is what you use to hit the ball. It's like the bat in baseball, only designed differently.
it's the vehicle that will take you to the greens
it's the hole where you sink the ball
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When you "catch a crab" in rowing, it can be a very jarring experience. What happens to one's oars when they catch a crab?
they are not in time with the others
they hit a rock
they hit the water wrong
When you are rowing, you have to be careful about the angle of the oar. The wrong angle can throw you off the boat as the oar stops moving. It's like "catching" an angry and strong crab.
they miss the water
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"Bonk" may be a sound effect, but in running, it's a little bit more serious. What does it mean?
you run out of breath
you are at your limit
If you're bonked, that means you're at the limit of your endurance. If you want to keep on going, you have to either slow down or get some fuel into your body quickly.
your hips make weird noises
your feet begin to hurt
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A "five-hole" is a term used in hockey for a winning shot that goes through a goaltender's defense. Which space around the goaltender is the "fifth space?"
to his wrong-hand side
to his right
between his legs
The "five-hole" is the code name for the space between the goaltender's legs. Numbers 1 to 4 are at the sides of the goaltender.
to his left
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"Icing" is a term in football or baseball, where a time out is used as a weapon. What does the timeout do?
it ruins the enemy's streak
In sports like basketball and football, players and entire teams can go on a scoring streak. Icing, or a strategic timeout, can break the momentum, thus ending the streak.
it lets teams regroup
it allows coaches to switch players
it allows people to rest
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In horse racing, what does it mean when a jockey wins "hands down?"
his grip on the reins is relaxed
When the jockey relaxes his grip on the reins on the way to the finish line, it means he's sure to win. The horse doesn’t have to run at top speed to be the first across the finish line.
he's slapping the horse to make it go faster
he's pushing down on the reins
his grip is low and tight
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When everybody is working as a team on the basketball court, it's sometimes called this. What is the term?
fancy dribbling
lay-up
full-court press
A full-court press happens when all players in a basketball team are working together to score. It means everyone on a team is engaged in pressuring the opposing team.
three-point shot
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In hockey, what does "to light the lamp" mean?
light behind the goal lights up
When one "lights the lamp" in ice hockey, it means the puck went into the net. If you keep on succeeding in something, you're lighting the lamp.
puck will hit one of the stadium lamps
foul light is on
one player scores many goals
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The term "deuce" is one you normally hear in card games. In tennis, though, it's a game ender. If both players are tied at 40 points each, what does the term mean?
win at next point
it's a draw
needs a winning serve
win with two more points
A deuce situation in tennis happens when both players have 40 points. There are some guidelines, but in general, whoever gets two more points first, wins.
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It's not what you think: When you're hitting something called a "birdie," which sport are you playing?
volleyball
badminton
In badminton, two or more players hit a birdie over a net. It's also called a shuttlecock.
pole vaulting
discus throwing
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In basketball, if the ball "don’t lie," a certain shot was missed. What shot was it?
dunk
lay-up
foul throw
If the foul throw was missed, it means the foul was wrong.
three-point shot
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In football, when people say it's time to "block and tackle," what does it mean?
back to basics
Blocking and tackling are basic moves for the players on a football team. To go “block and tackle" means that one goes back to basics.
review strategy
protect the quarterback
remember the plays
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In auto racing, being "black flagged" is a serious issue. What does it mean for a driver?
get off the road
Drivers and their cars are black flagged to get them off the track. It can be for anything dangerous, from breaking rules, to car damage that can affect other cars.
disaster on the track
no more fuel
disqualified from the race
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When you sit on a "saddle," you're not mounting a horse, but this instead. What is it?
a racquet
a shaft
a bike
One of the most important parts of a cyclist's ride is the saddle. When it's time to ride the bike, it has to be both comfy and sturdy.
a loop
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In lacrosse, a player is called a "FOGO" when he has only a short time on the field. What does "Face-Off, Get-Off" mean?
they're only there for the face-off
In lacrosse, some team members are FOGO, meaning they're just there for the face-off itself. After that, they go back to the sidelines.
they're backup players
they only play if necessary
they are older players
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You Got:
/35
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