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Whitewash and Sudden Death: Unexpected Sports Words Quiz

Word List with 49 words
*By Dictionary.com

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Words in This List

fumble
v.t.
to fail to hold or maintain hold on (a ball) after having touched it or carried it.
stance
noun
the relative position of the feet, as in addressing a golf ball or in making a stroke
depth
noun
the strength of a team in terms of the number and quality of its substitute players
handicap
verb
attempt to predict the winner of a contest by comparing past performances of the contestants and to assign odds for or against winning
hook
noun
the path described by a ball that curves in a direction opposite to the throwing hand or to the side of the ball from which it was struck
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cellar
noun
the lowest position in a group ranked in order of games won
rubber
adjective
noting a deciding contest between two opponents who have previously won the same number of contests from each other
clinic
noun
a performance so thoroughly superior by a team or player as to be a virtual model or demonstration of excellence.
bisque
noun
a point, extra turn, or the like, as in court tennis or croquet
overtime
noun
an additional period of play for deciding the winner of a game in which the contestants are tied at the end of the regular playing period
whitewash
verb
informal: to defeat by keeping the opponent from scoring
slowdown
noun
a holding or passing tactic by a team to retain possession of the ball or puck; to use up a maximal amount of time
semifinal
adjective
pertaining to the round preceding the final in a tournament from which losers are eliminated; in boxing, the second most important bout on a card
round robin
noun
a tournament in which all of the entrants play each other at least once, failure to win a contest not resulting in elimination
jayvee
noun
a player on a junior varsity team
halftime
noun
the intermission or rest period between the two halves of a football or basketball, during which spectators are often entertained
quarterfinal
adjective
pertaining to the contest or round preceding the semifinal one
sweet spot
noun
the spot on a club, racket, bat, etc., where a ball is most effectively hit
ladder tournament
noun
a tournament in which the entrants are listed by name and rank, and advancing by challenging and defeating an entrant ranked one or two places higher
time-out
noun
a short interruption in a regular period of play during which a referee stops the clock so that the players may rest, deliberate, make substitutions
salary cap
noun
an upper limit to the combined salary of an entire team
semifinalist
noun
a participant or one qualified to participate in a semifinal
body English
noun
a twisting of the body by a player as if to help a ball already hit, rolled, or kicked to travel in the desired direction
false start
noun
a premature start by one or more of the contestants, as in a swimming or track event, necessitating calling the field back to start again
benchwarmer
noun
a substitute who rarely gets to play in a game
sudden death
noun
an overtime period in which a tied contest is won and play is stopped immediately after one of the contestants scores, as in football
titleholder
noun
a person who holds a championship; the present champion
judgment call
noun
an observational ruling by a referee, subjective because of the disputable nature of the play in question, and one that may be appealed but not protested
backswing
noun
the movement of a bat, racket, or the like, toward the back of a player in preparation for the forward movement with which the ball is struck
junior varsity
noun
a school team that consists of players who lack the qualifications necessary for the varsity and compete against other teams of similar ability
second string
noun
the squad of players available either individually or as a team to replace or relieve those who start a game
kill shot
noun
a decisive smashing or punching of a ball with the hand or a racquet such that it is virtually unreturnable, as in volleyball, handball, or badminton
rabbit ears
noun
acute sensitivity to gibes, insults, or sarcasm
first division
noun
the half of a league comprising the teams having the best records at a particular time
point shaving
noun
the illegal practice by one or more bribed players of deliberately limiting the number of points scored to conform to the desires of corrupt gamblers
personal foul
noun
a foul called in certain games, as basketball or football, for illegal body contact or rough, unsportsmanlike play
second division
noun
the half of a league comprising the teams having the poorest records at a particular time
stickwork
noun
a player's degree of competence or proficiency as a baseball batter, hockey or lacrosse player, etc
odd-man
adjective
noting or pertaining to a situation in which the players on one side outnumber those of the opposition
also-ran
noun
a contestant who fails to win or to place among the first three finishers; an athlete whose performance in competition is rarely a winning one
assist
noun
in baseball, a play that helps to put out a batter or base runner; a play that helps a teammate in gaining a goal
bench
noun
the seat on which the players of a team sit while not playing; the quality and number of the players of a team who are usually used as substitutes
blindside
verb
to tackle, hit, or attack from where one cannot be seen
daisy-cutter
noun
slang for a batted or served ball that skims along near the ground
draft
noun
a selecting of new players from a choice group of amateurs by professional teams so that each team receives some of the most promising players
giveaway
noun
any careless loss of possession of a ball, or other offensive lapse that leads to a score by the opponent
intercept
verb
to take possession of a ball during an attempted pass by an opposing team
interfere
verb
to obstruct the action of an opposing player in a way barred by the rules
loose
adjective
having the players on a team positioned at fairly wide intervals, as in a football formation

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