Page 167 - Perfect Phrases ESL Everyday Business

Sports Idioms and Expressions

are only three strikes to strike out, having two strikes means you are
almost out. “She wanted the job. However, she didn’t drive, and she
didn’t have a babysitter for her young children. She already had two
strikes against her.”

Phrases from Football
Tackle: This means to bring down the running ballcarrier. In busi-
ness or personal life, people tackle, attack, or confront a problem. “I’m
going to tackle my taxes this weekend.”
Fumble: When a player drops the ball, this mistake is called a fum-
ble. In business or personal life, to fumble is to make a big mistake.
“The salesman never asked for the order; he fumbled the opportunity
to make the sale.”
To run interference: This means for someone to lead the way for
the ballcarrier, blocking potential tacklers. In business or personal life,
it means that the person running the interference has taken care of
a problem for another person. “I was so busy today that I asked my
admin to run interference for me by putting through only the most
important calls.”
Touchdown: When a ballcarrier crosses the goal line and scores,
it is called a touchdown, and the scoring team is awarded six points.
As with “hit a home run” above, touchdown implies a successful
outcome.

Phrases from Boxing

To be a heavyweight: A heavyweight is a boxer in the heaviest
weight class; in business and personal life, a heavyweight is the most
important and powerful person in the organization or in a situation. A
lightweight is the opposite, a person who has little power. “We hired
Steven because we checked his references and they all said he was a
heavyweight in finance.”

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