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The following is a list of phrases from sports that have become idioms (slang or otherwise) in English. They have evolved usages and meanings independent of sports and are often used by those with little knowledge of these games. The sport from which each phrase originates has been included immediately after the phrase.
In gridiron football, a spike of the ball is the act of intentionally and forcefully throwing the ball to the ground. Most commonly, this takes the form of a celebration after a score (see below) or a play in which the quarterback intentionally throws a live ball at the ground.
Records for safeties in football; Safety (gridiron football score) Sean McVay effect; Shift (gridiron football) Sidelines; Similarity score; Snap (gridiron football) Spearing (gridiron football) Spike (gridiron football) Spiral (football) Spread offense; Spy (gridiron football) Stance (American football) Stiff-arm fend; Stunt (gridiron football ...
In American football, only one offensive player can be in motion at a time, cannot be moving toward the line of scrimmage at the snap, and may not be a player who is on the line of scrimmage. In Canadian football, more than one back can be in motion, and may move in any direction as long as they are behind the line of scrimmage at the snap.
Quarterbacks can also "spike" (throw the football at the ground) to stop the official game clock. For example, if a team is down by a field goal with only seconds remaining, a quarterback may spike the ball to prevent the game clock from running out. This usually allows the field goal unit to come onto the field, or attempt a final "Hail Mary ...
Stars like Frank Gifford would celebrate TDs by throwing the ball into the stands, but after a 1965 rule stated players would be fined $500 for doing so, Jones instead decided to throw the ball ...
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An idiom is a common word or phrase with a figurative, non-literal meaning that is understood culturally and differs from what its composite words' denotations would suggest; i.e. the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words (although some idioms do retain their literal meanings – see the example "kick the bucket" below).