Cricket, often called the gentleman’s game, has its own language full of interesting expressions. These cricket idioms are not just for players but for anyone who wants to understand the game better. Let’s dive into some of the most colorful cricket idioms used in everyday English.
Cricket Idioms
Here are 20 cricket idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
1. On a sticky wicket
Meaning: In a difficult situation
Example: He was on a sticky wicket during the interview.
2. Hit for six
Meaning: To be shocked or surprised
Example: I was hit for six by the news.
3. Bail out
Meaning: To rescue from difficulty
Example: He had to bail out his friend.
4. Batting for the other team
Meaning: Supporting a rival group
Example: Is he batting for the other team now?
5. Bowled over
Meaning: To be greatly surprised
Example: She was bowled over by the proposal.
6. Caught out
Meaning: To be exposed or discovered
Example: He was caught out lying.
7. Stumped
Meaning: Confused or perplexed
Example: I was stumped by the riddle.
8. Play with a straight bat
Meaning: To act honestly
Example: Always play with a straight bat in business.
9. Not cricket
Meaning: Unfair or dishonest
Example: That decision was not cricket.
10. A good innings
Meaning: A well-lived life
Example: He had a good innings indeed.
11. Off one’s own bat
Meaning: On one’s own effort
Example: She succeeded off her own bat.
12. On the front foot
Meaning: Taking a proactive stance
Example: He’s on the front foot in negotiations.
13. On the back foot
Meaning: Being defensive
Example: The news put him on the back foot.
14. Over the wicket
Meaning: Direct or straightforward approach
Example: She deals with issues over the wicket.
15. Run out of steam
Meaning: To lose energy or enthusiasm
Example: The project ran out of steam quickly.
16. Slog it out
Meaning: Work hard and persistently
Example: We’ll have to slog it out to finish on time.
17. Spin a yarn
Meaning: To tell a long, fanciful story
Example: He can spin a yarn about anything.
18. Straight drive
Meaning: Direct and straightforward action
Example: He took a straight drive approach to solve it.
19. Throw one’s wicket away
Meaning: To give up easily
Example: He threw his wicket away with that mistake.
20. Underarm tactics
Meaning: Unethical methods
Example: They resorted to underarm tactics to win.
