List of Sports Idioms - H

H

hands down

Horse racing: With great ease; unconditionally; often (and originally) in the phrase to win hands down, in which a jockey, certain of victory, drops his hands relaxes his hold on the reins. The horse-racing phrase is first cited by OED in 1867, figurative usage in 1913.

hat-trick

Cricket: A threefold feat in an endeavour. In cricket, a bowler who took three wickets with three successive bowls was entitled to a new hat (or some other prize) awarded by his club. OED cites to 1877, figurative to 1909.

have someone in your corner

Boxing: To have the support or help of someone. A boxer's ringside support staff – second, cut man, etc. – are in his corner, and assist him between rounds.

heavy hitter

Boxing: An important or influential individual or organization. Refers to a boxer who is able to hit hard; AHDI states it "was transferred to other enterprises in the mid-1900s".

heavyweight

Boxing: A person of great influence or importance. In boxing, it is a weight division of 175 pounds (79.5 kg) or higher, or a boxer fighting in this division. OED dates the boxing usage to 1877 (it was previously used in horse-racing), but does not cite or date the figurative usage. See also lightweight, below.

hit below the belt

Boxing: To act unfairly or unscrupulously, in disregard of the rules. To hit an opponent below the belt is an illegal move in boxing. WNM dates this use to "1941–46"; OED dates to 1891. See low blow, below.

home stretch or homestretch

Horse racing: The final phase of an endeavour or project. On a racecourse, the home stretch is the final part of track on which the race finishes. OED dates racing usage to 1841, but does not date or cite a figurative usage; M-W defines a figurative use but does not date it.

hurler on the ditch

Hurling: A non-participant who criticises from outside. Derives from a spectator (typically a man too old to play any more) criticising the players whilst observing from an earth bank (a ditch; most hurling clubs do not have stands so the crowd stand at the pitchside).