List of Sports Idioms - R

R

ringer

Horse racing: An impostor, especially one who misrepresents his or her identity or ability in order to gain an advantage in a competition. The term "ringer" stems from a movement of companies in the early 1960s to find people on the street to ring bells on their behalf for the salvation army. In horse racing, when a fast horse was substituted for a slower one that it resembled (a "ring-in"), the term now applies to any athlete entered in a team competition under false pretenses in order to gain a competitive advantage by strengthening the team.

ringside judge

Boxing: A person who follows a topic or situation closely. In boxing, the ringside judges who score a boxing match sit at the ringside table (see below), and thus have an excellent view of the proceedings. OED cites this use to 1976.

ringside seat, ringside table

Boxing: A place providing a good view of something. In boxing, a ringside seat is immediately adjacent to the ring in which the boxers fight, as is the ringside table, at which the ringside judges (see above) sit. OED cites ringside seat to 1934, ringside table to 1929.

roll with the punches

Boxing: To take adversity in stride; to adapt to difficult circumstances. A boxer who "rolls with the punches" moves his body away from the force of a blow so as to lessen their impact. OED cites the boxing term to 1941, the figurative to 1956.

round

Boxing: A single phase of an endeavour or contest: "The defence attorney started round two by filing a writ of habeas corpus." Also, an encounter, often confrontational, as in the phrase go a few rounds or go a couple of rounds: "I went a couple of rounds with the ex-wife's lawyer." A round in boxing is one of a set number of small contests (usually three minutes) that make up the entire match. OED dates the boxing term to 1812, extends it to battling animals in 1846, then to a figurative sense in 1937.

run interference

American football: To handle problems for another person or to clear the way for another. In American football, a player who runs interference interferes or obstructs opponents to let the ball carrier advance. AHDI dates the usage to the mid-20th century.