The 2016 Rio Olympics are here and everyone is obsessing over it right now. Let’s ‘kick off‘ our own Olympics lesson and become an English language ‘heavyweight‘.
Today, we will focus on 3 commonly used sports idiom found in social media. First, we will talk about how the idiom came about and its definition. Then we will provide example sentences on how the media is using the idioms. Without further ado, let’s get started.
1.Heavy weight
Comes from boxing and refers to a competitor who’s in the strongest division. A second meaning refers to someone who’s most important in their own field. (source: wikipedia, sportsidiom)
- Example 1 : “SWIMMING AGAINST THE HEAVYWEIGHTS: Genevan Lucas Reisch will lock horns with the likes of Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte at Olympic trials”
- Example 2 : “There is concern shared among the heavyweight sporting brands that Under Armour has chosen to flout the spirit of Olympic regulations in its social media promotion of record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps.”
2. Kick off
Originates from football where one team kicks the ball to start the game. It also means to begin a game or a project. (source:Wikipedia,sportsidiom)
- Example : “Gisele Bündchen helped kick off the 2016 Rio Olympics’ opening ceremony in style.”
Kick off a meeting , kick off a project : first meeting between the project team and client.
3. Slam dunk
This comes from basketball, where a player jumps up and pushes the ball through the net. Another figurative usage includes the sense of “can’t miss”, a sure thing. (source : Wikipedia)
- Example : “ Argentine golfer Fabian Gomez hits an amazing ‘slam dunk’ chip shot straight into the 16th hole of the Rio 2016 Olympics golf course.”
- Read more : http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37055854.app
Good luck and may the best team win!