Time to push this topic over the goal line
a Monday morning quarterback is a person who criticizes with benefit of hindsight.
Monday morning refers to the games being played on the weekend.
push it over the goal line means to complete the activity or project, finish to job.
Moving the football down the field doesn’t count until the ball crosses the goal line.
to quarterback means to directs or lead
The quarterback is the player on the field responsible for coordinating and directing play.
to run interference means to handle problems or to clear the way for another.
A player who runs interference interferes with opponents to let the ball carrier advance.
to sideline means to remove from participation.
A player who is injured is removed from play and forced to observe from the sidelines.
American football idioms
to bench someone means to remove someone from participation
A team’s players sit on benches awaiting their chance to play.
to carry the ball means to take charge, to assume responsibility
The ball is carried to advance toward a goal.
to drop the ball means to make an error, to miss an opportunity.
A player who drops a ball risks having the ball recovered and carried by the other team.
an end run means an evasive tactic; an attempt to avoid or bypass opposition.
It is an attempt to run around one’s own end (of a line of players) and towards the goal.
What a change!
whole new ball game means a drastic turn of events
Fishing in the Gulf after the oil spill is a whole new ball game.
This phrase is a reference to when the trailing team takes the lead.
[This post completes my review of idioms related to baseball.]
Are we on the same page?
touch base means to make sure everyone has the same information
He just wanted to touch base before he left for vacation.
This phrase is a reference to touching the bases as a runner heads toward home plate. It could be considered briefly “checking in” at each base.
Your turn
step up to the plate means to assume a responsibility
It’s time for you to step up to the plate and help solve this problem.
This phrase is a reference to stepping up to home plate to bat.
So crazy
screwball means eccentric or crazy
He had another screwball idea we thought would never work.
This phrase is a reference to the a rarely used pitch that is intended to behave erratically.
No delay
right off the bat means immediately or without delay
It was clear right off the bat that the debate team was not prepared.
This phrase is a reference to the immediate acceleration of a baseball just after being hit by a bat.
Soft or tough actions
to play hardball means to be, or act, tough and aggressive
It got ugly when the political candidates started playing hardball.
This phrase is a reference to the difference between balls in baseball and softball.
Excellent outcome
knock it out of the park means to do something exactly as it should be done
She really knocked it out of the park with that speech.
This phrase is a reference to a home run which is the best a hitter can do.
Out of the park
hit a home run means a complete success
The TV producers hit a home run with this one.
This phrase is a reference to a home run being the best outcome for a hitter.