Sports Strategies

noun a phrase that refers to something going in a different direction or contrary to the usual or expected way

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The artist's unique style goes against the grain of traditional techniques.
• She always does things against the grain, never following the crowd.
• He's a rebel, always going against the grain and doing his own thing.
• Despite the criticism, she continued to swim against the grain and pursue her dreams.

adjective positioned or directed across something

adverb in a way that is positioned or directed across something

• The fabric was cut crosswise to create a unique pattern.
• She folded the paper crosswise before putting it in the envelope.
• I like to wear my hat tilted crosswise for a cool look.
• His decision to switch careers was a crosswise move that surprised everyone.

noun a rhythm or rate of movement that is twice as fast as normal

adjective referring to something that is done at twice the normal speed or rate

• The employees were asked to work double time to meet the project deadline.
• I had to hustle and work double time to finish my homework before the party.
• I pulled a double time shift at work yesterday to cover for my coworker.
• She's been putting in double time at the gym to get ready for the marathon.

noun a retreat or withdrawal

verb to move back or retreat in the face of danger or difficulty

• In case of failure, we have a contingency plan to fall back on.
• If all else fails, we can always fall back on our original idea.
• When things get tough, sometimes you just have to fall back and regroup.
• When faced with a difficult decision, I tend to fall back on my instincts.

adjective not able to be penetrated or pierced; impossible to pass through or enter

• The fortress was surrounded by an impenetrable wall, making it nearly impossible to breach.
• I tried to open the lock, but it seems impenetrable. I can't get it to budge.
• The security on that website is so impenetrable, it's like Fort Knox!
• Her stoic demeanor made her seem impenetrable, but deep down she was very vulnerable.

noun an instance of invading, especially by an armed force

• The country prepared its defense against a potential invasion from neighboring nations.
• I heard there might be an invasion at the party tonight, so make sure to dress to impress.
• Did you see that invasion of tourists at the mall? It's so crowded!
• The invasion of social media influencers on my feed is overwhelming.

noun a planned and regulated movement or series of moves

verb to perform a skillful or careful movement or series of moves

• The pilot executed a precise maneuver to avoid a collision.
• She had to maneuver her way through the crowded room to find her friends.
• He pulled off a slick maneuver to win the game.
• She carefully maneuvered her career to reach the top position in the company.

noun a movement or series of moves requiring skill and care

verb to perform a skillful or careful move or series of moves

• The pilot executed a precise manoeuvre to avoid a potential collision.
• He managed to manoeuvre his way through the crowded market without bumping into anyone.
• She pulled off a slick manoeuvre to get out of a tricky situation.
• The politician's clever manoeuvre secured his position as the party leader.

noun a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage

• The company's latest marketing ploy was met with mixed reviews from industry analysts.
• I see right through your little ploy to get out of doing the dishes.
• Nice try with that ploy, but I'm not falling for it.
• Her charm was just a ploy to get what she wanted.

noun a group of journalists or news reporters

verb to extract juice or oil by applying pressure

• The press conference will be held at 10 am tomorrow.
• Don't forget to press the button to start the machine.
• I'll give you a press to help you with that task.
• She felt the weight of the world press down on her shoulders.

noun a reduction in speed or the act of decreasing speed

verb to reduce the speed of something

• The driver was advised to slow down as he approached the sharp curve.
• Hey, you need to slow down a bit on those turns!
• Dude, you gotta chill and slow your roll.
• It's important to slow down and enjoy the journey instead of rushing through life.

verb to make something softer or more gentle

adverb softly or gently

• The company is looking to soften up their image with a new advertising campaign.
• I told him to soften up a bit and be more approachable.
• She needs to soften up and stop being so uptight.
• The warm sun helped to soften up the hard clay soil in the garden.

noun a tight grip or clasp with the fingers

verb to firmly press something with a force that is concentrated in a small area

• The nurse gently squeezed the patient's arm to check their blood pressure.
• I always squeeze the toothpaste tube from the middle, it drives my roommate crazy.
• I can't believe he squeezed into those skinny jeans, they look so uncomfortable.
• She felt like the stress of work was squeezing all the joy out of her life.

verb to extend or spread out in a line or series

adverb in a stretched-out or extended manner

• The speaker began to string out his points during the presentation.
• I noticed you were stringing out your story to avoid the main topic.
• She loves to string out her gossip to keep everyone interested.
• The detective had to string out the evidence to solve the case.

verb to encircle or enclose something completely

• The beautiful garden surrounds the majestic mansion.
• I love how all the shops surround the town square.
• We were surrounded by paparazzi at the movie premiere.
• Negative thoughts can surround your mind if you let them.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The negotiations took place behind closed doors to ensure confidentiality.
• They always gossip behind closed doors.
• I heard they were partying hard behind closed doors.
• The truth behind closed doors was finally revealed.

noun a tactic in soccer where a team applies immediate pressure on the opposing team's players after losing possession of the ball, in order to regain control and prevent a counterattack

• The team's gegenpressing tactics proved to be effective in disrupting the opponent's possession.
• Our coach wants us to focus on gegenpressing to win the ball back quickly.
• Gegenpressing is all about putting pressure on the other team to force mistakes.
• In business, gegenpressing can be compared to staying proactive and always one step ahead of the competition.

noun a word that functions as the name of a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The surgeon made a precise cut on the patient's abdomen to remove the tumor.
• I accidentally cut on my finger while chopping vegetables.
• My brother got a nasty cut on his arm from falling off his skateboard.
• She felt a deep emotional cut on her heart when her best friend betrayed her.

adjective existing or occurring before or in advance

adverb beforehand or in advance

• It is important to plan and prepare aforehand for any major project.
• Make sure you get your tickets aforehand, so we don't have to wait in line.
• I always like to scope out the scene aforehand before committing to going out.
• She always seemed to know the answers aforehand, as if she could predict the future.