How to Play the Game: American English Sports & Games Idioms

Sports idioms are a great way to learn the concept of idioms by the association of a sport or game. How to Play the Game: American English & Games Idioms is a book of idioms derived from terms used in sports and games played in the United States. This book contains over 250 sports idioms ranging from American football to card games.

How to Play the Game: American English & Games Idioms is a book of idioms derived from terms used in sports and games played in the United States. Sports, gambling and card games are a major part of the American way of life. People in the United States “work hard and play hard.” Games have captured the American heart and mind; terms associated with play have become associated with work and the way Americans do business. The “deal,” derived from card games is the business transaction, the basis of our capitalist society. Listen carefully and one will be amazed at the number of people and institutions, particularly businessmen and businesses, who use idioms to make a point. To Americans, “to pinch hit” or “carry the ball” means to take over a task for someone; a “slam dunk” is an easy “deal.” A limited understanding of games and their related idioms hinders everyday communication. This book is intended to teach all who want to learn how to play the game. It is an essential tool and reference book for anyone unfamiliar with American sports and games, and entertaining for everyone else.

Jean Henry was a teacher and administrator of American English as a Second Language, literacy classes for adults, and college English classes for twenty-eight years. Born in San Francisco, she graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and UC San Francisco with a Bachelor of Science Degree, and from Harvard University with a Master’s degree in Education. She is now retired and writes poetry, children’s stories, and occasional articles for magazines and local newspapers. Ms. Henry is married with grown children. She began collecting sports and games idioms for fun and for use in the classroom, culminating in this book, “How to Play the Game, American English Sports & Games Idioms.”