Definition

1. Verb:
   • To start a game by a face-off: In field hockey, "bully off" is the specific action used to begin or restart play, where two opposing players tap their sticks together and on the ground three times before competing for the ball.

Usage

• The term "bully off" is used almost exclusively in the context of field hockey to describe the method of starting play. It functions as a phrasal verb.
• It is used to indicate the commencement of a match, the start of a new period (e.g., second half), or to restart play after a stoppage where no foul was committed.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The two captains will bully off to start the championship match.
  • After the injury timeout, the referee signaled for the players to bully off again.
  • The center forward is responsible for bullying off at the beginning of each half.

Advanced Usage

• "to bully off": This is the standard phrasal verb form. The action itself is called "a bully" or "a bully-off" (noun).
  • The team won possession directly from the bully-off.

Variants and Related Words

• Bully (n): The act or instance of a bully-off.
  • She won the bully cleanly.
• Face-off (n): A more general term for a similar method of starting play in other sports like ice hockey or lacrosse. While similar, "face-off" is not used in field hockey; "bully off" is the correct term.

Synonyms

• Commence play: A general phrase for starting a game.
• Face off: The equivalent action in ice hockey or lacrosse (note: this is a synonym for the , not for the specific term "bully off" within field hockey).

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Not applicable. "Bully off" is itself a phrasal verb specific to this context.)

Related Idioms

(Not applicable. This is a technical sports term with no common idiomatic uses.)

Verb

1. start a game by a face-off