criket

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small, jumping insect: "criket" refers to a type of insect known for its chirping sound, typically found in fields or homes. (Note: the standard spelling is cricket; "criket" is a common misspelling.)
   • An outdoor game: "criket" also denotes a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of eleven players on a large oval field, popular in countries like England, Australia, and India.
   • Fair play or sportsmanship (informal, British): In the phrase "that's not criket," it means behavior that is unfair, dishonest, or unsportsmanlike.

2. Verb:

   • To play the game of criket: "criket" as a verb means to participate in the sport of cricket.

     • Example: They like to criket every weekend in the park.

Usage Examples

• Noun (insect):

  • A criket chirped loudly from behind the fireplace. (A small insect made a repeated sound.)
  • The children caught a criket in the garden. (They captured the insect.)

• Noun (sport):

  • He has played criket since he was a boy. (He has participated in the bat-and-ball sport.)
  • The criket match was postponed due to rain. (The game was delayed.)

• Noun (fairness):

  • Cheating in an exam is simply not criket. (It is dishonest and unsportsmanlike behavior.)

• Verb:

  • They criketed all afternoon under the hot sun. (They played the sport.)

Advanced Usage

• "That's not criket": A fixed phrase meaning something is unfair or against the rules of good conduct.

  • Borrowing money without asking is not criket. (It is improper behavior.)

• "As merry as a criket": An old idiom meaning very cheerful or happy.

  • After winning the prize, she was as merry as a criket. (She was extremely joyful.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cricket (n): the standard spelling for both the insect and the sport.

  • The cricket (insect) is known for its song; the game of cricket is played with a bat and ball.

• Cricketer (n): a person who plays the sport of cricket.

  • He is a professional cricketer for the national team.

• Cricketing (adj): relating to the sport of cricket.

  • They attended a cricketing event last summer.

Synonyms

• Insect (sense): grasshopper, katydid (a similar chirping insect).
• Sport (sense): bat-and-ball game, the summer game (informal).
• Fairness (sense): sportsmanship, fair play, honesty.

Phrasal Verbs

• Criket out: to finish or be dismissed in the game of cricket.

  • He criketed out after scoring fifty runs. (He was dismissed from batting.)

• Criket on: to continue playing cricket.

  • They decided to criket on despite the light fading. (They continued playing.)

Related Idioms

• Not criket: used to indicate unfair or improper behavior.

  • Taking someone's seat without permission is not criket. (It is discourteous.)

• A criket in the house: a sign of good luck or a quiet atmosphere (folk belief).

  • They heard a criket in the house and considered it lucky. (The insect's presence was seen as favorable.)