Definition

1. Noun:
   • An imaginary line on a football field: In American football, the "line of scrimmage" is an imaginary line parallel to the goal lines. It marks the position of the football at the start of a play and extends from sideline to sideline. Players must line up on their respective sides of this line before the play begins.

Usage

• The "line of scrimmage" is a fundamental concept for determining the legal starting positions of the offensive and defensive teams.
• It is the point from which the ball is snapped to start a play.
• After each play, a new line of scrimmage is established at the spot where the ball is declared dead.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to win/lose the line of scrimmage": This phrase describes which team, offensive or defensive, is controlling the physical battle at the line where the play begins. Winning the line of scrimmage is crucial for a team's success.
  • The key to victory is winning the battle at the line of scrimmage.

Variants and Related Words

• Scrimmage (n): A practice game or a general term for the play that occurs from the line of scrimmage.
  • The team held a full scrimmage on Saturday.
• Line of scrimmage (LOS): A common abbreviation used in game commentary and analysis.

Synonyms

• Scrimmage line: A less common but synonymous term.

Related Phrases

• "Offside": A penalty called when a player is on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
• "Neutral zone": The space between the offensive and defensive lines, bounded by the width of the football, at the line of scrimmage.

Noun

1. line parallel to the goal lines where football linesmen line up at the start of each play in American football
   • the runner was tackled at the line of scrimmage