play-off

A soccer team celebrates after winning the play-off match.

Definition

Noun: A "play-off" is a contest or series of contests to determine a winner, especially after a tie or at the end of a regular season in sports.

Usage Examples

• (A decisive game after a tied season.)
• (A series of matches to determine the final winner.)

Advanced Usage

• "to force a play-off": to create a situation where a tie must be resolved by an extra game.

  • The last-minute goal forced a play-off between the two rivals. (The goal made a tie-breaking game necessary.)

• "play-off berth": a spot or qualification for a play-off tournament.

  • The team secured a play-off berth with their victory. (They earned a place in the decisive competition.)

Variants and Related Words

• Playoff (n): alternative spelling often used in North American English; same meaning as "play-off."

  • The playoff begins next week. (The decisive series starts soon.)

• Play-off game (n): a single match within a play-off series.

  • The play-off game was intense and went into overtime. (One specific contest in the series.)

Synonyms

• Decider: a match or event that decides the outcome.
• Tiebreaker: a game or contest used to break a tie.

Related Idioms

• "the play-off is on": an expression meaning the decisive stage of a competition has begun.

  • With the final whistle, the play-off is on for the championship. (The tie-breaking competition is now active.)

• "play-off pressure": the stress or tension associated with a decisive contest.

  • The team felt the play-off pressure as they prepared for the final match. (The stress of the crucial game.)