touch-line
Definition
- Noun:
- Boundary line in sports: In games like football (soccer), rugby, and hockey, the "touch-line" is one of the two longer boundary lines that mark the side edges of the playing field. The ball is considered out of play when it crosses this line.
Usage Examples
- (The player ran close to the side boundary line.)
- (The ball crossed the side boundary, resulting in a restart.)
- (The side boundaries define the field of play.)
Advanced Usage
- "to hug the touch-line": to stay very close to the side boundary during play, often to avoid defenders or to prepare for a cross.
- The striker hugged the touch-line to receive a long pass from the goalkeeper. (The player positioned himself near the side line.)
- "touch-line ban": a disciplinary penalty that prevents a coach or manager from being near the field of play during a match.
- The manager received a touch-line ban for arguing with the referee. (He was prohibited from standing near the side boundary during the game.)
Variants and Related Words
- Touch (n): the act of making contact with something; in sports, "touch" can refer to the area outside the touch-line.
- The ball went into touch. (The ball crossed the side boundary and is out of play.)
- Line (n): a long, narrow mark or boundary.
- The touch-line is one of the four boundary lines on a football pitch.
Synonyms
- Side line: another term for touch-line, especially in American sports like soccer.
- Boundary line: a general term for any line marking the edge of a playing area.
Related Idioms
- "on the touch-line": referring to a coach, manager, or substitute standing near the side boundary of the field during a match.
- The coach stood on the touch-line, shouting instructions to his players. (He was positioned just outside the field of play.)
- "over the touch-line": indicating that the ball has left the field of play via the side boundary.
- The ball sailed over the touch-line, giving the opposing team a throw-in. (The ball crossed the side line.)