Love Means Nothing
Some Really Interesting Information About the Origins of 8 Sport Terms
Without further ado...
Nutmegged
Many of us wake from nightmares of being nutmegged. Humiliation aside, this term's origin can be traced back to the 1870s when nutmeg was a highly prized commodity. Rogue traders would mix wooden replicas (wood balls) with real nutmeg, deceiving customers, getting one past them. This term also highlights how money doesn't buy taste, as many wealthy Victorians happily grated mahogany onto their morning Ready Brek.
Give and Take
On the street, this phrase describes situations where two people reach a compromise. But its origins come from horse racing. In 1769 an event known as the "give-and-take plate" began. In this race, horses that were taller had to carry additional weight to ensure a level playing field, and shorter horses carried less. This adjustment made for a fairer contest, hence the term that emphasises mutual concession.
Hands Down
Also on the street, a "hands down" victory is an effortless win. Again, we have horse racing to thank for this term, and it was first used during the mid-19th century. When a jockey recognised that they had an insurmountable lead near the finish line, he would loosen the reins and let his hands drop, signalling an easy finish, cocky as you like.
Hat Trick
For American readers, a hat trick is when a footballer scores three goals in a game (all in the opposition's net). However, the term first emerged in cricket, where it described a bowler who took three wickets in three consecutive deliveries. To celebrate this feat, the bowler would receive a nice hat from his club.
Out for a Duck
When a batter is described as being "out for a duck," it means they've been dismissed without scoring any runs. The expression has a straightforward origin: the shape of a duck's egg resembles the number zero, leading to this term for a score of nothing.
Love
In tennis, a player's score of zero is called "love". This term has roots in the sport's French heritage. The French word for egg, l'œuf, is pronounced similarly to "love" and reflects the zero score's shape, again, like a duck's egg.
Seeds
The term "seeded" describes the process of ranking players. The top players are placed in a way that prevents them from facing each other in the early rounds, allowing for anticipated matchups in later stages. This term is borrowed from horticulture. Gardeners plant seeds apart to facilitate their growth, paralleling how players are separated in tournament draws.
Saved by the Bell
The phrase "saved by the bell" is often linked to a myth about 17th-century coffins equipped with bells to avoid premature burial. However, boringly, the term does in fact come from boxing, describing the bell giving a pugilist a few seconds respite from being beaten half to death. So, while the burial bell story is a misconception, boxing is the true dead ringer for this phrase's origin.
