If you are feeling a bit under attack or if you need to be assertive in a professional or personal situation, vocabulary from combat sports such as boxing are the perfect way to express your emotions.
Seconds out...Round 3!
Combat Sports.
Stay on your toes | Stay alert; boxers (and ballerinas) have to move on their toes for mobility |
Example: “A good boxing trainer often sends the boxers to ballet classes as it teaches them to move around and stay on their toes in a boxing ring.” “Stay on your toes during the negotiations, as you never know what the lawyers from the other companies are planning.” | |
Get in the ring | Stand up for yourself (a reference to the ring, or combat area in boxing) |
Example: “If you find yourself under attack in professional situations or at work, just get in the ring and prepare for battle!” | |
On the ropes | In trouble; whenever a boxer is being attacked heavily and they are against the ring’s ropes |
Example: “A lot of companies found themselves on the ropes financially during the COVID lockdowns, with some going bankrupt, though others survived after a heavy battle.” | |
Below the belt | An unfair action; in boxing an illegal and dangerous punch under the opposing fighter’s belt |
Example: “That comment was unnecessary and below the belt. You really didn’t have to say something so nasty and unfair!” | |
Throw in the towel | Surrender or give up; a technical knockout in boxing |
Example: “You should throw the towel in now as you will never convince him to help you.” | |
To deal a knockout blow | To do or make a decisive, winning action; to finish your opponent by knocking them to the ground in boxing |
Example: “Our plan to reduce electrical costs by installing solar panels was expensive in the installation, but over time, it reduced our costs and dealt a knockout blow to our rivals as we could offer cheaper services to customers as a result of the money saved.” | |
A blow-by-blow account of something | A graphic and detailed description of something, related to boxing journalism |
Example: “You will find a blow-by-blow account of the parliamentary debate in tomorrow’s newspapers as the journalists were taking extensive notes of everything that was said.” | |
Pound for pound | A detailed comparison of two people or things' attributes |
Example: “Pound for pound, Google is far bigger than Facebook as a global entity, taking into account all of their services.” | |
A split decision | A decision with which not everyone agrees |
Example: “The work-tribunal judgement ended up in a split decision, with three judges in favour and two against.” | |
To stand a fighting chance | To have a small but determined chance |
Example: “We are a small but confident company, and with our confidence, we will always stand a fighting chance against much bigger opposition.” | |
To let your guard down | To lose your concentration and drop your defences in front of an opponent. A boxer’s guard is when they protect their face with the hands and gloves. |
Example: “Never let your guard down in front of lawyers…they’ll eat you alive!” |
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