Offside - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Offside is a rule in sports like soccer or hockey where a player is positioned ahead of the ball or puck and involved in active play, resulting in a violation.
Definition:
In sports, positioned illegally ahead of the ball or play; in general, improperly situated or timed.
Synonyms:
illegal, out of bounds, unauthorized
Part of Speech:
adjective, noun
Antonyms:
onside, legal
Common Collocations:
offside rule, offside position, offside trap, called offside
Derivatives:
offsides (variant), offsider
Usage Tips:
Use "offside" in sports to describe an illegal position; otherwise, it means improperly timed or placed.
Common Phrases:
caught offside, play the offside trap, offside call
Etymology:
Originated in sports (late 19th century), combining "off" and "side" to denote being out of position.
Examples:
- 1. The referee signaled for offside during the match.
- 2. She was caught offside and the goal was disallowed.
- 3. The new law put the company offside with regulators.
- 4. He stepped offside just as the play began.