running play
4
4.4
- noun
- /ˈrʌnɪŋ pleɪ/
- US
:
jugada de carrera
- The quarterback decided to call a running play to surprise the defense.
- call three running plays
- four running plays
- three running plays
Examples
-
If the offensive line can recover and possibly get a little push on running plays, we will be all right.
Blog text (11) -
With less than two minutes remaining, the Steelers were content to grind down the clock with running plays straight up the middle.
Fiction book (2000) -
Also, your defense is pretty weak against a lot of running plays...
Blog text (16) -
The team just converted a first down on two running plays.
Blog text (28) -
So that was a pickup of two on that last running play, Joe.
-
In fact, only 17 running plays were called, as opposed to over 50 passes.
Blog text (25) -
I would have liked to see us grind out some more running plays, particularly in the 2nd quarter.
Blog text (30) -
It's an obvious running play with Jennings taking the handoff to go to the right off center.
Blog text (14) -
West Virginia can't stop a pass play, and Louisville can't even come close to stopping a running play.
Blog text (15) -
Most holding calls on an offensive lineman occur on outside running plays such as tosses, sweeps, and screens.
Blog text (16)
Synonyms
211
5.5
A play where a player carries the ball instead of passing
119
4.3
A play where a player carries the ball instead of passing
81
5.4
An attempt in football to move the ball forward by running
7
6.6
A play where a runner runs around the line to gain yards
3
6.1
A play where the quarterback fakes a pass then gives the ball to the runner
1
6.2
A football play where the quarterback fakes a pass then hands the ball to a running back
1
6.5
An attempt to move the ball by running around the end of the line in American football
How Run-Focused
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is compositionally built: 'running' (moving by foot / carrying the ball by running) modifies 'play' (a sports action), so the meaning 'a play that involves running rather than passing' is directly inferable from the parts. This adjective+noun pattern is cross-linguistically common and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents and the basic sports sense of 'play'.
Etymology
Running play comes from the simple image of a planned play where a player is running with the ball instead of throwing it. That's why it means 'a play in which a player carries the ball forward by running' in American football.