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Glite Dictionary
shoestring catch

shoestring catch

8.6
A baseball play where an outfielder runs and grabs a ball very close to the ground
  • noun
  • Jargon
translation icon : captura rastrera
  • Everyone applauded after he completed a shoestring catch near the warning track.

Examples

  • You know, that shoestring catch you made today was one of the best I've ever seen.

    Here Come the Tigers (1978)

  • He made several impressive plays Friday, opening the game by showing great leaping ability on an interception, making a shoestring catch on the sideline, and sticking the wide receiver at the line of scrimmage.

    Blog text (17)

  • That right, that shoestring catch should be done every single game.

  • During the last inning, the outfielder made an incredible shoestring catch to save the game.

  • Her shoestring catch during the final play secured their victory in the championship match.

How Difficult

diving
111 1.6
shoestring catch
  • Jargon
8.6
running
1.1

Surface Forms

shoestring catch singular
shoestring catches plural

Morphology

shoestring + catch

The components 'shoestring' (the lace at the shoe) and 'catch' make it fairly guessable that the phrase describes a catch made very low by the feet, so a learner can infer a general low/near-the-ground catching action. However, the precise sports-specific nuance (a running outfielder catch made extremely close to the ground) is specialized and metaphorical enough that the full meaning is unlikely to be predictable for a B1 learner without exposure.

Etymology

Shoestring catch comes from the image of a player catching the ball so low it is almost at the player's shoestring. That's why it means 'a very low running catch'.