utility man
1
6.1
- noun
- /juˈtɪləti mæn/
- Jargon
:
jugador versátil
- The manager praised the utility man for his ability to step in wherever the team needed him the most.
Examples
-
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny replaced the veteran slugger with rookie utility man Matt Carpenter.
Blog text (19) -
utility man Enrique Hernandez played multiple positions during the game, showcasing his versatility.
-
As a utility man, Rob Refsnyder proved invaluable by filling in at shortstop and left field throughout the season.
Synonyms
2
7.7
A player who can play two different positions in baseball or basketball
1
4.9
A team member who can play several positions well in sports like baseball
A female baseball player who can play several positions
How Versatile
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is largely compositional: 'utility' (usefulness/versatility) combined with 'man' (a male person) yields the idea of a man who is useful or versatile. However, the specific sports-domain sense 'utility man' = a baseball player who covers several positions is a specialized extension that a B1 learner may not predict without exposure, so the phrase is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Utility man in sports comes from the same simple image: utility (useful) and man (player) who can 'fill in' at different positions, so it means a player a coach can move around to play many roles on the team.