AMERICAN FOOTBALL:

Like many of our games, American football derived from English games. The colonists brought a form of soccer with them, which was later played at east coast universities. These universities then tried another English game, rugby, which became more popular than soccer. The ball in rugby could be moved with the hands, as well as the feet. In the second part of the nineteenth century Walter Camp attended Yale University and played rugby, which he liked but thought could be improved. He changed many of the rules of rugby to make a new game, the early version of American football. Further changes have been made in the game in the 20th century.

Two teams of eleven men meet on a field that is 100 yards long. The game begins when one team kicks the ball to the other team. Players are lined up in formations or lines, with an offensive and defensive line. The team receiving the ball is the offensive team. It tries to move the ball down the field towards the opponent's goal for a touchdown. The offensive team has four chances (plays or "downs" ) in which to do this. If the ball is moved 10 yards within the four downs, a first down is made and the ball may be kept for another four downs. The ball is moved by throwing ("passing") or running with it ("carrying it"). The offensive "line" helps "block" or stop the opposing team so its players can run or throw the ball. If the ball is not moved ten yards in four tries, the offensive team must give the ball to the opposing team. Often, the offensive team kicks (punts) the ball to the opposing team on the "fourth down", in order to move it further down field. The offensive team can also kick the ball over the goal posts for a field goal and for an extra point after a touchdown. The defensive team tries to stop the offense by tackling players and blocking passes.

IDIOM: touchdown

MEANING 1: to move the ball across the opponent's goal line.
SENTENCE 1: A team scores six points for a touchdown.

MEANING 2: to achieve something, to win something
SENTENCE 2: You scored a touchdown when you hired Jane. She's a great accountant.

**Graphic of footbal filed**

IDIOM: run interference

MEANING 1: to stop or block players of the opponent team so they cannot get to the ball
SENTENCE 1: The guard ran interference for the quarterback and he made a first down.

MEANING 2:
SENTENCE 2: Get Jill in accounting to run interference for you by presenting the numbers .

IDIOM: to do an end run

MEANING 1: to go around the end of the opponent's defensive line
SENTENCE 1: The half-back did an end run and scored a touchdown.

MEANING 2: to around the usual line of authority; to go around an immediate supervisor
SENTENCE 2: The student did an end run and went directly to the principal of the school rather than to his teacher.

IDIOM: sidelined primarily

MEANING 1: to be taken out of the game / to be injured
SENTENCE 1: He was sidelined because of a knee injury.

MEANING 2: to stop working on something
SENTENCE 2: We better sideline that project.

DERIVATION: The lines of the playing field show where the game is to be played. Players within the lines or boundaries are playing the game. Those outside the boundaries are not playing or sidelined.

IDIOM: quarterback something

MEANING 1: The quarterback directs the offensive game of the team. He calls the plays.
SENTENCE 1: Johnny Unitas quarterbacked the Baltimore team to many victories.

MEANING 2: to direct a project
SENTENCE 2: Harry, you quarterback the computer buy-out.

IDIOM: kick-off

MEANING 1: to start a football game by kicking the ball to the opposing team
SENTENCE 1: The kick-off of the football game was promptly at 2:00.

MEANING 2: to start or begin a project
SENTENCE 2: The kick-off date for that project will be April first.

IDIOM: carry the ball

MEANING 1: to carry the ball in football
SENTENCE 1: The tailback carried the ball.

MEANING 2: to be responsible for a project, a business deal
SENTENCE 2: Will you carry the ball this time? Fumi did it last time.

IDIOM: to hold the line

MEANING 1: The defense line, usually seven men, tries to stay in its position against the opponent's offensive attack.
SENTENCE 1: The Los Angeles Rams held the line at the five yard lineagainst the San Francisco Forty-Niner offensive attack.

MEANING 2: to stay and not move
SENTENCE 2: Hold the line on that offer. We are not going to pay any more.

DERIVATION: Hold the line is a military term for holding or staying in place under enemy offensive fire.

IDIOM: first down (and ten to go)

MEANING 1: A team makes a first down if it moves ten yards towards their goalpost. The team has four chances or downs to do this.
SENTENCE 1: The fullback who made it look easy to get first downs for his team.

MEANING 2: to have accomplished an objective on the way to a goal
SENTENCE 2: We have a first down . Everyone work hard and maybe we'll get the contract. The surgeon said, " Frst down and ten to go . We got the tumor. Now we need some chemotherapy."

IDIOM: drop back

MEANING 1: to move back behind the offensive line in order to pass or run around the end
SENTENCE 1: The quarterback droppped back and passed twenty-five yards for a first down.

MEANING 2: to go back
SENTENCE 2: She was shy and drop ped back behind the crowd.

IDIOM: punt; fourth down and let's punt
primarily football; also, soccer and rugby

MEANING 1: to kick the ball to the opposing team, usually on the fourth down, when theball needs to be turned over to the opposing team
SENTENCE 1: It was fourth down and the Redskins punted.

MEANING 2: no more options; There is nothing more one can do.
SENTENCE 2: They are not going to sign the contract. Let's punt.

IDIOM: huddle

MEANING 1: the offensive team gathers together and decides on the next play
SENTENCE 1: After the huddle, the quarterback threw a long pass to the tight end.

MEANING 2: to confer or go into conference to decide something
SENTENCE 2: Let's get the senior partners together and huddle to decide on the next play in this tri