Are You “Up to Are You “Up to Scratch?”: Scratch?”:

Understanding Boxing Understanding Boxing MetaphorsMetaphors

By: Ashley MordwinowBy: Ashley Mordwinow

Integration of Sports Integration of Sports MetaphorsMetaphors

““The vocabulary of sports interacts in The vocabulary of sports interacts in various ways with . . . social and various ways with . . . social and political contexts . . . [and] sports political contexts . . . [and] sports terms become metaphors for all terms become metaphors for all kinds of everyday events and kinds of everyday events and activities” (Saporta). activities” (Saporta).

Question:Question:

Does understanding how a phrase is Does understanding how a phrase is used in a specific sport increase your used in a specific sport increase your understanding of its metaphorical understanding of its metaphorical meaning?meaning?

Two Sides: Side 1Two Sides: Side 1

Yes. Those familiar with the literal Yes. Those familiar with the literal meaning or origin of the phrase will meaning or origin of the phrase will grasp all of its implications, those grasp all of its implications, those unfamiliar with the origins will not. unfamiliar with the origins will not. “Frequent use of sports metaphors “Frequent use of sports metaphors creates a linguistically unlevel playing creates a linguistically unlevel playing field for those who are unfamiliar with field for those who are unfamiliar with sports or with sports metaphors’ sports or with sports metaphors’ idiomatic meanings”idiomatic meanings” (Archer). (Archer).

Two Sides: Side 2Two Sides: Side 2

No. Sports metaphors have become No. Sports metaphors have become so commonplace that you don’t have so commonplace that you don’t have to be familiar with sports to to be familiar with sports to understand them.understand them.

MethodologyMethodology

Survey at least 30 people, ages 18-Survey at least 30 people, ages 18-28, native speakers of English.28, native speakers of English.

Part 1: Describe what each phrase Part 1: Describe what each phrase would mean to you in the context of would mean to you in the context of a casual conversation.a casual conversation.

Part 2: Describe what you think each Part 2: Describe what you think each phrase means in the context of phrase means in the context of sports, specifically in boxing.sports, specifically in boxing.

Survey Questions/Results (so Survey Questions/Results (so far)far)

PhrasePhrase CorrectCorrect IncorrectIncorrect

At the drop of At the drop of a hata hat

M: 7 B: 5M: 7 B: 5 M: 2 B: 5M: 2 B: 5

Down and outDown and out M: 10 B: 10 M: 10 B: 10 M: 5 B: 3M: 5 B: 3

On the ropesOn the ropes M: 4 B: 8M: 4 B: 8 M: 6 B: 3 M: 6 B: 3

Cross the lineCross the line M: 17 B: 2 M: 17 B: 2 M: 0 B:4M: 0 B:4

The gloves The gloves are offare off

M: 4 B: 5M: 4 B: 5 M: 4 B: 4M: 4 B: 4

Survey Questions/Results Survey Questions/Results (cont)(cont)

PhrasePhrase CorrectCorrect IncorrectIncorrect

Make a clean Make a clean breakbreak

M: 9 B: 2M: 9 B: 2 M: 1 B: 13M: 1 B: 13

Saved by the Saved by the bellbell

M: 9 B: 11M: 9 B: 11 M: 1 B: 0M: 1 B: 0

Throw in the Throw in the toweltowel

M: 17 B: 2M: 17 B: 2 M: 0 B: 3M: 0 B: 3

The real McCoyThe real McCoy M: 14 B: 0 M: 14 B: 0 M: 2 B: 1M: 2 B: 1

Meet your Meet your matchmatch

M: 6 B: 3M: 6 B: 3 M: 0 B: 7M: 0 B: 7

Tentative ConclusionTentative Conclusion

From the data collected so far, it seems From the data collected so far, it seems that those who are unfamiliar with boxing that those who are unfamiliar with boxing still generally understand the metaphorical still generally understand the metaphorical meanings of boxing phrases, yet they do meanings of boxing phrases, yet they do not always grasp all of the implications (ie: not always grasp all of the implications (ie: “At the drop of a hat” and “Saved by the “At the drop of a hat” and “Saved by the bell”).bell”).

Sports phrases are so engrained in our Sports phrases are so engrained in our language that they have become language that they have become disconnected from their origins.disconnected from their origins.

Future WorkFuture Work

Reverse: If you truly understand the Reverse: If you truly understand the metaphor, can you figure out the metaphor, can you figure out the origins of the phrase?origins of the phrase?

Gender Gender ProfessionProfession