circus save n. a spectacular or unorthodox sports move that prevents an opponent from scoring. Editorial Note: This is related to circus catch, which Paul Dickson, with Barry Popik’s help, traced back to 1886 in his 1999 New Dickson Baseball Dictionary. Also related is circus play, which Dickson dates to 1885. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Jim in Columbia, South Carolina, has noticed sportscasters’ use of the phrase on the season with reference to a period of time. This construction shows up in the sports pages as early as the 1880s, first referring to a team’s revenue and...
In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter...