shoeshine
n.— «Jordan also employs a cut block that Wildcats offensive lineman refer to as the “shoeshine.” That is when the blocker hits the defensive player near the knees to knock him over instead of taking him head-on. “I love the shoeshine,” said Jordan. “You can usually take out three or four guys at a time. Once one goes down, the others follow.”» —“Senters of Attention” by David Willis in Haverhill Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Massachusetts) Nov. 6, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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...
In 1971, when a new public library opened in Troy, Michigan, famous authors and artists were invited to write letters to the city’s youngest readers, extolling the many benefits of libraries. One of the loveliest was from E.B. White, author of...