Boxing

Hello everyone, I’m Hamidreza Ahmadi and this podcast is brought to you by Lingophoenix. I hope you are all sportive and in good shape. Speaking of being sportive, there are many idioms and expressions in English that are borrowed from the world of sports. For this podcast, let’s check out the sport of boxing, my favorite. Now, boxing is the most popular combat sport in the world. The idea that boxing is a world favorite can be backed up in many ways. Let me give you an example. A couple of months ago a boxer named Canelo who is a world champion went into the ring against a guy named Billy Saunders also a champ. The event was a resounding success with 73K+ boxing fans to gather in the arena. This is the largest number of attendance since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. The popularity of boxing doesn’t end inside the ring. There are a number of expressions that have their origins in boxing. Now there is this famous saying in boxing that says you have to hit and not get hit. It means that you have to beat your opponent to the punch. You have to be slick. Land your punch and get out of the way. The expression BEAT SOMEONE TO THE PUNCH literally means to throw a punch that lands on your opponent before he gets a chance to do so. In everyday English, this expression can be used to mean ‘to do or achieve something before someone else is able to. Listen to this example we were working on a new product but before we could get it into the market our competition beat us to the punch . You also have to learn how to roll with the punches. You know, the basics like moving or slipping you body away from blows. Your opponent throws a flurry of punches, jabs, hooks, crosses , all of which are different types of punches, but you are able to adapt and not get hit. In life, this expression can be used to mean that one is able to deal with a series of difficult situations well. large corporations have had to roll with the punches not to go out of business during the pandemic. If you keep beating your opponent to the punch and roll with their punches, you’ll have them tired and hurt. They soon will be held at a corner on the ropes. If they’re on the ropes, your victory is near. With the opponent on the ropes, a boxer keeps throwing combinations, which are connected punches to maximize the damage until the referee announces that the fight is over. Now if you’re on the ropes in a situation in life, it means that you’re near collapse or defeat. Masalan, with the pandemic, my father had to close his barbershop for a few months. He was about to go bankrupt. He was on the ropes but my mom’s winning idea of turning the barbershop into an organic food store saved us. Now back to boxing again. Some who don’t fight clean may begin to punch you below the belt which is illegal in boxing. The areas below the belt are pretty sensitive and can jeopardize an athlete’s health if the shot is too powerful. This illegal act is called a low-blow or below the belt. Look at its day-to-day use. Jamal’s mom did everything in her power to provide for her family, but in the end Jamal got her in a nursing home, such a low blow/ or you can say that so below the belt. In this sentence low-blow or below the belt meant very unfair. Low-blows won’t work though. If the judges see a boxer doing it, they will give them a warning and if they repeat, they will be disqualified. So no worries, you’re winning. Now, if the losing team see that their boxer is getting too much hurt and on the verge of injury they will throw in the towel to accept defeat. In boxing, if you ever see the losing side’s coach throwing a white towel onto the ring, it means that they accept defeat, and that the fight is over. Care for an example? He’s run for president 6 times now, and not even once has he been elected. I guess it’s time for him to throw in the towel, and give up. However, sometimes your hurt opponent gets lucky and before you knock them out, you hear a bell which signals the end of a round. In this situation, the expression saved by the bell comes in. Saved by the bell is an expression that can be used to mean escape from a difficult situation at the last minute or by an unexpected intervention. I was in a taxi cab and there was this guy next to me, who was so ready to talk. I was listening to my favorite song and didn’t want to get involved. Anyway, as soon as he turned to speak to me, his phone rang. I was saved by the bell! This expression is usually used at the end of one’s speech. So look out not to use it wrong. I hope that you will be able to slip life’s many jabs and hooks and vanquish all your problems. Thanks for listening. Take care. beat someone to the punch roll with the punches on the ropes low/blow - below the belt throw in the towel saved by the bell

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Boxing is an episode from Lingo Phoenix's Podcasts.

This episode is 00:05:05 long.

This episode was published on Jul 20, 2021.

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