English idioms relating to SPORTS - GAMES

Be on the ball	If you are on the ball, you are aware of what is happening and   are able to react to the situation quickly.   "We need someone who's really on the ball to head the fund-raising   campaign."
Have a ball	A person who is having a ball is having a good time, or enjoying   themselves.
The ball is in your court	If the ball is in your court, it is your turn to speak or act next.
Start the ball rolling	If you start the ball rolling, you start an activity in which   other people will join.   "Let's start the ball rolling by calling on our first speaker."
Whole new ball game	To refer to something as a whole new ball game means that it is   a completely different situation due to a new set of circumstances.   "Email and text messaging have made communication a whole new   ball game."
Fishing expedition	If someone is on a fishing expedition, they are trying to obtain   information in any way possible.   "The lunch invitation was clearly a fishing expedition to obtain    information about his private life."
At this stage of the game	This expression refers to the current point reached in a process,   activity or developing situation.   "At this stage of the game I think any further intervention would be unwise.    Let's wait and see how things develop."
Get into full swing	When something, such as an event, gets into full swing, it is   at its busiest or liveliest time.
Get into the swing of things	If you get into the swing of something, you become involved in it   or get used to it and begin to enjoy it.
Go overboard	If you go overboard, you are over-enthusiastic about something   and do too much or behave in an excessive way.   "We need to prepare the dining room for Christmas, but don't go   overboard with the decorations!
Give the game away	If you give the game away, you reveal a secret or a plan, often   unintentionally.
Hang up one's boots	When a sports player hangs up their boots, they stop playing and   retire.   This expression is often used to refer to retirement in general.   "Dad says he's going to hang up his boots at the end of the year."
Learn the ropes	If you learn the ropes, you learn how to a particular job correctly.
Paddle one's own canoe	If you paddle your own canoe, you do what you want to do   without help or interference from anyone.   His parents thought it was time for Tom to paddle his own canoe.
Play the game	If you play the game, you accept to do things according to   the rules laid down by others.   Not all website owners play the game. Some download content from   others without permission
Race against time	If someone is in a race against time, they have to work very   quickly in order to do or finish something before a certain time.   It was a race against time to get everything ready for the presentation.
Sail through something	If you sail through something, for example a test or an exam,   you succeed in doing it without difficulty.   "He's very clever. He sailed through all his exams."
Skating on thin ice	If you are skating on thin ice, you are doing or saying something   that could cause disagreement or trouble.   "Don't mention that subject during the negotiations   or you could be skating on thin ice."
Swim against the tide	A person who is doing or saying the opposite to most other people   is said to be swimming against the tide.   "Perhaps it's because she always swims against the tide that her   books are so successful."
Take someone for a ride	If you are taken for a ride, you are deceived or cheated by someone.   "When my father was persuaded to invest in the new casino,   he was really taken for a ride."
Take the wind out of someone's sails	If you take the wind out of someone's sails, you make them feel   less confident, by doing or saying something that they do not expect.    "After Sarah's presentation, her boss made some negative remarks that   took the wind out of her sails."
Two can play at that game	This expression is used to tell someone that you can behave towards   them in the same unpleasant way that they have been behaving   towards you.
A waiting game	A person who plays a waiting game delays taking any action or making   any decisions because they prefer to wait and see how things develop,   usually in the hope that this will put them in a stronger position.