muff
noun
Muff — a sports term for a clumsy, failed attempt to catch the ball
Definition
(sports) dropping the ball
In depth
In sports, a muff names the act of dropping the ball, similarly to a fumble, though the word is somewhat more associated with a failed attempt to catch or field the ball cleanly in the first place, rather than losing possession after a successful catch. The figurative extension describes any clumsily bungled attempt or opportunity.
Origin
The word's origin in this sense is uncertain, possibly related to the unrelated noun 'muff,' a warm hand covering, the connection perhaps suggesting clumsy, padded, or imprecise handling, much as gloved or muffled hands might struggle to grip something cleanly and securely.
Usage examples
"The outfielder's muff of an easy fly ball allowed the tying run to score."
"He muffed his big chance entirely, freezing at the exact moment he needed to act decisively."
"Despite muffing the introduction, she recovered well enough that most of the audience barely noticed."
How to use it
Muff is somewhat less common than 'fumble' in contemporary sports writing, though it remains useful and recognizable, particularly in baseball and cricket contexts describing a botched catch, and extends naturally into general figurative use for any bungled attempt.
Related concepts
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