PhrasesHub

Queer the pitch

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • disrupt or interfere with a plan or situation
        Intentionally create confusion or disturbance in order to make a situation more difficult or problematic

    Examples of Queer the pitch

    • The unexpected rainstorm queered the pitch during the soccer match, making it impossible for either team to maintain their footing and leading to a dangerous and chaotic game.

      "Queer the pitch" is an idiom meaning to throw something into confusion or disorder. In this case, the rainstorm had an unpredictable and disruptive effect on the soccer match, making it difficult for the players to perform as they normally would. Essentially, the rainstorm altered the expected course of the game and created a strange and unsettling atmosphere.

    • The team's new strategy has really queered the pitch for our opponents. They seemed unprepared for our unconventional tactics and couldn't quite keep up with the pace of the game. It was truly a game-changing experience for both sides.

      To "queer the pitch" is to completely throw off someone's expectations or norms, especially in a sports context. In this case, the team's innovative strategy caught the opposing team off guard and threw them off balance, making it more difficult for them to perform at their usual level. Overall, this idiom implies that an unexpected event or action has thrown the situation into a state of flux or uncertainty.

    • As soon as he walked into the room, he queered the pitch for everyone else. His relaxed demeanor and laid-back attitude set a new tone for the meeting, and everyone else seemed to loosen up and follow his lead. It was a refreshing change from our usual stressful work environment.

      In this example, "queering the pitch" is used metaphorically to describe how someone's presence or behavior can change the dynamics of a situation, particularly by causing others to act or feel differently than they might have otherwise. By creating a more relaxed and informal atmosphere, this person caused the others in the room to follow suit and let go of some of their usual tension and rigidity.

    • I'm afraid your ideas are going to really queer the pitch for our project. While I appreciate your creativity and enthusiasm, I'm not sure they are practical or feasible within the constraints of our budget and timeline. We may need to come up with a more realistic plan that's easier to execute.

      In this example, "queering the pitch" is used in a more negative context, to describe how someone's ideas or proposals may be too unconventional or impractical to be implemented. By throwing traditional norms or expectations out the window, these ideas may not fit within the practical limitations and constraints of the project, making it more difficult to execute or achieve its goals.

    • I'm not sure what just happened, but I think I just queered the pitch for the whole project. I accidentally sent an email to the entire team that was meant for a colleague, and now everyone seems to be talking about it. I'm trying to downplay the situation, but I think it might have caused some unnecessary confusion and distraction.

      In this final example, "queering the pitch" is used in a more humorous and lighthearted way, to describe how someone's mistake or mishap has created unexpected consequences or confusion. By causing others to focus on something unexpected or irrelevant, this mistake may have derailed the project's focus and momentum, creating more confusion and distraction than necessary.

    • The newly hired sales manager queered the pitch by suggesting a complete overhaul of the company's sales strategy, which left the sales team reeling and unsure of how to proceed.

      To "queer the pitch" is an idiom that means to confuse or complicate a situation, especially in a negative way. In this example, the sales manager's unexpected and drastic proposal has thrown the sales team off balance and made their job more difficult than it was before. The image of "queering the pitch" comes from the game of cricket, where a ball that lands in a peculiar way can throw off the timing of the batter and make it harder for them to hit the ball. In this idiomatic sense, the manager's proposal has landed in a similar way, making it harder for the sales team to sell the company's products or services.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "queer the pitch" can be used to discourage someone from pursuing a particular course of action, as well as to disrupt or interfere with a plan or situation. It is often used to caution against engaging in an activity that is unlikely to yield positive results or to intentionally create confusion and difficulty in a given situation.

    Origin of "Queer the pitch"

    The origin of the idiom "queer the pitch" can be traced back to the world of sports, particularly cricket. In the context of cricket, the "pitch" refers to the playing area where the game takes place. The idiom is believed to have originated in the 19th century, and it was used to describe the act of deliberately spoiling the playing surface in order to gain an unfair advantage. Over time, the expression evolved to encompass a broader sense of disrupting or interfering with a situation or plan. Today, it is commonly used in a figurative sense to convey the idea of causing confusion or hindrance. Examples of its usage can be found in literature and everyday conversation, where it is employed to caution against a particular course of action or to describe intentional interference.