leg whips

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Tight bands or straps worn around the thighs, often as fashion or sports gear.

   Grammar: Usually plural because they come in pairs; the singular 'leg whip' names one band.

   Patterns

   • a pair of leg whips
   • wear leg whips

   The dancer wore leg whips over her tights to define the line of her legs.

   Cyclists sometimes use leg whips to keep their muscles warm in cold weather.

   She bought a pair of black leg whips to go with her stage costume.

2. 2nouncountablesportAmerican

   In American football, an illegal move in which a player trips an opponent with a leg.

   Grammar: Countable in sports reports: 'a leg whip', 'two leg whips'.

   Patterns

   • commit a leg whip
   • be penalized for a leg whip

   The referee flagged him for a leg whip late in the game.

   A leg whip can seriously injure a player's knee, so it brings a heavy penalty.

Word forms

Common combinations

a pair of leg whips

She packed a pair of leg whips for the performance.

wear leg whips

Models wore leg whips over leather trousers at the show.

be penalized for a leg whip

His team was penalized for a leg whip in the final minute.

commit a leg whip

Players who commit a leg whip can be ejected from the game.

Synonyms and how they differ

thigh bands

A plain descriptive term for the fashion item; it carries no sports meaning.

tripping

The general football offense; a leg whip is one specific way of tripping.

Word family

leg noun

The limb itself, or one part of a pair of trousers.

whip noun

A long cord or strip used for striking, or a party official in politics.

Commonly confused: leg whips or whip?

Practice

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