mixed doubles

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   a game or competition in tennis or badminton in which each team has one male and one female player.

   Grammar: Used as a plural noun with a plural verb, and usually without 'a' or 'the' when talking about the sport in general.

   Patterns

   • play mixed doubles
   • mixed doubles match
   • mixed doubles final

   They won the mixed doubles at the club tournament last weekend.

   Mixed doubles is often more exciting because both players have to work together.

   She is looking for a partner to play mixed doubles with.

2. 2nounsingular

   the category or event in a tournament for teams made up of one man and one woman.

   Grammar: Often used with 'the' when referring to a specific competition or event.

   Patterns

   • the mixed doubles
   • enter the mixed doubles
   • win the mixed doubles

   The mixed doubles starts tomorrow morning.

   He entered the mixed doubles with his sister.

   The mixed doubles was the last event of the day.

Common combinations

mixed doubles match

The mixed doubles match lasted over two hours.

mixed doubles final

They lost the mixed doubles final in three sets.

play mixed doubles

Do you want to play mixed doubles with us on Saturday?

mixed doubles partner

She found a new mixed doubles partner for the season.

Synonyms and how they differ

mixed pairs

Used in some sports like bowling or curling for a team of one man and one woman; 'mixed doubles' is the usual term in tennis and badminton.

Commonly confused: mixed doubles or doubles? mixed doubles or singles?

Practice

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