Meaning & use
square pass
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablesport
In team sports, a pass made sideways across the field or court, parallel to the goal line.
Grammar: Countable: a square pass, two square passes. Often used with 'play' or 'make'.
Patterns
- play a square pass
- make a square pass
- a square pass to someone
The midfielder played a square pass to his teammate on the wing.
A square pass can be risky if an opponent reads it.
He made a square pass instead of shooting, and the crowd groaned.
Word forms
| plural | square passes |
|---|
Common combinations
- play a square pass
- She played a square pass to keep possession.
- make a square pass
- The defender made a square pass across the back line.
- a square pass across the field
- His square pass across the field found the striker.
- a quick square pass
- A quick square pass opened up the defense.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sideways pass
- A sideways pass is a general term; a square pass specifically means a pass parallel to the goal line.
- lateral
- In American football, a lateral is a backward or sideways pass; in soccer, a square pass is strictly sideways.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: square pass or square ball?
square pass vs square ball
A square ball is a pass played square; the terms are often used interchangeably, but 'square pass' is the standard term.
Practice
In soccer, a square pass is played ___.
Choose one answer.
A square pass goes sideways, parallel to the goal line. A forward pass goes toward the opponent's goal, and a backward pass goes toward your own goal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “square pass”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.