tackle

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   To start dealing with a difficult job or problem and try to solve it with energy and determination.

   Grammar: Takes an object: tackle the problem.

   Patterns

   • tackle a problem/issue/task
   • tackle someone about something

   The city plans to tackle traffic congestion this year.

   We tackled the pile of dishes together.

   She tackled her fear of public speaking head on.

2. 2verbtransitive

   To confront someone and speak to them directly about something that bothers you.

   Grammar: Takes a person as object, often with about or over: tackle him about the money.

   Patterns

   • tackle someone about/over something

   She tackled her manager about the missing pay.

   I decided to tackle him over his rude comments.

   The reporter tackled the minister on the budget.

3. 3verbtransitive or intransitivesport

   In sports, to use your body to stop an opponent or to take the ball from them.

   Grammar: Can take an object (tackle the striker) or stand alone in the game.

   Patterns

   • tackle someone
   • tackle for the ball

   The defender tackled the striker just outside the box.

   He tackled hard but fairly.

   She tackled her opponent and won the ball.

4. 4nouncountablesport

   An act of stopping an opponent in sports such as football, rugby or soccer by challenging them physically.

   Grammar: Often described by quality: a late tackle.

   Patterns

   • a tackle on someone
   • make a tackle

   The referee gave a yellow card for a late tackle.

   His perfect tackle saved a goal.

   A heavy tackle brought him to the ground.

5. 5noununcountable

   The equipment needed for an activity, especially fishing or sailing.

   Grammar: Used without an or an, as in fishing tackle.

   Patterns

   • fishing tackle

   He packed his fishing tackle in a small box.

   The shop sells rods, reels and other tackle.

   Ropes and tackle hung from the old ship's mast.

Word forms

Common combinations

tackle a problem

The team met to tackle the problem.

tackle head on

She decided to tackle the issue head on.

late tackle

A late tackle left the player injured.

tackle poverty

The charity aims to tackle poverty in rural areas.

fishing tackle

He keeps his fishing tackle in the shed.

Synonyms and how they differ

address

Address is more formal and means to give attention to an issue, but it lacks tackle's sense of active effort.

confront

Confront suggests facing something unpleasant or someone in opposition, and it is stronger than tackle.

handle

Handle simply means to deal with something and does not imply difficulty in the way tackle does.

challenge

Challenge in sport means to compete against an opponent, whereas tackle means a physical attempt to stop them.

Opposites

Word family

tackler noun

a player who tackles opponents

tackling noun

the act of tackling

tackled verb

the past tense and past participle

untackled adjective

not yet dealt with

Commonly confused: tackle or tickle?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “tackle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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