Meaning & use
turnover on downs
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablesportAmerican
In American football, the loss of the ball by the team on offense when it fails to gain enough yards in its four allowed plays.
Grammar: Countable: the defense forced a turnover on downs.
Patterns
- force a turnover on downs
- suffer a turnover on downs
The defense forced a turnover on downs near midfield.
A turnover on downs gave the home team the ball in good field position.
The coach was criticized after a risky turnover on downs in the final minute.
Word forms
| plural | turnovers on downs |
|---|
Common combinations
- force a turnover on downs
- The defense forced a turnover on downs at the goal line.
- suffer a turnover on downs
- The team suffered a turnover on downs after a failed fourth-down try.
- a late turnover on downs
- A late turnover on downs sealed the loss.
- turnover on downs near the goal line
- A turnover on downs near the goal line changed the game.
Synonyms and how they differ
- failed fourth down
- Failed fourth down describes the cause, while turnover on downs names the result of losing the ball.
- change of possession
- Change of possession is broader and also covers punts, interceptions and fumbles.
- stop
- Stop is a casual word fans use from the defense's side, meaning the offense was halted.
Word family
Commonly confused: turnover on downs or interception?
turnover on downs vs interception
An interception happens when a defender catches a pass meant for the offense; a turnover on downs happens when the offense simply fails to gain enough yards.
Practice
A turnover on downs occurs when the offense...
Choose one answer.
A turnover on downs means the offense failed to reach the needed distance in its four downs. Throwing to a defender is an interception, and dropping the ball is a fumble.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “turnover on downs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.