boccie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal
Quick answer
What does “boccie” mean?
An Italian lawn game where players roll balls to get as close as possible to a smaller target ball.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An Italian lawn game where players roll balls to get as close as possible to a smaller target ball.
A leisurely social game often associated with older adults, Italian-American communities, or casual outdoor recreation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more likely to be recognized in North America due to Italian immigration. In the UK, the more common equivalent games are 'bowls' or 'lawn bowls'.
Connotations
In US: Strong cultural association with Italian-American communities, family gatherings, and neighborhood parks. In UK: Often perceived as a foreign, specifically Italian, game.
Frequency
More frequent in American English, particularly in areas with historic Italian communities. Rare in everyday British English.
Grammar
How to Use “boccie” in a Sentence
play + boccieroll + a boccie ballcompete in + boccieVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “boccie” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- On Sundays, the whole family would boccie in the backyard.
adjective
American English
- He's on the city's boccie league team.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used.
Academic
Used only in historical or cultural studies of sport or immigration.
Everyday
Used in informal, recreational contexts.
Technical
Used in sports classification, with specific rules for court dimensions and play.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “boccie”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “boccie”
- Misspelling as 'bocci', 'boccee', or 'boche'.
- Mispronouncing as /ˈbɒksi/ or /ˈboʊsi/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are spelling variants of the same Italian game. 'Bocce' is the standard Italian plural; 'boccie' is a common English variant, especially in American English.
They are very similar, belonging to the same family of 'bowls' games. Key differences lie in the size and material of the balls, court surfaces, and some rules.
In informal American English, especially within communities familiar with the game, it can be verbed (e.g., 'Let's go boccie'). This is non-standard but accepted in colloquial use.
It is most popular in Italy and among Italian diaspora communities, particularly in the United States (e.g., New York, Boston, San Francisco), Argentina, and Australia.
An Italian lawn game where players roll balls to get as close as possible to a smaller target ball.
Boccie is usually informal in register.
Boccie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒtʃi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːtʃi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not rocket science, it's boccie. (implying a simple, leisurely activity)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BOC-CIE sounds like 'botchy', but remember it's a game with Balls On the Courtyard. Imagine nonna shouting 'Boccie!' as she rolls a ball.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GAME (e.g., 'The negotiations were like a tense game of boccie, with each side trying to get closest to the deal.')
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary objective in boccie?