cat tackle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSports, Informal
Quick answer
What does “cat tackle” mean?
A rugby or American football maneuver where a player attempts to stop an opponent by grabbing them around the legs or waist, often bringing them to the ground.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A rugby or American football maneuver where a player attempts to stop an opponent by grabbing them around the legs or waist, often bringing them to the ground.
In sports contexts, a specific type of tackle aimed at the lower body; metaphorically, can refer to any sudden, low, or aggressive attempt to stop someone or something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, strongly associated with rugby union/league. In American English, understood but more commonly associated with American football commentary.
Connotations
UK: Technical rugby skill. US: Aggressive defensive football play.
Frequency
More frequent in UK sports media due to rugby's prominence. In US, it's a specialist term within football analysis.
Grammar
How to Use “cat tackle” in a Sentence
[Player] cat-tackled [Opponent][Player] executed a cat tackle on [Opponent]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cat tackle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The flanker managed to cat-tackle the winger just before the try line.
- He was penalised for cat-tackling above the knee.
American English
- The safety cat-tackled the receiver, stopping the play for a loss.
- Coaches drill players on how to properly cat-tackle in open field.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- His cat-tackle technique is textbook.
- It was a cat-tackle situation.
American English
- The cat-tackle drill focuses on form.
- He made a cat-tackle move.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, only in sports science literature.
Everyday
Very rare outside sports fans.
Technical
Common in rugby/football coaching, commentary, and analysis.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cat tackle”
- Using 'cat tackle' to describe any tackle (it's specific to a low, leg-focused tackle).
- Writing it as 'cat-tackle' (often hyphenated when used as a verb, but as a noun it can be spaced).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a properly executed cat tackle (low, below the waist) is legal and encouraged as a safe tackling technique.
A 'tackle' is the general term for stopping an opponent. A 'cat tackle' specifically refers to a low, often diving, tackle aimed at the legs.
Yes, especially in sports journalism and commentary (e.g., 'He cat-tackled the opponent').
The term likely evokes the image of a cat pouncing quickly and low on its prey, similar to the motion of the tackler.
A rugby or American football maneuver where a player attempts to stop an opponent by grabbing them around the legs or waist, often bringing them to the ground.
Cat tackle is usually sports, informal in register.
Cat tackle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæt ˌtæk.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæt ˌtæk.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated with this specific compound term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cat pouncing low on a mouse's legs; a 'cat tackle' is a player pouncing low on an opponent's legs.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPORT IS WAR (a tactical maneuver), AN OPPONENT IS PREY (the 'cat' hunts the legs).
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'cat tackle' MOST technically specific?