double-double
LowInformal, Sports journalism, Canadian regional colloquialism
Definition
Meaning
In basketball: the achievement of a player accumulating double-digit totals in two of five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks) in a single game.
Primarily a basketball term, but also a Canadian cultural term for a coffee with two creams and two sugars (from the Tim Hortons chain). The meaning is entirely context-dependent.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is polysemous with two distinct, unrelated meanings. The basketball sense is the dominant one in international sports media. The coffee sense is a proprietary idiom specific to Canadian English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The basketball sense is understood internationally where the sport is followed. The coffee sense is almost exclusively Canadian and largely unknown in both UK and US contexts.
Connotations
In sports: connotes a strong, versatile individual performance. In Canada (coffee): connotes a standard, popular coffee order with no special performance connotation.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general UK English. In North America, frequency is moderate in sports contexts and high in everyday Canadian speech for coffee.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Player] recorded/achieved/posted a double-double with [number] points and [number] rebounds.I'll have a double-double, please.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's a walking double-double.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
In Canada: common at coffee shops. Elsewhere: rarely used outside sports discussions.
Technical
Basketball analytics and commentary.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She had a double-double performance last night.
American English
- He's known for his double-double averages.
- Can I get a large double-double?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The basketball player had a very good game.
- The centre got a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
- Averaging a double-double for the season is a mark of consistency and value to the team.
- While his scoring was down, his ability to contribute a double-double through rebounds and assists kept them in the game.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'DOUBLE' the trouble: a player troubles the opponent in TWO ways with DOUBLE-digit stats.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY / A STANDARD ORDER IS A REPETITION
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'дважды два' (four). The term is an untranslatable idiom. For basketball, describe the achievement. For coffee, explain the ingredients.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'double' in general (e.g., 'a double portion'). Confusing the basketball and coffee meanings out of context.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'double-double' MOST LIKELY to refer to a coffee order?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In the US, it is almost exclusively a basketball term. In the UK, it is very rare but would be understood by basketball fans. The coffee meaning is Canadian.
No, it is not standard to use 'double-double' as a verb. It functions primarily as a noun ("get a double-double") or attributively as an adjective ("a double-double game").
Points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. A player must reach 10 or more in any two of these in one game.
Rarely. Some Tim Hortons locations in the US might understand it, but it is not a standard coffee term internationally. In most places, you must specify "two creams and two sugars."