end around
Very low (outside American sports contexts)Specialist (sports), informal (extended business/figurative use)
Definition
Meaning
A deceptive American football play where the quarterback hands or laterals the ball to a receiver or running back moving from one end of the line to the other, attempting to run around the defensive end.
A clever or deceptive manoeuvre, tactic, or workaround designed to bypass an obstacle, rule, or standard procedure.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In its core sense, it is a countable compound noun. In figurative use, it can function as a noun or a verb phrase ('to end-around').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American, stemming from American football. In British English, it is rarely understood in its sports sense. The figurative meaning is also predominantly American business/informal jargon.
Connotations
American: technical (sports) or clever/cunning (figurative). British: largely unknown; if used figuratively, it would be seen as an Americanism.
Frequency
High frequency in American football commentary and analysis. Very low to zero frequency in general British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Team/Player] ran an end around.[Player] executed the end around for a [number]-yard gain.They decided to end-around the usual approval process.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pull an end around (figurative)”
- “Run the end-around on someone/something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal term for a clever strategy to avoid bureaucracy or a competitor's strength. 'The sales team used an end around to get the contract signed before the new policy took effect.'
Academic
Virtually unused, except in papers specifically about American sports history or strategy.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside the US, and even there, mostly among sports fans. Figurative use is niche business/informal.
Technical
Specific, defined term in American football playbooks and analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They tried to end-around the committee by going straight to the CEO.
- He's known for end-arounding standard protocols to get things done faster.
American English
- The manager ended-around corporate by appealing directly to the client.
- We can't just end-around the environmental review process.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The football player scored a touchdown with an end around.
- They used a clever trick to win the game, called an end around.
- The quarterback faked a handoff and then handed the ball to the wide receiver on the end around.
- In business, sometimes you need an end around to avoid getting stuck in red tape.
- The offensive coordinator called a timely end around, exploiting the defensive end's aggressive rush upfield.
- The startup's marketing strategy was a brilliant end around the dominant players in the industry, focusing on a niche they had ignored.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a runner at the END of the line going AROUND the defense.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSTACLES ARE PHYSICAL BLOCKS; CLEVERNESS IS CIRCUMVENTION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'конец вокруг'. In sports, it is a 'розыгрыш через фланг' or 'обходной манёвр'. Figuratively, it's closer to 'обходной путь', 'лазейка', or 'хитрость для обхода правил'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a common synonym for 'solution' (it implies deception/circumvention).
- Assuming it is understood in non-American contexts.
- Writing it as one word ('endaround').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'end around' most precisely and originally used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a specialist term from American football. Its figurative use in business or informal settings is understood primarily in American English and is not common general vocabulary.
Yes, in its figurative sense, especially in American business/informal jargon. For example: 'They end-arounded the usual channels.' It is less common as a verb in the sports context, where it is primarily a noun.
In an end around, the ball is usually handed to a wide receiver coming in motion from the outside. In a reverse, the ball is handed to one player who then hands it off to another player going in the opposite direction. The end around is generally simpler and involves less backfield action.
Generally, avoid it unless writing specifically about American football strategy. In formal business or academic writing, use more standard terms like 'circumvent', 'bypass', 'workaround', or 'alternative strategy' instead of the figurative 'end around'.