free throw
B2Technical (sports), Informal
Definition
Meaning
An unopposed shot at the basket in basketball, awarded after certain fouls.
Used primarily in sports contexts; sometimes metaphorically to describe an unchallenged or easy opportunity to succeed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to the *type of shot*, not the points scored. The act is called "taking" or "shooting" a free throw.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. The term is imported from American English and used identically in British basketball contexts.
Connotations
Strongly associated with American sports culture. In the UK, it may be less familiar to the general public than terms from football or rugby.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English due to basketball's higher cultural prominence.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + free throw (shoot/make/miss/award/practice)ADJ + free throw (clutch/technical/final)free throw + NOUN (line/percentage/attempt/contest)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “at the charity stripe”
- “sent to the line”
- “a trip to the foul line”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorically used: 'The contract negotiation was a free throw for our legal team.'
Academic
Used in sports science or kinesiology research on motor skills and performance under pressure.
Everyday
Used when discussing or watching basketball. 'He needs to make both free throws to tie the game.'
Technical
A precise rule-based term in basketball officiating and statistics (FT, FTA, FT%).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The coach told him to free-throw the ball with more arc.
- He was free-throwing for an hour after practice.
American English
- She needs to free-throw under pressure.
- They spent the afternoon free-throwing.
adjective
British English
- The free-throw practice paid off in the final quarter.
- He has a reliable free-throw technique.
American English
- Her free-throw percentage is the best in the league.
- We worked on free-throw drills all week.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The player shot a free throw.
- He made one free throw.
- After the foul, she calmly made both free throws.
- His free throw percentage improved with practice.
- Missing that crucial free throw in the last second cost them the championship.
- The rule change affected how often free throws are awarded.
- Analysing the biomechanics of a successful free throw reveals the importance of consistent pre-shot routine.
- The team's strategy deliberately fouled the opponent's weakest free-throw shooter.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: You get this throw for FREE (without opposition) after a foul. It's a 'free' chance to score.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN OPPORTUNITY IS AN UNOPPOSED SHOT (e.g., 'The job interview was a free throw after my strong recommendation.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'free' as 'свободный' in this context. The correct term is 'штрафной бросок' (penalty throw).
- Do not confuse with 'бросок со штрафного', which is less common but acceptable.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'free kick' (football/soccer) interchangeably.
- Saying 'He scored a free throw' instead of the more natural 'He made a free throw.'
- Pronouncing 'throw' with a /θ/ as in 'thin' correctly, not as /t/ or /s/.
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'free throw' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A free throw is worth one point.
Yes, a player may jump from behind the free throw line, but they cannot cross or land on the line until the ball touches the rim.
A free throw is an unopposed shot from the foul line after a foul. A field goal is any shot made during live play from anywhere on the court, worth two or three points.
'Charity stripe' is informal slang specifically for the free throw line itself, not the shot. However, it is often used metonymically to refer to free throws (e.g., 'He's great from the charity stripe').