grand slam
B2Formal, journalistic, sports commentary
Definition
Meaning
The achievement of winning all major championships or competitions in a particular sport or field during a single season or event.
Any complete or overwhelming success; a clean sweep of all possible victories or awards in a given context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a countable noun phrase. In tennis, refers to winning all four major tournaments. In baseball, a home run hit with all three bases occupied. In bridge, a bid to win all tricks. The term implies the highest possible achievement within a defined set.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The term originates from card games (bridge/whist) and was adopted into sports. American English more frequently uses it in baseball context.
Connotations
Both varieties carry strong connotations of ultimate success and peak performance.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to baseball usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] wins/achieves/completes a grand slamA grand slam in [sport/field]To grand slam (verb, informal)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hit a grand slam (baseball idiom extended to general success)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; could metaphorically describe a company capturing all major market segments.
Academic
Used in sports science and history papers discussing athletic achievements.
Everyday
Common in sports news and discussions; understood by most adults.
Technical
Precise definitions in sports rulebooks (tennis, golf, baseball, bridge).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team hopes to grand slam the tournament series this year.
- He grand slammed his way to the top of the rankings.
American English
- The Yankees grand slammed in the ninth inning to win the game.
- She's looking to grand slam all four majors.
adverb
British English
- The campaign succeeded grand slam.
American English
- They won grand slam, taking every available prize.
adjective
British English
- It was a grand-slam victory for the British team.
- He secured a grand-slam title.
American English
- They hit a grand-slam home run in the final.
- It was a grand-slam success for the new policy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He won a grand slam in tennis.
- A grand slam is a big win.
- The player is trying to win a grand slam this season.
- A grand slam in golf is very difficult to achieve.
- Achieving a calendar-year grand slam in tennis is a rare feat that only a few players have managed.
- The company's new product launch was a grand slam, dominating all market categories.
- Her grand slam was not merely a sporting achievement but a cultural moment that redefined the game.
- The diplomat's negotiations resulted in a grand slam, securing agreements on all four contentious trade points.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a tennis player SLAMming down a trophy after winning the fourth major – a GRAND (big) SLAM.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS A COMPLETE SET (container metaphor).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation 'большой шлем' without context, as it's a calque. Ensure the target audience understands the sporting reference.
- Do not confuse with 'Большой шлем' as a Russian card game; context is crucial.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'grand slam' for any major win (must involve winning *all* designated events).
- Incorrect plural: 'grand slams' is acceptable, not 'grand slam' for plural.
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts is 'grand slam' LEAST likely to be used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originated in the card game of whist (and later bridge) in the 18th century, referring to winning all tricks. It was later adopted by sports in the 1930s.
Yes, informally, especially in sports journalism (e.g., 'She grand slammed the tournament'). It is more common in American English.
Not always. It is often capitalised when referring to the specific set of major tournaments (e.g., the tennis Grand Slam events) but lowercased for general use (e.g., 'a grand slam victory').
Several, including tennis, golf, baseball, bridge, and rugby union. Each sport defines its own specific criteria for achieving a grand slam.