gutter ball: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal
Quick answer
What does “gutter ball” mean?
A ball in tenpin bowling that rolls into the gutter (the side channels) before reaching the pins, resulting in a score of zero.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A ball in tenpin bowling that rolls into the gutter (the side channels) before reaching the pins, resulting in a score of zero.
A complete failure or mistake in an endeavor, especially one that is embarrassing or nullifies any positive result.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
While bowling is popular in both countries, the term is far more common in American English due to the greater cultural prevalence of tenpin bowling.
Connotations
Identical connotations of failure and disappointment. The metaphorical use is more frequent in AmE.
Frequency
High frequency in American bowling contexts; low-to-medium in general AmE; rare in BrE outside specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gutter ball” in a Sentence
to bowl a gutter ballto end up as a gutter ballVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gutter ball” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He gutted it terribly on the final frame.
- I'm worried I'll gutter on this next shot.
American English
- He totally gutter-balled that shot.
- Don't gutter it now!
adverb
British English
- The project failed gutter-ball.
- It went gutter-ball in the first minute.
American English
- He bowled gutter-ball on his last three tries.
- It ended gutter-ball.
adjective
British English
- It was a gutter-ball moment for the team.
- He had a very gutter-ball performance.
American English
- That was a gutter-ball move on his part.
- We're in a gutter-ball situation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used to describe a failed attempt at any task (e.g., "My presentation was a total gutter ball.").
Technical
Used in the sport of tenpin bowling to denote a ball entering the channel.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gutter ball”
- Using it to mean a small mistake (it implies total failure).
- Using 'gutter' alone to mean the same thing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, informally, especially in American English (e.g., "He gutter-balled the last shot"). It's a conversion from the noun.
Yes, it is a common metaphor for a total and often embarrassing failure in any context (e.g., business, social situations).
A 'gutter ball' is a specific type of miss where the ball never reaches the pins at all, entering the side channels. A 'miss' could also mean hitting pins but failing to knock them all down.
It is conventionally written as two separate words.
A ball in tenpin bowling that rolls into the gutter (the side channels) before reaching the pins, resulting in a score of zero.
Gutter ball is usually informal in register.
Gutter ball: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌtə ˌbɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌt̬ɚ ˌbɔːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to go down the gutter”
- “to be a gutter ball moment”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GUTTER BALL = GUTTER (where rain goes) + BALL (the object). Imagine your hopes for a good score 'going down the drain' like rainwater.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAILURE IS A BALL GOING INTO THE GUTTER (i.e., diverted from its intended, productive path into a waste channel).
Practice
Quiz
In tenpin bowling, what is the immediate result of a 'gutter ball'?