leg before wicket
C2Technical / Sports
Definition
Meaning
In cricket, a method of dismissal where the ball strikes the batter's leg or lower body when it would otherwise have hit the wicket.
The phrase is strictly a term of cricket with no common extended meaning. In extremely rare figurative use, it can imply being caught out or dismissed on a technicality or minor infringement.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrase functions as a noun phrase (an LBW decision) and is often abbreviated to 'LBW'. It refers to both the law and the specific event of dismissal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in cricket-playing nations (UK, Australia, India, etc.). In the US, where cricket is not a mainstream sport, the term is virtually unknown and has no American equivalent.
Connotations
In cricket nations, it carries strong sporting connotations. In non-cricket nations, it is a highly obscure, culture-specific term.
Frequency
High frequency in UK sports media during cricket season; near-zero frequency in general American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be given out leg before wicketappeal for leg before wicketbe dismissed leg before wicketVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “plumb in front (colloquial for an obvious LBW)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in sports history or sociology papers on cricket.
Everyday
Only in everyday conversation in cricket-playing cultures.
Technical
Exclusively in cricket commentary, rulebooks, and match analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bowler appealed vigorously, convinced he had him leg before wicket.
- He was leg before wicket to a brilliant inswinger.
American English
- Not used in AmE.
adverb
British English
- He was dismissed leg before wicket.
American English
- Not used in AmE.
adjective
British English
- It was a plumb leg-before-wicket decision.
- The LBW law is complex.
American English
- Not used in AmE.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He was out. The umpire said 'leg before wicket'.
- The batsman was given out leg before wicket after a long review.
- Controversy erupted when the third umpire overturned the on-field leg before wicket decision.
- Understanding the intricacies of the leg-before-wicket law, such as the impact of the ball pitching outside leg stump, is crucial for serious fans.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Leg (hits the leg) Before (instead of) Wicket (hitting the stumps).
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE/LAW (being judged 'out' by an umpire for infringing a rule).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as 'нога перед калиткой'. The term is 'выбывание по правилу LWB' or simply 'LWB' in Russian sports contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Saying 'leg before the wicket' (adding 'the' is non-standard).
- Using it as a verb, e.g., 'He was leg-before-wicketed' (non-standard; correct: 'He was given out LBW').
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'leg before wicket' used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the abbreviation for 'Leg Before Wicket'.
No, if the ball hits the bat (or gloves holding the bat) first, the batter cannot be out LBW.
Almost never, as cricket is not a mainstream sport in the United States.
It is primarily a noun phrase (e.g., 'an LBW decision'), though it can function adverbially in phrases like 'dismissed leg before wicket'.