long hop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical (cricket), occasional metaphorical use in journalism.
Quick answer
What does “long hop” mean?
In cricket, a short-pitched, slow delivery that bounces at an easily hittable height.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In cricket, a short-pitched, slow delivery that bounces at an easily hittable height.
A situation or opportunity that is easy to exploit or take advantage of, often used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively British/Commonwealth due to its origin in cricket. In the US, it is virtually unknown outside of expatriate communities or international sports coverage.
Connotations
In the UK/AU/NZ/IN, it is a standard cricket term. In the US, it has no established connotation.
Frequency
High frequency in cricket-playing nations (UK, Australia, India, etc.). Extremely low to zero frequency in non-cricket cultures like the US.
Grammar
How to Use “long hop” in a Sentence
The bowler [verb: bowled/served up] a long hop.The batter [verb: hit/dispatched/punished] the long hop.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “long hop” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- It was a classic long-hop delivery.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; potential metaphorical use: 'The market presented us with a long hop, and we invested aggressively.'
Academic
Only in sports science or historical analysis of cricket.
Everyday
Common in everyday conversation in cricket-playing nations when discussing sport.
Technical
Core technical term in cricket commentary and coaching.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “long hop”
- Using 'long hop' to describe a high jump in athletics. / Confusing it with 'hop, skip, and a jump'. / Using it in American contexts where 'lollipop' (baseball) might be a nearer, though not exact, equivalent for an easy pitch.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a standard term in American English. It is specific to cricket, which is not a major sport in the US.
No, it is almost exclusively a noun. The associated action is 'to bowl' or 'to serve up' a long hop.
A long hop bounces well short of the batter, making it easy to hit. A full toss does not bounce at all before reaching the batter.
It is recognised but relatively uncommon. It is mostly found in journalism or commentary, particularly in cricket-playing nations, to describe an easily exploitable mistake or opportunity.
In cricket, a short-pitched, slow delivery that bounces at an easily hittable height.
Long hop is usually technical (cricket), occasional metaphorical use in journalism. in register.
Long hop: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɒŋ ˈhɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɔːŋ ˈhɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was a political long hop that the opposition smashed for six.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a frog taking a LONG leap (HOP) but landing clumsily right in front of you, making it an easy catch. Similarly, in cricket, the ball 'hops' a LONG way from the pitch and is easy to hit.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN OPPORTUNITY IS AN EASY BALL TO HIT. / A MISTAKE IS A POORLY BOWLED BALL.
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'long hop' a standard technical term?