mid-on: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Sport
Quick answer
What does “mid-on” mean?
In cricket: a fielding position on the on side (the leg side of a right-handed batsman), roughly in line with the stumps at the bowler's end and relatively close to the batsman.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In cricket: a fielding position on the on side (the leg side of a right-handed batsman), roughly in line with the stumps at the bowler's end and relatively close to the batsman.
The term can also refer to the fielder stationed in that position. Outside of cricket, it has no established extended meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used exclusively in cricket-playing nations (UK, Australia, India, etc.). In the US and other non-cricket cultures, the term is unknown and carries no meaning.
Connotations
In cricket-playing cultures, it connotes the sport's strategy and field placements. Elsewhere, it is a nonsense word.
Frequency
High frequency in cricket commentary and literature; zero frequency in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “mid-on” in a Sentence
[fielder/player] + [is/fields/stands] + at + mid-on[batsman] + [hits/drives] + [the ball] + to + mid-onVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in texts related to sports science or cricket history.
Everyday
Only in everyday conversation in cricket-playing nations when discussing the sport.
Technical
Core technical term in cricket for field placement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mid-on”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mid-on”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mid-on”
- Writing as 'mid on' (less common) or 'midon'. Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He mid-onned the ball'). Confusing it with 'mid-off'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a strictly cricket-specific term with no application in general English.
The direct opposite fielding position is 'mid-off', which is in the same relative position but on the off side (the batsman's right side for a right-hander).
No, it is exclusively a noun referring to a position or a fielder. One cannot 'mid-on' a ball.
It is a compound noun formed from 'mid' (short for middle) and 'on' (short for on-side). The hyphen is standard in cricket terminology to link the two elements into a single concept.
In cricket: a fielding position on the on side (the leg side of a right-handed batsman), roughly in line with the stumps at the bowler's end and relatively close to the batsman.
Mid-on is usually technical/sport in register.
Mid-on: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪd ˈɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪd ˈɑn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MIDdle of the ON side' (the leg side). The fielder is midway down the pitch on the batsman's 'on' side.
Conceptual Metaphor
Space as a strategic map (positions are plotted like points on a tactical chart).
Practice
Quiz
In cricket, 'mid-on' is primarily: