shoestring catch: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Technical (Sports)
Quick answer
What does “shoestring catch” mean?
In baseball, a catch of a batted ball that is made very close to the ground, near the fielder's feet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In baseball, a catch of a batted ball that is made very close to the ground, near the fielder's feet.
Can be used metaphorically in any context to describe an action achieved with minimal margin, effort, or resources, often at the last moment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American due to its origin in baseball. In British English, the concept might be described as a 'low catch' or 'ankle-high catch' in cricket or other sports, but 'shoestring catch' is not a standard term.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes athleticism, desperation, and skillful timing. In British English, if used, it would be understood as an Americanism.
Frequency
Common in American sports reporting and casual talk about baseball; extremely rare in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “shoestring catch” in a Sentence
[Subject] + make/attempt + a shoestring catch[Subject] + dive for + a shoestring catchVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shoestring catch” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- He managed to shoestring-catch the line drive. (Note: This is a rare verb conversion, sometimes hyphenated.)
adjective
American English
- It was a shoestring-catch play for the ages. (Hyphenated when used attributively.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The company made a shoestring catch to secure the deal at the last minute.'
Academic
Very rare, except in sports history or cultural studies of baseball.
Everyday
Understood in the US, primarily in contexts discussing or watching baseball.
Technical
Core usage is in baseball commentary and writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shoestring catch”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shoestring catch”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shoestring catch”
- Using it to describe any cheap purchase (confusion with 'on a shoestring').
- Using it in non-sports contexts without clear metaphorical intent.
- Spelling as two separate words without a hyphen ('shoe string catch').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A shoestring catch specifically refers to the ball being caught very near the fielder's feet. A sliding catch involves the fielder sliding on the ground, which may or may not result in a catch at shoestring level.
Yes, but only metaphorically. It can describe any last-second, barely successful effort, e.g., 'The lawyer made a shoestring catch of the crucial evidence just before the trial.'
The term originates from the idea that the fielder catches the ball at the height of his shoelaces (shoestrings), indicating an extremely low trajectory.
No. It is an American sporting term. In British sports like cricket, a similar catch might be called 'ankle-high' or simply a 'low catch'.
In baseball, a catch of a batted ball that is made very close to the ground, near the fielder's feet.
Shoestring catch is usually informal, technical (sports) in register.
Shoestring catch: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃuːstrɪŋ ˌkætʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃuːstrɪŋ ˌkætʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On a shoestring (budget) – Note: This is a separate idiom related to low cost, but shares the 'shoestring' root.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a baseball player catching the ball right next to his shoelaces (shoestrings) as he dives.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOW IS DIFFICULT / LAST-MINUTE SUCCESS IS A LOW CATCH. The physical low position maps to a high degree of difficulty or a narrow margin of success.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'shoestring catch' most appropriately used?