short game: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2/C1Informal (within sports contexts), Technical (golf)
Quick answer
What does “short game” mean?
In golf, the part of play involving shots made from near or on the green, such as chipping, pitching, and putting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In golf, the part of play involving shots made from near or on the green, such as chipping, pitching, and putting.
A strategy or phase in various sports and competitive activities that focuses on finesse, precision, and finishing near a target, as opposed to long-range power or approach.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Term is equally common and used identically in both golfing communities.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent in sports journalism and commentary in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “short game” in a Sentence
have + a + (adj) + short gamework on + (possessive) + short gamethe short game + is + crucialVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “short game” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He is a short-game specialist.
- The short-game coach gave a lesson.
American English
- She attended a short-game clinic.
- His short-game technique is flawless.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically, the detailed execution and final negotiations of a deal. 'After the big merger was agreed, the short game of contract details took months.'
Academic
Rare. May appear in sports science literature analysing golf performance.
Everyday
Almost exclusively used when discussing golf. 'I'm spending my weekend working on my short game at the practice green.'
Technical
Standard term in golf instruction, coaching, and commentary to categorise shots within 100 yards of the hole.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “short game”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “short game”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “short game”
- Using 'short game' to refer to a brief sporting match (e.g., a short football game).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He short-gamed it').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. It is a defined technical term in golf. It can be used metaphorically in other contexts (e.g., business, politics) to describe final, detailed manoeuvring, but this is less common.
The short game主要包括 chips (低飞切球), pitches (高抛劈起球), bunker shots (沙坑球), and putts (推杆) — essentially any shot played from on or near the green.
The opposite is the 'long game' or 'driving game', which refers to tee shots and long approach shots with woods and long irons.
Yes, often with a descriptive adjective. For example: 'She has an incredible short game.' It is a countable noun phrase in this context.
In golf, the part of play involving shots made from near or on the green, such as chipping, pitching, and putting.
Short game is usually informal (within sports contexts), technical (golf) in register.
Short game: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃɔːt ˌɡeɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃɔːrt ˌɡeɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's all about the short game. (Metaphorically: The final details are what matter.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SHORT GAME: Think SHOT near GOAL. Short shots to get the ball in the hole.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/COMPETITION IS GOLF: The 'short game' represents the final, precise actions needed to complete a task successfully, where earlier efforts ('long game') set up the opportunity.
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'short game' a standard technical term?