double-team

[ duhb-uhl-teem ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to defend against or block (an opposing player) by using two players, as in football or basketball:
By double-teaming the end the safety men left the other receiver in the open.
to use two people in the handling of:
The company is double-teaming the more complicated jobs with both a scientist and a group manager.

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

And one man raised his gun and shot one of the horses in the double team, which carried Mrs. Hopkins and Mary.

The third or fourth shell pitched clean into a labouring waggon with its double team of eight horses.

That double team had set out to do it quite obediently, but Vosh got matters straightened very quickly.

I could scarcely keep my hands off them only I was afeared they would double team on me.

Mr. Charles H. Judd met us with his double team about five miles out, and we lunched at Mr. Moffatt's.

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