first down

noun

Football.

1. the first of four consecutive plays during which an offensive team must advance the ball at least ten yards to retain possession of it.

2. a gain of ten or more yards by an offensive team that entitles it to continued possession for a new series of downs.

Example Sentences

Wonnum recovered the fumble, and the Panthers managed to run out the clock after Young connected on a 10-yard pass to Coker for a first down.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Coming up a yard short of the first down, Iamaleava tried to draw USC offsides with a hard count on fourth down before kicker Mateen Bhaghani trotted onto the field for a 38-yard field goal.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Huard, who quietly changed to No. 80 weeks earlier, hit freshman receiver Tanook Hines for a first down, and USC went on to score.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

MVP Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - yes Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences.

Read more on BBC

On fourth and one, the Bruins went to a jumbo package by bringing in 335-pound defensive lineman Siale Taupaki as a blocker but couldn’t pick up the first down after Iamaleava was dropped for a two-yard loss.

Read more on Los Angeles Times