grand slam

[grand slam]

noun

1. Bridge.,  the winning of all thirteen tricks of a deal.

2. Baseball.,  Also grand-slammer. a home run with three runners on base.

3. Sports.,  the winning by a single player of several designated major championship contests in one season, as in golf or tennis.

4. any sweeping success or total victory.

grand slam

noun

1. bridge the winning of 13 tricks by one player or side or the contract to do so

2. tennis golf

   1. the winning of all major competitions in a season, esp in tennis and golf

   2. one of the 4 major competitions in a season in tennis

3. (often capital) rugby Union the winning of all five games in the annual Six Nations Championship involving England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy Compare triple crown

Word History and Origins

Origin of grand slam¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Idioms and Phrases

A sweeping success or total victory, as in This presentation gave us a grand slam—every buyer placed an order. This term originated in the early 1800s in the card game of whist (forerunner of contract bridge), where it refers to the taking of all thirteen tricks. It later was extended to bridge and various sports, where it has different meanings: in baseball, a home run hit with runners on all the bases, resulting in four runs for the team; in tennis, winning all four national championships in a single calendar year; in golf, winning all four major championships. In the 1990s the term was used for four related proposals presented on a ballot at once.

Example Sentences

That all changed last October when Freddie Freeman matched Gibson’s dramatics with a Game 1 grand slam to beat the New York Yankees.

From Los Angeles Times

In a 5-1 walk-off win over the Dodgers, the Giants certainly played that way, punctuating the night with Patrick Bailey’s grand slam off Tanner Scott in the bottom of the 10th.

From Los Angeles Times

The 43-year-old tennis star, who broke records and won 23 grand slam titles through her career, was the embodiment of fitness and athletic prowess.

From BBC

“Would you say grand slam or home run?” he asked.

From Los Angeles Times

Winning the Masters and completing the career grand slam had become his be all and end all.

From BBC

Related Words

• accomplishment 
• achievement 
• advance 
• benefit 
• boom 
• fame 
• gain 
• happiness 
• profit 
• progress 
• prosperity 
• realization 
• triumph 
• victory 
• win