misplay

American  

[mis-play, mis-play, mis-play] / mɪsˈpleɪ, ˈmɪsˌpleɪ, mɪsˈpleɪ /

noun

1. a wrong or bad play.

2. a play prohibited by the rules.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make an error or incorrect play on or with; play wrongly.

   The catcher misplayed the ball, allowing the base runner to score.

2. to make a play on or with (a card, chess piece, etc.) prohibited by the rules.

misplay British  

/ ˌmɪsˈpleɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to play badly or wrongly in games or sports

   the batsman misplayed the ball

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noun

1. a wrong or unskilful play

Etymology

Origin of misplay

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; mis- ¹ + play

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

misplay

As ominous as Outman’s misplay was, it happened early.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2023

Seattle scored three runs in the first inning off Angels starter Patrick Sandoval, capitalizing on Mike Moustakas’ misplay of Julio Rodriguez’s hard ground ball to third base.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 12, 2023

Over the years, his misplay gave Buckner “a measure of celebrity beyond baseball, a kind of cultural resonance few athletes ever achieve,” observes Kepner.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 13, 2022

Jackson acknowledged that the misplay might have been the result of “just rust.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2022

Miss Erskine fidgeted in her seat, gave half smothered exclamations, looked at him appealingly at every misplay.

From In Her Own Right by Clarence F. Underwood

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