Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for play-the-ball. Search instead for ring--the--bell.

play-the-ball

British  

noun

  1. rugby league a method for bringing the ball back into play after a tackle, in which the tackled player is allowed to stand up and kick or heel the ball behind him or her to a team-mate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

From the play-the-ball, Alan Hunte, Goulding and Phil Clarke worked possession right to Betts, who fed Davies on the halfway line with a long way to go.

From BBC Oct. 20, 2025

That must then be replaced for the next play-the-ball.

From BBC Nov. 3, 2022

The Dragons at least thought they had some much-needed field position, but then were slow to mark up at a PNG play-the-ball and Ngutlik took spectacular advantage.

From BBC Oct. 31, 2022

Bosc kicked a second penalty on the hour after St Helens prop Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook was punished for interference at the play-the-ball to keep his side on the front foot.

From The Guardian Apr. 13, 2013

"I ran close to a play-the-ball and took the pass," Storey wrote.

From The Guardian Dec. 1, 2010

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training