weak side

American

noun

Football.

the side of the offensive line opposite the side with the tight end, thereby the side having the smaller number of players.

Etymology

Origin of weak side

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

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.

“I saw her cut from the weak side, we made eye contact, two people came to me and I passed it to her. On our team you have to be thinking all the time.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 18, 2026

China's July data, such as retail sales, business investment and industrial production were "on the weak side," Ueda said, according to the text posted on the BOJ's website on Monday.

From Reuters • Aug. 28, 2023

The yuan slid to the weak side of 7.3 per dollar despite a firm fixing of its trading range by the central bank.

From Reuters • Aug. 21, 2023

Seattle also likes the idea of Adams playing significantly at weak side linebacker.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 17, 2023

Adah’s weak side was overtaken by convulsive trembling, and Rachel seemed to be in a trance.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023