weak side

American  

noun

Football.

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

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Etymology

Origin of weak side

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Example Sentences

“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

The Japanese yen was at 150.28 per dollar, back on the weak side of the 150-level that has kept traders on edge in recent weeks as they look for signs of intervention from Tokyo.

From Reuters • Nov. 7, 2023

For the yen, its slide back past the weak side of 149-per-dollar suggested some scepticism around whether Japan's finance ministry had really ordered an intervention, though it was enough to quieten short sellers.

From Reuters • Oct. 4, 2023

The Seahawks let Cody Barton, a starter at weak side linebacker before taking over in the middle when Brooks was injured, head off to Washington, replacing him with former Steelers first-rounder Devin Bush.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 26, 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