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punting on first down

English translation: committing to a course of action prematurely

23:07 Nov 18, 2006
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: punting on first down
An episode from The Unit:

Situation: Big complicated bomb in a bank. Bomb squad want to freeze it. The Unit guys think there might be a mercury switch.

Unit guy: -If you cool it down, the mercury sets it off.
FBI guy: -We checked the x-rays.

Unit guy: -What about all the blind spots?
FBI guy: -What blind spots? What's he saying?

Unit guy: -You're punting on first down.
FBI guy: -Show me.

The Unit guy shows the FBI guy the x-rays with the "blind spots".

The punting part beats me.

Many thanks.
Valentin Alupoaie
Romania
Local time: 14:35
Selected answer:committing to a course of action prematurely
Explanation:
The term is a reference to American football. There are 4 "downs", opportunities to move the ball 10 yards toward the goalposts before being forced to hand control of the ball to the other team. Usually, the 4th down is used to "punt" (kick) the ball as far down field as possible, at which time, the opposing team takes control of the ball.

Punting on the first down makes no sense tactically because it gives control to the other side before exhausting one's opportunities to stay in control.
Selected response from:

Michael Barnett
Local time: 07:35
Grading comment
Much obliged.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +12committing to a course of action prematurely
Michael Barnett


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +12
committing to a course of action prematurely


Explanation:
The term is a reference to American football. There are 4 "downs", opportunities to move the ball 10 yards toward the goalposts before being forced to hand control of the ball to the other team. Usually, the 4th down is used to "punt" (kick) the ball as far down field as possible, at which time, the opposing team takes control of the ball.

Punting on the first down makes no sense tactically because it gives control to the other side before exhausting one's opportunities to stay in control.

Michael Barnett
Local time: 07:35
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 11
Grading comment
Much obliged.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  zaphod: Exactamundo. Kicking it just to see where it goes
8 mins
  -> Thank you zaphod!
agree  ErichEko ⟹⭐: Great!
1 hr
  -> Thanks Ekoputra!
agree  Trudy Peters: or giving up too soon
1 hr
  -> Thanks Trudy! I like your term too!
agree  Joe L: Your deference to the Yankee version with "4" downs is duly noted!
5 hrs
  -> Hi Joe! Proz.com members should understand that Joe is referring to the fact that the Canadian version of football has only three "downs".
agree  William [Bill] Gray
6 hrs
  -> Thanks Bill!
agree  Lori Dendy-Molz
7 hrs
  -> Thank you Lori!
agree  Melanie Nassar: giving up before exhausting all options
8 hrs
  -> Excellent suggestion! Thanks Melanie!
agree  cmwilliams (X): and agree with Trudy and Melanie
10 hrs
  -> Thanks cm!
agree  Robert Fox
12 hrs
  -> Thank you Robert!
agree  airmailrpl: -
15 hrs
  -> Thanks airmailrpl!
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
19 hrs
  -> Thanks Marju!
agree  Can Altinbay: Yes, the question is already closed, but I wanted to honor a very nice explanation. May I?
1 day 14 hrs
  -> Thanks Can! :-)
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