tackle

Formstackles, tackling, tackled

Pluraltackles

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To confront a difficult problem or situation and make an effort to overcome it.

   The new director set out to tackle years of financial mismanagement.

   Communities across the region are tackling rising unemployment together.

   Similaraddress, confront, combat, handle

   Oppositeavoid, ignore, dodge

   Note

   The figurative verb, where what is tackled is a problem, a job or a subject. Governments tackle crime. Engineers tackle a bridge, and in Trains Illustrated in 1959 the work on one is "being tackled first." In Richard Ellis's The Book of Sharks (1983), painters and writers tackle a powerful subject. The verb takes a direct object, goes easily into the passive, and implies effort and difficulty, not success.

2. 2
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To stop an opposing ball carrier by bringing them to the ground.

   The linebacker tackled the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

   Defenders must tackle cleanly to avoid giving away a penalty.

3. 3
   nouncountable

   A defensive play in which a player brings the ball carrier to the ground.

   A last-ditch tackle prevented a certain touchdown.

   The referee ruled the tackle illegal and awarded a penalty.

   Note

   Rugby and American football share the word but not what follows it. In gridiron football a tackle typically ends the down. In rugby it opens a contest for possession. Either way it is defensive work, and the usual adjectives show it: a last-ditch, missed or illegal tackle. The same act as a verb is its verb partner.

4. 4
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To attempt to take the ball away from an opposing player.

   The midfielder tackled cleanly and started a counterattack.

   Defenders who tackle recklessly risk a yellow card.

   Similarchallenge

   Note

   The verb behind the challenge for the ball works both with a player as object and on its own: a defender tackles an opponent, or simply tackles cleanly. Manner adverbs do much of the work, because legality turns on how and where contact is made. To tackle recklessly invites a card, while a clean tackle can start a counterattack.

5. 5
   nouncountable

   A play in which a player attempts to take control of the ball from an opponent, as in soccer or rugby.

   A well-timed tackle broke up the attack.

   The referee judged the tackle fair and play continued.

   Similarchallenge

   Note

   Here the target is the ball, not the body: the challenging player aims to win possession from an opponent, as in soccer or rugby. A tackle in this sense is praised as clean, well-timed or fair, and it succeeds only if the ball changes hands without a foul. Compare the bring-down tackle, where the aim is to put the ball carrier on the ground.

6. 6
   noununcountable

   The equipment used for fishing, such as rods, reels, lines, and lures.

   She stored her fishing tackle in a waterproof box.

   Anglers bring lighter tackle when fishing small streams.

   Similargear, equipment

   Note

   An angler's collective noun, always uncountable: one owns fishing tackle, not tackles, and counts it by item, such as a rod, a reel or a box of lures. Weight is the usual way to describe it. Light tackle suits small streams, and heavier tackle suits bigger fish. When the setting is plainly fishing, the word stands alone without "fishing" in front.

7. 7
   verbtransitive

   To force a person to the ground by throwing the weight of one's body against or onto them.

   A bystander tackled the thief as he sprinted past.

   Security officers will tackle anyone who rushes the stage.

   Similarfloor

8. 8
   nouncountable

   An act of stopping someone by grabbing them and forcing them to the ground.

   A flying tackle knocked the fleeing man off his feet.

   The bouncer's tackle ended the brawl in seconds.

   Similartakedown

9. 9
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A position on the offensive line, between the guard and the end, and the player who occupies it.

   The left tackle blocked the defensive end on every play.

   Scouts rated him the strongest tackle in the draft class.

   Note

   The odd thing about this tackle is that it rarely tackles anyone. An offensive tackle blocks, both for the run and in pass protection, at the outer edge of the line. The name covers both the spot and the player, so a team has a left tackle and a right tackle. A scout can also call a prospect the best tackle in a draft. "Offensive" is usually dropped when the side is clear.

10. 10
    nouncountable or uncountable

    A defensive line position located between the two defensive ends, and the player who fills it.

    The defensive tackle pushed through and sacked the quarterback.

    Coaches moved the rookie to tackle midway through the season.

    Note

    The counterpart to the offensive line position lines up inside, between the two defensive ends. The work there is stopping runs through the middle and pushing toward the passer. Unlike its offensive namesake, this player is expected to bring down ball carriers and sack the quarterback, so the position's name and its job finally agree.

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