dirty play
Unsportsmanlike competitive behavior
Dirty play is conduct in sports or games that violates rules or fair play standards—illegal tackles, deliberate fouls, or dangerous moves intended to injure or gain unfair advantage.
The phrase extends beyond athletics to any underhanded tactics: The campaign accused its opponents of dirty play.
Compare dirty pool.
- foulOffensive or illegal
- professional foulIntentional violation stopping advantage
- cheap shotUnfair attack or remark
- unsportsmanlikeContrary to athletic ethics
- roughhousingRowdy physical play
flagrant · underhanded · cheating · low blow · sneaky · tackle · late tackle · slide tackle · body check · elbow · tripping · biting · diving · taking a dive · simulation · gamesmanship · trash talk · interference
- dirty playcheap shot, cheap shots, late hit, low blow, elbowing
- sports ethicssportsmanship, integrity, doping, honesty, respect
- sportsmanshipfairness, sportsmanship, respect, integrity, honor
- low blowscheap shot, low blow, sucker punch, below the belt, hit below the belt
dirty playfair play
Honorable conduct in games
good sportsmanship · fair competition · integrity · graciousness · chivalry
dirty playsportsmanship
Ethical athletic conduct
good sportsmanship · chivalry · fair-mindedness · graciousness · class
dirty, dirt, dirtier, dirtiest, dirtily, dirtiness, play, plays, played