Buzz
Biannually, the Olympics offer a chance to immerse ourselves in the unique culture of sports we might not regularly watch—complete with their own terminology. Explore 20 lively slang phrases from different Olympic competitions, including terms like bingo and twisties.
Bingo (Diving)
In diving, bingo is used to indicate that every judge has awarded a dive the identical score.
Bacon (Cycling)
In cycling, bacon describes the scrapes, road rash, or even the lingering scars and scabs a rider sustains after a fall.
Bagel and Double Bagel (Tennis)
In tennis, a bagel occurs when a player wins a set 6-0. Achieving this twice in a single match earns the title of a double bagel.
Bell Lap (Track)
During the final lap of a multi-lap race, officials sound a bell to signal to the runners that they’re on their last lap, which is why it’s often referred to as the “bell lap.”
Chicken Wing and Pancake (Volleyball)
In volleyball, a chicken wing involves bending your arm like a chicken wing to hit the ball, usually done in a pinch when a defender can’t get into a better position. It’s a move that’s especially thrilling when it succeeds.
Similarly remarkable is the pancake, a last-second save where your palm slams the floor just as the ball bounces off the back of your hand.
Dead Ball (Table Tennis)
In table tennis, a dead ball isn’t out of play—it’s a ball with little to almost no spin.
Death Cookies and Chocolate Chips (Skiing and Snowboarding)
Avalanches and grooming machines can create frozen chunks of snow called death cookies, which are notorious for making runs rough and are universally disliked by skiers and snowboarders.
Another cookie-related term on the slopes is chocolate chips, which describes rocks poking through the snow.
11. Flutz (Figure Skating)
The Lutz is a figure skating jump where the skater glides backward on the outer edge of one skate, taps the other skate’s blade for momentum, and launches into a spinning leap. (A double Lutz involves two rotations, a triple Lutz three, and so on.) Staying on the outer edge is crucial; switching to the inner edge results in a “flutz,” which costs points.
Hammer and Brick (Curling)
A standard curling match consists of eight or 10 ends, with teams taking turns to deliver eight stones each per end. The final stone thrown is referred to as the brick or hammer, and the team delivering it is said to “have the hammer.”
Kufen and Steels (Luge)
The runners of a luge sled, made of fiberglass or wood, are often called kufen in German. The steel strips covering the runners’ bottoms are simply known as “steels.”
Land Bolts (Skateboarding)
When a skateboarder lands bolts, it means they’ve perfectly executed a trick, with both feet positioned directly over the board’s bolts.
Men in Gray Suits (Surfing)
In surfing lingo, men in gray suits isn’t a reference to corporate attire—it’s a playful term for sharks.
Stuck in the Bucket (Pole Vaulting)
In pole vaulting, proper technique involves raising your hips above your shoulders before clearing the bar. If you’re stuck in the bucket—meaning your hips are level with or below your shoulders—it becomes much harder to successfully complete the vault.
Touch (Swimming)
In swimming, races conclude when competitors touch the pool wall, which is why touch is often used to describe the finish of a race.
Twisties (Gymnastics)
Occasionally, gymnasts experience a disconnect between their mind and body during complex maneuvers, especially those involving mid-air twists. This loss of spatial awareness, known as “the twisties,” can lead to dangerous landings if not addressed. For this reason, Simone Biles chose to step back from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics rather than risk injury while battling the twisties.
