General
12th man
What does 12th man mean?
The supporters whose noise and energy influence a game so much they act like an additional teammate.
"The fans were the 12th man, roaring them to a late winner."
Origin
Football/sport metaphor; a team fields 11, so the crowd is the '12th'.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 12th man in football?
It is the home crowd viewed as an extra player, whose noise and energy can influence a game like an additional teammate.
Why is the crowd called the 12th man?
Because a football team fields eleven players, so passionate supporters are cast as the symbolic 'twelfth' member of the side.
Is the 12th man only used in football?
No, the phrase is used across many sports, notably cricket where the 12th man is also a real reserve player, and American football fan culture.
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