General
punt
What does punt mean?
A kick, usually on fourth down, in which the punter drops the ball and kicks it before it hits the ground to flip field position.
"Facing fourth and long, they lined up to punt the ball away."
Origin
American football; 'punt' from the rugby-football kicking term.
Frequently asked questions
What is a punt in football?
It's a kick, usually on fourth down, where the punter drops the ball and kicks it before it hits the ground to push the opposing team back and flip field position.
Why do teams punt?
Teams punt when they don't expect to convert a fourth down and would rather give the ball to the other team deep in their own territory than risk a turnover on downs.
Does 'punt' mean the same thing outside football?
Yes, in everyday slang to 'punt' on something means to defer, give up, or pass a decision along, borrowing from the football idea of kicking the ball away.
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