Athletic parlance The following is a list of terms or idiom s originating in various sport s , but used in other settings as well . By sport . Baseball . " Eye on the ball " . To have or keep one ' s eye on the ball was to literally watch the incoming baseball being pitched to you . Metaphorically , it meant to remain focused on any main objective . In 2374 , Benjamin Sisko justified his growing disinterest in the minute ethics of his actions by saying he had to keep his eye on the ball - " " Win the war , stop the blood shed . " " . ( ) In 2375 , he reminded Rom to keep his eye on the ball while training for a baseball game against the crew of the . ( ) " Strike three " . Strike three referred to one ' s third unsuccessful attempt to hit a baseball . ( ) It could also refer to an individual ' s last unsuccessful attempt at doing anything . In 1953 , after Willie Hawkins attempted to charm Cassie , she rejected his advances , prompting Benny Russell to comment to the baseball player , " " Strike three , you ' re out . " " ( ) " Swing for the fences " . To swing for the fences was to hit a hard enough to hit a home run . The phrase was used to describe someone who gave an objective their all . In 2374 , when trying to deter Captain Charlie Reynolds of the from attacking an attack ship commandeered by members of Deep Space 9 ' s crew , Benjamin Sisko , familiar with Reynolds , noted that the other captain liked to swing for the fences and recommended the tight maneuver attack pattern omega . ( ) Boxing . " Blow - by - blow " . The blow - by - blow was a detailed description of an event that described each step of it . In 2375 , after the series 5 long - range tactical armor unit expressed its desire to know what B ' Elanna Torres was doing to it , she commented that she couldn ' t concentrate on her work and give a blow - by - blow description of what she was doing at the same time . She then asked Harry Kim to do so . ( ) In 2376 , responding to a call from Chakotay , Torres asked him whether he was calling to give a blow - by - blow description of the tsunkatse match he was at . ( ) " Glass jaw " . A glass jaw was a term used in boxing to describe someone ' s inability to take a blow to the jaw without losing consciousness . In 2369 , after socking a Hunter in the jaw and knocking him out , Miles O ' Brien remarked that he had a glass jaw . ( ) " Ringside seats " . To have ringside seats to something was to have the best possible vantage point from which to witness it i . e . front row or next to the ring . In 2374 , Julian Bashir opined that the best part about Damar and Weyoun visiting Deep Space 9 was that he and the other genius es from the Institute would have ringside seats to the peace talks happening there . ( ) " Saved by the bell " . To be saved by the bell was to be rescued from a knockout by the ringing of the that signaled the end of a round . It could also referred to being rescued from an uncomfortable situation by another ' s summons or appearance . In 2369 , William T . Riker was interrupted in the latest of many attempts to master the solo section of " Nightbird " by Data ' s summons to the bridge of the , prompting him to remark that he had just been saved by the bell . ( ) In , after his inquiry into Tuvok ' s age was met with resistance on the Vulcan ' s part , Tom Paris was interrupted by his communicator chirping , after which he commented , " Saved by the bell . " ( ) Football . " Run interference " . To run interference was to make room for another individual to do something by occupying the attention of an opponent . In 2369 , Sisko suggested using a to run interference between Odo and Ah - Kel ' s raider . ( ) Golf . " Par for the course " . Stemming from the expected score for a golf course , par for the course meant a typical result . In 2285 , after Carol Marcus sarcastically thanked her son David Marcus for not respecting her , he replied that it was par for the course . ( ) Horse racing . " By a nose " . To win by a nose was to win with little difference between the first and second finishers . The phrase referred to a horse ' s literal nose . In 2377 , the Delta Flyer II won the Antarian Trans - stellar Rally by a nose . ( ) " Under the wire " . To come in under the wire was to finish just in time . In 2269 , Doctor Leonard McCoy believed that the landing party had time to gather and process more ryetalyn after their initial samples contained an unacceptable amount of irillium , saying they probably had time to get in under the wire before the outbreak of Rigelian fever aboard the " Enterprise " grew to epidemic proportions . ( ) Tennis . " The ball ' s in your court " . To have the ball in your court was to have it be one ' s turn to reciprocate after the other party had made their move . In 2152 , Jonathan Archer reminded Soval that the Andorian s were willing to talk with the Vulcan s and therefore the ball was in their court . T ' Pol further explained that the Human expression meant they would have to move next . ( ) Multiple sports . " Dropped the ball " . To drop the ball was to make a mistake that was out of character . In 2370 , Sisko apologized to a of Miles O ' Brien for re - assigning DeCurtis without O ' Brien ' s knowledge , saying he guessed he had dropped the ball . ( ) Sidelines . The sidelines were the location outside of play . To be sidelined was to be uninvolved in the action going on . In 2375 , after Vice admiral Matthew Dougherty expressed his surprise at seeing the , Jean - Luc Picard told him that the matters he was involved in were too important for the " Enterprise - E " to be on the sidelines . ( )