half nelson

noun

, Wrestling.

1. a hold in which a wrestler, from behind the opponent, passes one arm under the corresponding arm of the opponent and locks the hand on the back of the opponent's neck.

half-nelson

noun

1. a wrestling hold in which a wrestler places an arm under one of his opponent's arms from behind and exerts pressure with his palm on the back of his opponent's neck Compare full nelson

Word History and Origins

Origin of half nelson¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Before playing a character whose job is “beach,” current supporting actor nominee Ryan Gosling received a lead actor nomination for playing a devoted but self-destructive middle school teacher in “Half Nelson.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Against all odds with nothing but a couple of soulless, scantily clad, and thankfully crotchless dolls, they made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history. Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees,” the “La La Land” and “Half Nelson” star added.

From Los Angeles Times

The festival got off to an attention-grabbing start Thursday night with “Freaky Tales,” a funny, bloody valentine to the city of Oakland from the returning writing-directing duo of Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, whose 2006 debut feature, “Half Nelson,” was a highlight of my very first Sundance Film Festival.

From Los Angeles Times

Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who’d previously brought their films “Half Nelson” and “Mississippi Grind” here, “Freaky Tales” follows four interconnected stories set in 1987 Oakland that all tend to climax in outrageously bloody scenes of revenge.

From New York Times

I’ve been a fan of Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden since their debut feature, “Half Nelson,” sent an arrow through the heart of the inspirational-teacher yarn.

From Los Angeles Times