grand slam

[ grand slam ]

noun

1. Bridge. the winning of all thirteen tricks of a deal. Compare little slam.
2. Also grand-slammer. Baseball. a home run with three runners on base.
3. Sports. the winning by a single player of several designated major championship contests in one season, as in golf or tennis.
4. any sweeping success or total victory.

grand slam

noun

1. bridge the winning of 13 tricks by one player or side or the contract to do so
2. tennis golf
   1. the winning of all major competitions in a season, esp in tennis and golf
   2. one of the 4 major competitions in a season in tennis
3. often capital rugby Union the winning of all five games in the annual Six Nations Championship involving England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy Compare triple crown

Word History and Origins

Origin of grand slam¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Idioms and Phrases

A sweeping success or total victory, as in This presentation gave us a grand slam—every buyer placed an order . This term originated in the early 1800s in the card game of whist (forerunner of contract bridge), where it refers to the taking of all thirteen tricks. It later was extended to bridge and various sports, where it has different meanings: in baseball, a home run hit with runners on all the bases, resulting in four runs for the team; in tennis, winning all four national championships in a single calendar year; in golf, winning all four major championships. In the 1990s the term was used for four related proposals presented on a ballot at once.

Example Sentences

Freddie Freeman’s MVP performance throughout the series was something to behold, from his walk-off grand slam in the first game to the two-run single that helped the Dodgers win it all.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s the equivalent of Freddie Freeman dropping his bat after hitting that grand slam home run in Game 1 of the World Series.

From Los Angeles Times

Potter’s superb finish towards the end gave the Wallabies some heart but it was never going to keep their hopes of an autumn grand slam alive.

From BBC

Lindsey Graham, senator for South Carolina, called Bondi's selection a “grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick.”

From BBC

Reacting to the announcement, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham predicted that Bondi “will be confirmed quickly,” calling her selection a “grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick.”

From BBC

Related Words

• accomplishment
• achievement
• advance
• benefit
• boom
• fame
• gain
• happiness
• profit
• progress
• prosperity
• realization
• triumph
• victory
• win