walkover

[ wawk-oh-ver ]

noun

1. Racing. a walking or trotting over the course by a contestant who is the only starter.
2. an unopposed or easy victory.
3. any task easily done.
4. Gymnastics. a vertical rotation of the body from a standing position, performed by leaning forward to a brief handstand and bringing the legs over and back down to the floor one at a time front walkover or by arching backward to a similar handstand and returning the feet to the floor back walkover.

walkover

/ ˈwɔːkˌəʊvə /

noun

1. informal.
   an easy or unopposed victory
2. horse racing
   1. the running or walking over the course by the only contestant entered in a race at the time of starting
   2. a race won in this way

verb

1. also adverb to win a race by a walkover
2. informal.
   to beat (an opponent) conclusively or easily
3. informal.
   to take advantage of (someone)

Word History and Origins

Origin of walkover¹

First recorded in 1830–40; noun use of verb phrase walk over

Example Sentences

In 1966, Court was the beneficiary of a total walkover, when Nancy Richey couldn’t take the court in the Australian Open final because of a bad knee.

From Washington Post

Don't you believe for one minute we're going to have a walkover.

From Project Gutenberg

The fumes of this drink went at once to my brain, where it had what might be termed a complete walkover.

From Project Gutenberg

"Perhaps he thought his chances too slim for a walkover," he said in non-committal fashion, as Burr's best friend.

From Project Gutenberg

As to the fight itself, it was in many ways, no doubt, a walkover.

From Project Gutenberg

You'll have no such walkover as Dewey had at Manila—I'll promise you that.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• walkaway