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bully off

C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To start the game in field hockey with a special face-off between two players.

Meanings

1 C1 neutral

To start or restart a field hockey game using the traditional bully procedure, in which two opposing players tap their sticks and the ground alternately before competing for the ball.

"After the goal, play was restarted by bullying off at the centre of the pitch."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

This is a technical sporting term specific to field hockey. The 'bully' was the traditional method of restarting play, now largely replaced in modern field hockey by a free hit. Rarely heard outside of field hockey contexts and largely dated in current use.

Commonly used with

match game centre circle half

Forms

Base
bully off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bullies off
he/she/it
Past simple
bullied off
yesterday
Past participle
bullied off
have + pp
-ing form
bullying off
continuous

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