have sporting blood
1. To have a natural love of sports or athletics. This town has sporting blood in its veins, and the people here will gather together with unmatched enthusiasm to support all of their local teams. It's funny, my husband has no interest in sports, but his parents and sisters all have sporting blood. Katie's always had sporting blood. First it was softball, now it's tennis.
2. To have an adventurous, risk-taking, or thrill-seeking personality or disposition; to be highly competitive or ready to accept a challenge. You have to have sporting blood to make it in this sort of cutthroat business, but the rewards are all the higher for it. I'm not one to rise up to the challenges of bullies, but my brother Seamus has sporting blood and backs down from no one. I'm not looking for a wild partner who has sporting blood—I just want someone calm and sensible, like me!
sport with (someone or something)
To joke, tease, or trifle with someone or something. I know you think you're just sporting with us, but it's starting to feel more like harassment. The Greek myths have a lot of fascinating stories of the gods sporting with mortal men and women.
sporting blood
1. A natural love of or enthusiasm for sports or athletics. The sporting blood running through this town means the people here show an unmatched enthusiasm and loyalty for all of their local teams.
2. An adventurous, risk-taking, and/or thrill-seeking personality or disposition; exceptional competitiveness; readiness to accept a challenge. This business isn't meant for the timid. Only those with sporting blood have a real chance at success. I'm not one to stand up to bullies, but my brother has sporting blood and backs down from no one.
sporting chance
A very good possibility (of achieving success). I've seen him practice, and there's a sporting chance he'll win the competition.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
sporting blood
Willingness to take risks, as in His sporting blood won't let him stay away from the races. This idiom uses sporting in the sense of "associated with gambling."
sporting chance, a
A fair chance for success, as in She thinks she has a sporting chance for being named bureau chief. [Colloquial; late 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.