basement battler en · NOUN
Etymology
A metaphor, likening the lower part of the sports table to the basement of a house.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) A team in or around the relegation zone.
The Cottagers had previously gone eight games without a win and had slipped into the relegation zone over Christmas, with boss Hughes criticised by fans after their 3-1 home defeat by fellow basement battlers West Ham on Boxing Day.
2010 December 28, Marc Vesty, “Stoke 0 - 2 Fulham”, in BBC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| basement battlers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |