tackle

tackle Definition

tackle (tak′əl; for n. 5, naut. tā′kəl)

noun

apparatus; equipment; gear fishing tackle
a rope and pulley block, or a system of ropes and pulleys, used to lower, raise, or move various objects
the act or an instance of tackling, as in football
☆ Football
1. an offensive lineman who is primarily a blocker, usually positioned just outside an offensive guard
2. a defensive lineman usually positioned near the offensive center
3. a type of football in which the defensive players tackle the ballcarrier
Naut.
1. Archaic a ship's rigging
2. later, the running rigging and pulleys to operate the sails

Etymology: ME takel < MDu, pulley, rope, equipment in general, prob. akin to MLowG tacken, to touch, press, ? akin to take

transitive verb tack′·led, tack′·ling

to fasten by means of tackle
to harness (a horse)
to take hold of; seize
1. to undertake to do or solve (something difficult) to tackle a job
2. to deal with (a difficult person)
Football to stop (an opponent carrying the ball), esp. by knocking or throwing to the ground
to knock or throw to the ground a policeman tackled the fleeing robber

intransitive verb

Football to stop an opponent who is carrying the ball, esp. by knocking or throwing the opponent to the ground
to knock or throw someone to the ground

tackle Related Forms

tack′·ler noun

tackle Synonyms

Equipment
rigging, ropes and pulleys, apparatus; see equipment.
A contrivance having mechanical advantage
pulleys, block-and-tackle, mechanical purchase, differential tackle, differential*, movable pulley; see also pulley.
In football, an attempt to down a ball-carrier
flying tackle, low tackle, shoulder tackle, running tackle, sack, plunge, lunge, shoestring tackle*; see also block 5.
In football, one who plays between end and guard
linesman, right tackle, left tackle, block-and-tackle man*; see football player.
In fishing, equipment
gear, sporting goods, fishing paraphernalia; see equipment, net, rod 2.
Fishing tackle includes: hook, line, fly, rod, casting rod, reel, casting reel, cut bait, live bait, minnow, grasshopper, fish eggs, salmon eggs, worm, lure, spinner, seine, fish net, landing net, pole, gaff, float, bobber, cork, sinker, creel, tackle box, fly-typing materials, swivels, shot, deep-sea tackle, leader, number four hook, number six hook, number eight hook, number ten hook, cod hook, bass hook, pike hook, stringer, fish sack, basket, trotline.

tackle Synonyms

*To undertake
launch, embark on, work on, set about, take up in earnest, turn one's hand to, begin, turn to, plunge into, devote oneself to, make an attempt, put one's shoulder to the wheel*, dig in*, start the ball rolling*, square off*, get going*; see also try 1, undertake.
Antonyms avoid*, hesitate*, delay. *
In football, to endeavor to down an opponent
grapple, seize, throw down, catch, grab, down, throw, throw for a loss, sack, upset, bring to the ground, stop, nail*, smear*, haul to earth*, take*, put the freeze on*.

tackle Usage Examples

Object

poverty: You believe you can tackle poverty in Ethiopia in 15 years?
inequality: It also examines interventions targeted at pregnant women and evidence for tackling health inequalities in smoking.
exclusion: The scope of informal employment strategies to tackle social exclusion needs to be examined.
crime: Notts crime fighting among best Figures released by the Home Office reveal that Nottinghamshire is often above national average for tackling crime.
problem: We should be reaching out to people who expect us to do things to tackle the social problems of our country.
discrimination: We have worked with employers to provide them with guidance on tackling work place discrimination faced by LGB people.

Preposition: on

edge: Mustoe made a rather silly tackle on the edge of the box, leaving his trailing leg out for Ben Fitch to fly over.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

such: We work with a range of agencies in Cumbria to act quickly to tackle issues such as these.

Adjective complement

homophobic: At least one teacher in every school should undergo training which includes how to tackle homophobic bullying.
illegal: The move follows the commitment made by G8 leaders last weekend to do more to tackle illegal logging.

Modifying Another Word

effectively: The Depression sparked off problems, which the Weimar constitution and Treaty of Versailles prevented the government from using methods to effectively tackle.
successfully: The above guidelines are very useful in every situation in life and you can successfully tackle hostile circumstances by following them.
bravely: But aside from this, the book provides some wonderful insights and bravely tackles some contentious issues.
late: Referee Rowan Kitt had handed out the first yellow card to Dominic Jones for a late tackle in the 24th minute.

Modifies a noun

bag: Rather than load yourself down, make room for a camera in your tackle bag and get out and explore the miles of shoreline.

Used with why or when

which: Float fishing is by far the best method although please be sensible when it comes to end tackle which must be strong.
what: Fourthly, we should be tackling what in the 19th century was called the condition of England question.

Present participle complement

bully: Back-up looks at a new report on the problem and at efforts to tackle bullying.
rise: Other changes highlighted by the survey include a rise in friends buying together to tackle rising property prices.

Preposition: in

manner: Each championship is tackled in a realistic manner, with full race rules and flags in operation.

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