clothesline
[/ˈkloʊðzlaɪn/]
noun/verbpl: clotheslines
varal de roupas
1. A rope, cord, or wire stretched between two points on which wet clothes are hung to dry
She hung the wet sheets on the clothesline to dry in the sun.
Ela pendurou os lençóis molhados no varal para secar ao sol.
2. To block or tackle someone by hitting them across the neck or upper body with an outstretched arm (in sports, particularly wrestling or football)
The player was clotheslined during the match and had to leave the game.
O jogador foi derrubado com um golpe no pescoço durante a partida e teve que sair do jogo.
In Brazil, clotheslines (varais) are extremely common in urban and rural areas due to the warm climate and sunny weather year-round, making them a practical and economical alternative to clothes dryers. It's typical to see varais on apartment balconies and in backyards throughout Brazilian neighborhoods. In the USA, clotheslines are less common in urban areas but still used in suburban and rural communities. The verb form 'clothesline' is particularly popular in American sports terminology.
NYC Slang
a clothesline tackle in sports slang refers to an aggressive blocking move
Related Idioms & Phrases
hung out to dry like clothes on a clothesline (meaning exposed to criticism or left in a difficult situation)
stronger than a clothesline (referring to someone very strong)
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