ground game

Noun

ground game (countable and uncountable, plural ground games)

1. (UK, uncountable) Rabbits and hares
   • 1. Every occupier of land shall have, as incident to and inseparable from his occupation of the land, the right to kill and take ground game thereon, concurrently with any other person who may be entitled to kill and take ground game on the same land.1880, Ground Game Act
2. Hand-to-hand combat in which both fighters are on the ground, or skill in such combat
   • He didn't show a lot of ground game in that fight, but his advantage was on the feet, so that's understandable.2007 September 8, Scott Sherman, Gerald Harris, “Scott's UFC 75 picks”, in Salt Lake Tribune, archived from the original on 05 Apr 2008
3. Putting; hitting the ball along the ground
   • Most golf courses built in the 1980s went away from the old-fashioned ground game and forced players to hit the ball high.1999, Harvey Penick, Bud Shrake, The Game for a Lifetime, →ISBN, page 34
4. (countable) Running with the ball, rather than passing
   • Notre Dame, with its option-type quarterback, Tony Rice, is committed to the ground game.1988 November 26, Mal Florence, “They Take Case to Polls Today USC-Notre Dame Game Could Settle Score for No. 1”, in Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 30 Jun 2013, page Sports 3
5. (US, countable) Local political organization
   • While the Democratic "ground game" in Texas seems unusually strong, so is the Republicans'.1988 August 8, Paul Taylor, “Texans Say Bentsen on Ticket Rejuvenates State's Democrats”, in Washington Post, archived from the original on 30 Jun 2013, page A1