[BigEasyCard]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=15082.msg163390#msg163390 date=1464114092]
Stackhouse is 1-up through 17.  She could clinch the match.

To pursue what I think is a Cardboard tradition of arcania (and to make up a handy word), what do you see as the difference between clinching a match versus merely winning?

I had always that "clinching" a match, title, etc. implied winning before the full course of events could unfold. So, a baseball team clinches the pennant 10 games before the season ends, etc.

However, it seems that recently in sports talk clinching has become merely a synonym with winning - as I think BC used it here given that Stackhouse won on the 18th hole and as the fifth pair to finish.

Did I just make up this particular definition of "clinching"?
[/quote]

CT, I use and understand clinch to mean winning or being assured of a victory.  So, I consider your example of clinching a pennant before the end of the season to be a special case where we know the result before the entire season has concluded.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BigEasyCard]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=15082.msg163390#msg163390 date=1464114092]
Stackhouse is 1-up through 17.  She could clinch the match.

To pursue what I think is a Cardboard tradition of arcania (and to make up a handy word), what do you see as the difference between clinching a match versus merely winning?

I had always that "clinching" a match, title, etc. implied winning before the full course of events could unfold. So, a baseball team clinches the pennant 10 games before the season ends, etc.

However, it seems that recently in sports talk clinching has become merely a synonym with winning - as I think BC used it here given that Stackhouse won on the 18th hole and as the fifth pair to finish.

Did I just make up this particular definition of "clinching"?
[/quote]

CT, I use and understand clinch to mean winning or being assured of a victory.  So, I consider your example of clinching a pennant before the end of the season to be a special case where we know the result before the entire season has concluded.

Geaux Cardinal!