Dart Terms & Dart Slang Glossary
Here are some dart terms / phrases that are sometimes used during play.
A
ANNIE’S ROOM (or ANNIE’S HOUSE)
Double 1.
ARROWS
Another term for darts.
ARCHER
Refers to a player who throws very quick smooth darts, like an archer’s arrow (also known as a ‘Derek’). Contrast “FLOATER”.
B
BAG O’ NUTS
A score of 45.
BARREL
The metal portion of the dart (where you grip the dart)
BASEMENT
The double-3.
BABY TON
A score of 95, usually by scoring five 19s.
BED
A section of a number / a scoring area of the board i.e. double bed, Treble bed
BLACK HAT
Reference to the Inner Bull Eye (When the Centre Bull is Black!)
BOMBS / BOMBERS
Very large or heavy darts usually made from brass.
BOUNCE OUT
Scoring dart falls out of the board or hits the wire (the dart doesn’t score)
BREAKFAST / BED & BREAKFAST
A score of 26, made up of a single-5, single-20, single-1 in a game of x01. This is a common score in darts because players aiming for the 20 segment (which contains the highest scoring area on the board) will often accidentally hit the 1 and the 5 segments, which are located on either side of the 20. The term comes from the typical price of a bed-and-breakfast in times gone by: 2 shillings and sixpence, or “two and six”. (See also “CHIPS”)
BUCKET/BAG OF NAILS
Landing all three darts in the 1’s.
BUCKSHOT
A throw when darts land wildly all over the board.
BULL-OFF
See DIDDLE FOR THE MIDDLE.
BULL-UP
See DIDDLE FOR THE MIDDLE.
BULL-OUT
Winning a game with a double bull
BULLSEYE (or BULL)
The centre of the board. (see also: “SINGLE-BULL” and “DOUBLE-BULL”) Score of 50
BUST / BUSTED
Hitting more than you needed in an x01 game. The darts do not count and the player begins his next turn on the same score he had prior to.
C
C
In a Cricket game this refers to high scores base on the number of darts scored. For example a triple-20, single-20, single-20 would be called a C-5 because “5 darts” were scored with three darts.
CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST
Hitting treble 20, treble 1 and treble 5 in three darts (see “BREAKFAST”)
CHALKING
Keeping score / marking the game.
CHIPS
A score of 26. (See also: “BREAKFAST /BED & BREAKFAST”)
CHUCKER
A player who just “chucks” the darts at the board, doesn’t aim or care.
CIRCLE IT
When a player scores a single digit (less than 10) with three darts, his team-mates would shout out “Circle it!” to the scorekeeper to highlight the terrible throw. A variation on this tradition is to draw a fish around the score, often leading to aquarium-related jokes being aimed at particularly poor or unlucky players.
CLOCK
The dartboard itself, usually in the context of “ROUND THE CLOCK”.
CORK
The centre of the board. This comes from the cork in the end of a keg where it is tapped. The ends of kegs were used for targets in the game’s early days.
D
DARTITIS
Name given to a mental state of a dart thrower unable to release his / her dart during a throw.
DEVIL
The treble-6, so called due to ‘666’, and the fact that it is often hit in error when going for treble-13 or treble-10.
DIDDLE FOR THE MIDDLE
A throw to see who gets one dart closer to the bullseye to determine who throws first in the game. Also known as a “BULL OFF“, “MIDDLE FOR MIDDLE” and “OUT FOR BULL“.
DINKY-DOO
Score of 22. Also see SWAN LAKE
DOSSER
A terms sometimes used for the Bullseye
DOUBLE
The thin outer ring of the board. In standard x01 games, a double counts for two times the number hit.
DOUBLE-BULL
On dartboards configured with a bullseye consisting of two concentric circles, the outer circle is commonly green and worth 25 and the inner circle is commonly red and worth 50 points. Hitting the innermost ring of this type of bullseye is a “DOUBLE-BULL“. (See also: “BULLSEYE“)
DOUBLE IN (DI)
A variant of x01 in which a double is needed to start the game.
DOUBLE OUT (DO)
Hitting the double of a number to win a game of ‘x01
DOUBLE TOP
The double-20.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Not being able to hit the double needed to win the game.
DOWNSTAIRS
The lower portion of the board, usually in reference to the 19s in a game of x01.
E
EASY IN
A game that requires no special shot to begin scoring.
F
FAT
The largest portion of a number (the area between the double and triple ring)
FEATHERS
The ‘feathers’/ Flights of the dart which makes the dart more aerodynamic. Also use as a score of 33
FISH, CHIPS AND PEAS
Also use as a score of 33
FLIGHTS
The “wings” at the end of a dart that make it fly straight. Also known as feathers.
G
GAME ON
Advises all players that the match has now started
GAME SHOT
Signifies that the match winning double has been hit
GARDEN GATES
A Score of Eighty-Eight.
GOOD GROUP
A compliment for tight, accurate throwing.
GRAND SLAM
Hitting the T5, T20 & T1 in one throw.
GRANNY
A lose without scoring, see SHUT OUT cricket game
H
HAIL MARY
The third dart that miraculously scores a high treble where the first two combined scored low single numbers
HAT TRICK
A score of three bullseyes in a single throw.
HIGH TON
Scoring between 151-180 points in a game of ’01
HIT IT UNTIL YOU TRIP IT, AND TRIP IT AGAIN
Usually when playing cricket. Meaning don’t think, just hit it and hit it again. Don’t worry about anything else on the board right now. Even if you hit a triple don’t stop just trip it again.
HOCKEY
The throw or Toe line. See ‘Oche’ Oche is pronounced as Hockey
I
ISLAND
The actual playable area of a dart board (inside the doubles ring). Missing this area entirely is sometimes referred to as “Off the island”.
J
K
KELLY’S EYE
Also used in Bingo, Kelly’s eye links to Nerd Kelly or directly to the Valiant Boys Annual 1962-1976. The Annual publish a new hero Tim Kelly, he wore a jewel called the Eye of the Zoltec around his neck which protected him from harm. Hence Kelly Eye!.
KEEP EM ON THE ISLAND
A term a marker or caller may use if the player fails to score i.e. hits outside the double ring when requiring a score. Hence to say not used much!
KILLER
A game variant where a number of players “own” a number on the dartboard and compete to build up “lives” (by hitting that number) until a threshold is reached (usually 4 or 6) before attempting to “kill” other players by removing the lives they have built up (by hitting those other players’ numbers) until a single player is left.
L
LEG
One game of a match. Most professional matches are made up of a number of sets, each of which is split into legs.
LEG SHOT
Signifies that a player has completed (Won) the “leg” as per Game Shot.
LIPSTICK
Name given to the treble twenty made famous by Geordie darts commentator Sid Waddell
LITTLE / SMALL
The single bed between the bull and the triple
LOW TON
Scoring between 100-150 points in a game of ’01
M
MAD HOUSE
The double-1. At least two explanations for the term have been proffered; because it can drive you crazy trying to hit one in a game of x01, or because it impossible to “get out” of the mad house – once a player has a score of 2 the only way to finish the game is by hitting a double-1.
MAXIMUM
A score of 180
MAXIMUM CHECK-OUT
A score of 170 to end a game. treble-20, treble-20, inner bull
MIDDLE FOR MIDDLE
See “DIDDLE FOR THE MIDDLE“.
MONGER
A person who deliberately scores too many more points than needed to win the game cricket game not 501.
MOTOWN
Scoring 44 finish i.e single 4 and double 20 (tops). It is a reference to the ‘ Four Tops’ group that were associated with the Motown Music label
MUGS AWAY
Loser of the previous game goes first in the next game. I was told this was to indicate that the loser was buying the next beer / round so “Mugs away”.
N
NAIL
Another word for 1. See “Bucket of Nails” and “Bag of Nails”.
NOT OLD
A score of 37 (usually by hitting a 20, a 5 and a 12). The phrase is believed to have its origins in a Monty Python sketch.
O
OCHE
The throw line you stand behind and to throw the darts. (pronounced ‘Hockey’)
OUT FOR BULL
The out scoring area of the centre bullseye- score of 25.
P
PERFECT GAME
Least number of darts to win a leg of darts 501 – 9 darts
PERFECT SCORE
When a player scores a maximum 180 points in one throw of three darts.
PERFECT FINISH
When a player finishes a game with a maximum score of 170. This must be done by scoring treble 20, treble 20, double bull, with only three darts. This is considerably more difficult than hitting a perfect score as the player must break focus to change targets and it can only be done if the player has an exact score of 170 remaining.
POINTS
The point of the dart, steel tipped or plastic.
Q
Quitter / You Quitter
When someone throws two perfect darts and then barely misses the third one. “Quitter” as in that was a nice shot but could have been just a little bit better if you hadn’t quit. It’s meant to be tongue in cheek.
R
RIPPED IT!
The Players scorers the single of the double he or she is throwing for.
ROBIN HOOD
When you throw a dart into the shaft of another.
ROUND OF Terms
Throwing three triples in one turn in Cricket.
ROUTE 66
Scoring 66 points in a throw.
ROUND THE CLOCK
Any of a number of game variants where players compete to be the first to hit all the segments on the board in an agreed order (usually numerical), finishing with the outer bull followed by the bull. In some versions hitting a double entitles the player to skip the next number, with a treble entitling the player to skip two numbers. Also commonly played by single players as a form of practice.
S
SHAFT / STEM
The part of a dart behind the barrel when the flights are mounted.
SHANGHAI
A score of a single, double and triple in the same number. “Shanghai” sometimes refers to a checkout of 120 (single, treble and double 20). In some games this is an automatic win i.e in a game of Shanghai.
SHOOTER
American terms for dart thrower
SHUT OUT
When you lose a game without ever scoring in it.
SINGLE BULL
On dartboards configured with a bullseye consisting of two concentric circles, the outer circle is commonly green and worth 25 and the inner circle is commonly red and worth 50 points. Hitting the outermost ring of this type of bullseye is a “SINGLE-BULL“. (See also: “BULLSEYE“)
SLOP / SLOPPY DARTS
Darts that score, but not where you wanted them. (See also: “SPLASH“)
SPIDER or WEB
The dartboard wire assembly which divides the scoring segments of the dartboard.
SPLASH
Darts that score, but not where you wanted them. (See also: “SLOP”)
SPLITTING THE 11
Throwing a dart between the digits of the 11 on the number ring. (Split double 1!)
STACKER
Dart landing on top and touching a previous dart thrown forming a stacked effect.
STICKS
The darts themselves.
STRAIGHT IN / SINGLE IN / STRAIGHT OFF
A game that requires no special shot to begin scoring.
STRAIGHT OUT / SINGLE OUT
Ending a game of ’01 without having to hit a double, but hitting the required i.e. ten required 10 hit not necessarily double 5
STRIKING OIL
Hitting a double bull when “DIDDLING FOR THE MIDDLE” – comes from the black centre of some modern dart boards.
SUNSET STRIP
A Score of 77
SWAN LAKE
A Score of 22
T
THE BIG FISH
A 170 Checkout, Treble 20, Treble 20, Bullseye
THREE IN A BED
Three darts in the same number.
THROW LINE
The line you stand behind and throw the darts from also known as the ‘Oche’ Line / Toe Line.
TOE LINE
The line you stand behind and throw the darts from also known as the ‘Oche’ Line / Throw Line.
TOO HOT
Another term for throwing more than required also see ‘Bust’ or ‘No Score’
TON
A score of 100 in a game of x01.
TON PLUS
Scoring 100+ points in a throw (Ton 40 would be 140 points)
TOP OF THE SHOP
The double 20 bed. As in “he wants tops for the match”.
TOPS
The double 20 bed. As in “he wants tops for the match”.
TRIPLE / TREBLE
The thin inner ring of the board, it usually counts for three times the number hit.
TROMBONES
Scoring 76 points in a throw.
TWO & SIX
Scoring 26 points in a throw (Old English money term)
TWO FAT LADIES
Scoring 88 points in a throw.
U
UMBRELLAS
A score of 77 also see SUNSET STRIP
UNDER STACKER
Dart landing underneath and touching a previous dart thrown forming an ‘under stacking’ effect.
UPSTAIRS
The upper portion of the board, usually in reference to the 20s.
V
VARIETIES
A score of 57. Reference to Heinz 57 Varieties
Velocity
The speed at which a dart is thrown.
W
Wet feet (or Paddling)
Wet feet in darts is when you are standing too close to the board and not behind the throw line.
White Horse
White horse in a game of cricket is when a player scores three trebles on three different numbers.
Wiring
Wiring means when a dart bounces off a wire.
X
Y
YOU COULD HAVE BEEN SOMEONE
When you barely miss an out shot. Usually when someone is on a difficult out such as two triples and then a double to win the game and they hit the two triples and then miss the double. They already hit the tough ones and missed the easy one. “You could have been someone (somebody)”, if you would have hit that.
YOU WONDER WHY NOBODY LIKES YOU
When someone is just in the zone and not missing. I like to tell them; “You wonder why nobody likes you!”. To which their typical response is “I don’t wonder” (implying they know).
Z
