‘Chickisms’ Include Mustard and Everything Else in the Refrigerator

Chick Hearn has so many unique phrases, they’re called “Chickisms.” Here are some of the best-known ones:

“You can put this one in the refrigerator. The door’s closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard and the Jell-O is jiggling.”

Translation: The game has been decided.

“Slam dunk”

Translation: A shot that is thrust down hard into the basket.

“Airball”

Translation: A shot that misses the rim.

“Word’s-eye view”

Translation: Hearn’s description of his radio call.

“He faked him into the popcorn machine.”

Translation: A player has put a great move on his defender.

“Dribble drive.”

Translation: A player is driving hard toward the basket.

“Yo-yoing up and down”

Translation: A player is dribbling in one spot.

“No harm, no foul”

Translation: A player might have been fouled, but no damage was done, so no foul was called.

“Ticky-tack”

Translation: A foul not worth calling.

“Frozen rope”

Translation: A line-drive shot.

“Finger roll”

Translation: How Wilt Chamberlain often laid the ball in.

“The mustard came off the hot dog.”

Translation: A player tried to get too fancy and it didn’t work.

Larry Stewart