Glossary of darts

This is a glossary of terminology used in the game of darts. Where words in a sentence are also defined elsewhere in this article, they appear in italics.

A

Alan Evans shot

Hitting three double-bulls in one turn.

Annie's Attic

Double 1.

Annie's room (or Annie's house)

The number 1.

Arraz

Another term for darts.

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".

Audio Darts

Darts played with a talking electronic board, popular with visually impaired players. May also be played by blindfolded sighted players.

Average

Average score achieved every three darts thrown. See also PPD.

B

Baby ton

A score of 95, usually by scoring five 19s.

Baby fish

A 130 checkout: T20, 20 (or 20, T20), Bull. First mentioned by Wayne Mardle commentating the 2019/20 WC.

Bag of nuts

A score of 45, named after the prize offered at a fairground.

Bagadix

A dart term used when a player scores 26 points by hitting a 20, a 5 and a 1. Over the years the term has been used more liberally to describe any combination of darts totalling a score of 26. Commonly coined, "Bag" for short.

Barrel

The part of a dart that a thrower grips, right behind the point.

Basement

The double-3.

Basil Brush

When someone loses without scoring a point, they are said to have been "brushed" or given the basil brush.

Baskin-Robbins

A throw with a total score of 31.

Baz

A darter with random and sporadic throwing ability.

Bed

A section of a number, usually referring to a double or triple.

Beehives

Cockney rhyming slang for "two fives".

Big Fish

A score of 170 to end a leg (triple-20, triple-20, inner bull) (See also: Maximum check-out)

Bounce out

When a dart bounces back off the board, usually after hitting a wire.

Break

Winning a leg as the player to go second at the start of that leg. Analogous to the usage of the term in tennis.

Breakfast (or bed 'n' 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 sector (which contains the highest scoring area on the board) will often accidentally hit the 1 and the 5 sectors, 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). Hitting the treble of each number is known as a champagne breakfast: Triple 20, triple 5 and triple 1.

Brimful of Asha (Brimful)

A score of 45. Taken from the chorus of the song "Brimful of Asha" by Cornershop ("Brimful of Asha on the 45").

Bucket (or bag) of nails

Landing all three darts in the 1. This is also known as "The Eric Bristow", who once scored three 1s in a televised tournament.

Buckshot

A throw when darts land wildly all over the board.

Bull calf

The number 33.

Bull-off

See diddle for the middle.

Bull-up

See diddle for the middle

Bullseye (or bull)

The centre of the board. (see also: single-bull and double-bull)

Bunting

Throwing darts while kneeling.

Bust

In an x01 game, hitting more points than needed to win, reaching a score of 1, or reaching zero by hitting anything other than a double or the bull. The darts do not count, the rest of the turn is forfeited, and the player begins their next turn on their prior score. A variant is the Northern Bust, in which the player's score is reset to whatever it was immediately before the last dart they threw.

C

C

In a game of cricket this refers to high scores based 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.

Carpentry darts

Darts thrown such that they miss the board entirely and hit a wooden frame which is holding the board to the wall. (See also: masonry darts)

Carolina Leaner

A player who leans as far over the oche as possible in an effort to reduce the distance of their throws. (American term)

Champagne Breakfast or Triple Jan Visser

Hitting triple 20, triple 1 and triple 5 in three darts. (See also breakfast)

Checkout

Scoring exactly the score that is left, to win the leg. A final double is required to win a leg in an x01 game.

Chucker

A player who just "chucks" the darts at the board and does not aim or care.

Circle it

When a player scores a single digit (less than 10) with three darts, their teammates 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. (See also: fish)

Clock

The dartboard itself, usually in the context of round the clock.

Conquistador

Going out with a bull/double bull.

Cork

The center 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.

Cover

Aiming for an alternate triple, usually 19, when a previously thrown dart is blocking the triple 20.

Cricket

Two distinct game variations. The American game is known by many different names, such as "Mickey Mouse", outside North America, where cricket refers to a different game, which is often called "Australian Cricket".

D

Daddy's bed, daddy's, daddy

See right church, wrong pew

Dairylea darts

A throw that is 'spread' around the board, named after the cheese spread Dairylea.

Devil

The triple-6, so called due to '666', and the fact that it is often hit in error when going for triple-13 or triple-10.

Devil's Finish

Checking out 25 (usually Single 9, Double 8), originated from a video of Ted Hankey playing.

Deming

When the dart lands on the other side of the wire of the area aimed for. Then yelling an expletive.

Destiny bull

When it is inevitable that bull will be hit. For the whole day after whoever achieves this must be referred to as 'bull'.

Diddle for the middle

A throw of a single dart to determine who throws first in the game by means of being closer to the bullseye. Also known as a "bull-off", "middle for middle", "corking" and "out for bull".

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, double-bull refers to the inner circle, which is commonly red and worth 50 points. (See also: bullseye and single-bull)

Double in

A variant of x01 in which a double is needed to start the game.

Double top

The double-20.

Double trouble

Not being able to hit the double needed to win the game.

Double Quincy

The double-7, named after Ajax player Quincy Promes.

Downstairs

The lower portion of the board, usually in reference to the 19s in a game of x01.

Dreaded

Hitting a 20, 1 and 5 in the same turn, coined by a group who play in the Prince Of Wales, Haslemere, Surrey.

E

Easy in

Same as straight in; a game that requires no special shot to begin scoring.

Egg and Chips

Scoring 26 in three darts, through scoring a 20, 1 and 5

F

Feathers

The number 33. Also may refer to flights, since early flights were made from feathers.

Fish

A score of nine or less, usually denoted by drawing a whale around the score on the scoreboard. (See also circle it and whale).

Fish and chips (or feed)

Hitting 20, 1, and 5 for 26. (see also breakfast)

Fogle

A series of castaway darts thrown with no other purpose than to irritate opponents.

Flights

The "wings" at the end of a dart that help it fly straight and land point first. Also known as feathers.

G

Game on

Called by the referee to advise all players that the match has now started.

Game shot

Called by the referee to signify that the leg winning double has been hit.

Goldilocks

Hitting the double next to the one being aimed for.

Granny

A loss without scoring, see shut out.

Greenpeace dart

The third dart thrown, when it manages to avoid scoring a FISH or a WHALE which was looking likely after the first two darts had been thrown. So called because the player is said to have "saved the fish" or "saved the whale".

H

Hat-trick

A score of three bullseyes. Also known as the Alan Evans shot, who scored three bulleyes during a match on numerous occasions.

He doesn't want it

A cry from the crowd in recognition of the fact that one of the players is struggling to successfully complete a leg.

High ton

A score equal to or greater than 150.

Hot toddy

Refers to a player who throws well despite intoxication.

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".

Ichigo-byo

In Japanese it means "Strawberry Disease" but taken apart it, the word strawberry: "ichigo" can mean 1 (ichi) and 5 (go). Japanese players use this term for when they aim at 20 but hit a 5 and a 1 along with the intended 20. It is equivalent to the English term breakfast.

Irish Ton

Two single 1s and a triple 1; ie: it would be worth 100 if it were five 20s instead of five 1s.

Iron Man

Going out with a double/double.

J

Jugging

Checking out while the opponent's score is 200 or greater. Based on a custom in social darts that requires a player defeated in this manner to drink a jug of beer without stopping.

K

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".

Lipstick

Usually refers to triple 20, as this portion of the board is commonly red in color and resembles an upper lip, but may refer to any red double or triple.

Low Ton

A score less than 150 but greater than 100.

Last Dart Dave

First two darts miss the mark, however, the last dart hits the intended target.

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 is 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.

Marker

A dart that has landed off target but very close, the dart is used as guide.

Martial Arts

Cockney rhyming slang for "darts".

Masonry darts

Darts thrown such that they miss the board entirely and hit the wall instead (i.e. even worse than carpentry darts).

Match dart

A dart thrown at a double to win the match.

Maximum

A score of 180

Maximum check-out

A score of 170 to end a game (triple-20, triple-20, inner bull)

McQuiggin's gold

An unorthodox finish to a game such as finishing 101 with (3, T20, D19), a cheeky (3, 8, D20), perhaps even a 113 outshot with (17, T20, D18) or other less popular routes. Also referred to as Maverick play. This kind of play was popularised by Belgian Erik Clarys, who used bizarre ways of checking out on televised events.

Meatball

Throwing the dart underhanded and backwards into the board.

Mickey Mouse

See cricket.

Middle for middle

See diddle for the middle.

Monger

A person who deliberately scores many more points than needed to win the game.

Mugs away

Loser of the previous game goes first in the next game.

Murphy

A score of single-5, single-20, single-1 in a game of x01. Based on Murphy's Law. (See also: breakfast) and Fish and chips (or feed)

N

Nail

Another word for 1. See also: bucket of nails and ton of nails.

Nine darter

When a player completes a game of 501 in nine throws, the minimum required to do so. This is a very rare event. There is usually a cash prize for professionals throwing a televised nine-darter.

Nish

When a player finishes with two singles of the same value.

No sense of humor

A traditional cry from opponents or spectators when a player deliberately switches to aiming at a different part of the board in order to avoid an embarrassing score such as a fish or a wanker's fifty.

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 (King Arthur & Dennis, in "Monty Python & the Holy Grail").

O

Oche

The line from behind which the players throw. They may stand on any portion of the oche and/or lean forward over it if desired, but no part of either foot may extend past the edge closer to the dartboard.

Out chart

A list of the optimal checkouts for all numbers from 2 to 170. Often provided with a newly purchased board or set of darts, in the form of a small printed card.

Out for bull

See diddle for the middle.

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY!

Called by the referee to announce that a player has scored a maximum.

P

Perfect game

See nine darter.

Perfect score

See maximum.

Perfect finish

See maximum check-out.

Popcorn

When the darts land so close to each other, they knock their flights out.

PPD

Average "points per dart" thrown. See also average.

Pub score

Achieved by hitting 20, 5 and 1, while aiming for the treble 20.

Pudding darts

Term used by the Dutch to describe a poor visit to the board.

Punting

The illegal act of touching the board with a dart's point after already retrieving it from the board.

Peg out

Australian term for hitting the required double to finish an 01 game.

Precious Mountain

Australian term when throwing the last dart in a win loss scenario.

Q

Quadro

A dartboard which was first manufactured in the 1990s. The board has an additional scoring ring located between the treble ring and the bullseye which is worth quadruple points. On this board the maximum score is 240, the highest outshot is 210 and a seven-dart finish is possible from a 501 start. It was used during the WDC UK Matchplay event, but thereafter it fell into disuse in tournament play. Harrows no longer manufactures the board.

R

Redeemer

A dart, (often a T20) that "redeems" two previous poor efforts.

Right church, wrong pew (or right house, wrong bed)

Term for hitting a double or triple, but the wrong number. Also known as daddy's bed.

Robin Hood

Throwing a dart into the shaft of another making it stick, sometimes splitting the flight. The darts not touching the board do not count for score.

Round nine

Throwing three triples that close (before being closed by opponent) or point in one turn in cricket.

Round the clock

Any of a number of game variants where players compete to be the first to hit all the sectors on the board in an agreed order, usually numerical finishing with the 20, although sometimes with the outer bull followed by the bull. In some versions hitting a double entitles the player to skip the next number, with a triple entitling the player to skip two numbers. Also commonly played by single players as a form of practice; also known as around the world.

S

Scroat

A dart that is aimed for triple 20, but ends up in double 20.

Scud

Aiming for something and hitting something else that either marks or points.

Scotch

Another name for a game of darts

Set

A scoring method used in many tournaments. The first player to win a specified number of legs (individual games) wins the set, and the first to win a specified number of sets wins the match.

Seeding

The placement of player(s) automatically in a tournament where some have to qualify, or automatic placement in later rounds.

Shaft

The part of a dart behind the barrel where the flights are mounted.

Shanghai

Hitting a single, double, and triple of the same number on one turn. Also refers to a game in which players throw at each number on the board in turn, scoring points, with the first player to hit a Shanghai being declared the winner. If no player achieves a Shanghai, then the player with the most points wins. In some variants of the game, achieving a Shanghai awards bonus points instead of an automatic win. Variations on the term include Little Shanghai (hitting a single, double, and triple of three different numbers), Big Shanghai or Shanghai Noon (single/double/triple 20), and Short Shanghai (single and double bull on one turn). Any such variation may be used to check out in a standard game, as long as the double is hit last.

Sharkey

A non-registered player who assumes a false identity in order to fill in for an absent player in a league game.

Shotgun blast

All three darts thrown at one time.

Shropshire Bull

A method of winning a non-competitive game in which the thrower declares his/her intent to check out by hitting only the bullseye and then does so.

Shut out

Losing a game without scoring any points.

Single-bull

On dartboards configured with a bullseye consisting of two concentric circles, single-bull refers to the outer circle, which is commonly green and worth 25 points. This is also known as the 'outer bull'. The inner circle is commonly red and worth 50 points. There is speculation to whether this is called the bullseye or indeed called the target. See also: bullseye and double-bull.

Skunked

Losing a game without scoring any points.

Slop

Darts that score, but not where you wanted them, also known as a scud.

Smoke Break

Another name for a game of darts.

Spider

The metal web that divides the dartboard into sections.

Splash

throwing two or more darts at the board at the same time. Hitting a scoring number that was not the intended target.

Spray and pray

Darts thrown aimlessly.

Spud

Another name for a game of darts.

Sticks

The darts themselves.

Straight in

A game that requires no special shot to begin scoring (also "straight off").

Straight out

A game that requires no special shot to finish a game. i.e. Players on 15 can hit the S15 to win instead of going S7, D4.

Striking Iraq

Hitting a double bull when diddling for the middle – comes from the Gulf War, when Iraq was being bombed, as Iraq has much oil. (See striking oil).

Striking oil

Hitting a double bull when diddling for the middle. So called because of the black centre to the bullseye of some modern dart boards.

T

Target

The centre of the board, though some call it the bullseye there is speculation to the real name.

That's darts

A widely used term by television commentators when something unexpected or extraordinary occurs during a game.

Three in a bed

Three darts in the same number, no matter double or triple.

Tin Hat

Getting beat in a game of double in, without hitting a starting double. Drawing a hat with a T in the losing players score when the game has ended, symbols getting ‘tin hatted’.

Throw line

See oche.

Toe line

See oche.

Ton 80

Three darts in the triple 20 which score 180 points; only in x01 games. See maximum.

Ton

A score of 100 in a game of x01. Scores over 100 would be called a "ton-whatever" for example, a ton-thirty would be a score of 130.

Ton of nails

A score of 5 where all three darts fell in the 1 bed with 1 dart in the triple 1.

Top banana, top of the shop, tops

Double 20. "Top banana" is an exclamation often used to mark a double-20 throw that wins a match.

Triple (or treble)

The thin inner ring of the board, it usually counts for three times the number hit.

Triple in, triple out

An x01 game that requires a triple throw to start and win.

Turkey

30 points.

U

Upstairs

The upper half of the board

V

Veg Patch

Usually refers to hitting the triple either side of the triple 20 (triple 1 or triple 5) but may refer to any green bed on the board.

Velocity

Refers to the speed at which a dart travels before hitting the board.

W

Wanker's fifty

Crude term for scoring 50 by hitting single 20, single 18 and single 12 with three darts, so called because often poor players achieve it when aiming for the triple 20.

Wanker's off

When the losing player starts the next leg - similar to Mugs away.

Wet feet (or paddling)

Standing too close to the board, i.e that is, in front of the oche.

Whale

A score of nine or less (i.e. averaging 3 or less per dart). Usually denoted by drawing a whale around the score on the scoreboard.

White horse

Scoring three triples in cricket on different numbers.

Wire

Darts that just miss where you aimed but on the other side of the spider.

Workin' man's darts

When a player closes a single number using all 3 darts in cricket.

External links

• The language of darts