hit the post

USAGE SUMMARY

"hit the post" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used in sports contexts to describe a shot or kick that hits the goal post in a close miss. For example, "The striker hit the post with a powerful shot, narrowly missing the goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It hit the post.

Independent

Hidegkuti hit the post.

The Guardian - Sport

Wheldon's head hit the post.

The New York Times - Sports

The Penguins hit the post six times.

The New York Times - Sports

South Africa hit the post!

The Guardian - Sport

Myler's conversion hit the post.

The Guardian - Sport

Didier Drogba hit the post.

The Guardian - Sport

Ivan Rakitic hit the post.

The Guardian - Sport

3.23pm: Leicester hit the post!

The Guardian - Sport

Elias's first attempt hit the post.

The New York Times - Sports

31 min: City hit the post!

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hit the post", ensure the context clearly indicates a near miss or unsuccessful attempt, especially in sports writing. This phrase adds vividness to the description.

Common error

Avoid using "hit the post" in situations where a literal post is not involved. It's a sports-specific idiom, and its use in other contexts can sound awkward or confusing. For example, don't say "the project hit the post" to mean it failed; instead, use more appropriate phrases like "the project fell short".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hit the post" functions as a descriptive idiom, typically used in sports reporting and commentary. It describes a specific event—a ball or puck striking the goalpost—within a game. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hit the post" is a grammatically sound phrase predominantly used in sports contexts to describe a shot that narrowly misses scoring by striking the goalpost. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and common usage, supported by numerous examples from news and media sources. While it's a vivid and effective idiom in its specific domain, avoid using it in non-sports contexts to maintain clarity and appropriateness. Alternative phrases like "struck the upright" or "nearly found the net" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. The phrase's high frequency and consistent usage across reputable sources contribute to its reliability as a descriptive term in sports commentary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Struck the upright

Replaces 'post' with 'upright', a synonym in the context of sports goals, maintaining the literal meaning.

Kissed the woodwork

Uses a more figurative term ('woodwork') for the goal frame, adding a touch of color to the description.

Almost scored

Shifts focus from the action to the outcome, implying a near miss without specifying how.

Nearly found the net

Emphasizes the proximity to a successful goal, using 'net' as a synonym for 'goal'.

The shot rebounded off the post

Expands the description to include the result of hitting the post (rebounding), providing a more complete picture.

Came close to scoring

A more general way to indicate that a scoring opportunity was narrowly missed.

Was unlucky to hit the post

Adds a subjective element (unluckiness) to the event, highlighting the frustration of the near miss.

The ball deflected off the post

Focuses on the ball's trajectory and how it was altered by hitting the post.

Rimmed out

A more technical term, especially common in basketball, indicating a shot that rotates around the rim but doesn't fall in.

Met the iron

Refers to the goalpost, implying a shot that came extremely close to scoring but was ultimately unsuccessful.

FAQs

How is "hit the post" used in a sentence?

The phrase "hit the post" is used to describe an event where a ball or puck strikes the goalpost during a game, narrowly missing a score. For instance, "The striker’s shot was powerful, but it "hit the post" and bounced away".

What does it mean when a shot "hits the post"?

When a shot "hits the post", it means the ball or puck struck the vertical or horizontal bars framing the goal. It's a near miss, as a slight change in trajectory could have resulted in a score.

What are some alternatives to saying "hit the post"?

Alternatives include "struck the upright", "kissed the woodwork", or "nearly found the net", all indicating a close but unsuccessful attempt to score.

Is "hitting the post" the same as "hit the post"?

"Hitting the post" is the gerund or present participle form, often used to describe the action in progress or as a noun. "Hit the post" is the past tense form, describing a completed action. Both refer to the same event but are used in different grammatical contexts.