won the toss

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "won the toss" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of sports, particularly in games like cricket or football, to indicate that a team or player has successfully won the initial coin flip that determines which team will start with the ball or choose their side of the field. Example: "The captain of the home team won the toss and decided to bat first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Berry won the toss.

The New York Times

Hewlett won the toss.

The Guardian - Business

Governor Romney, you won the toss.

The New York Times

And Sri Lanka have won the toss.

The Guardian - Sport

Barça won the toss: Tataclysm, my arse!

The Guardian - Sport

— BEN ROTHENBERG Williams won the toss and elected to serve.

The New York Times

— BEN ROTHENBERG Azarenka won the toss and elected to receive.

The New York Times

Berdych won the toss and elected to serve.

The New York Times

War Admiral won the toss and pole position.

Encyclopedia Britannica

England won the toss and chose to bat first.

The New Yorker

Bangladesh have won the toss and will bat.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on sports events, use "won the toss" to clearly and concisely indicate which team gained the initial advantage. This phrase is widely understood in sports reporting and provides immediate clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that winning the toss guarantees victory. Winning the toss only provides an initial advantage; the ultimate outcome depends on the team's performance throughout the game.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "won the toss" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of winning a coin toss or similar selection process, typically at the beginning of a sporting event. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "won the toss" is a commonly used and grammatically correct verb phrase that describes the act of winning a preliminary coin flip in sports, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for reporting game outcomes. While it indicates an initial advantage, it doesn't guarantee overall victory. Alternative phrases like ""secured the toss"" or ""claimed the toss"" can be used for variety, but "won the toss" is the most direct and widely understood way to express this concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secured the toss

Replaces "won" with "secured", emphasizing the act of obtaining or ensuring possession of the toss.

claimed the toss

Replaces "won" with "claimed", suggesting a formal assertion of winning the toss.

prevailed in the toss

Uses "prevailed" instead of "won", offering a more formal and emphatic tone.

was victorious in the toss

Substitutes "won" with "was victorious", creating a more descriptive and celebratory tone.

came out on top in the toss

Emphasizes the outcome of the toss, highlighting the achievement of winning.

triumphed in the toss

Replaces "won" with "triumphed", adding a sense of overcoming a challenge.

gained the advantage in the toss

Focuses on the benefit gained from winning the toss, shifting the emphasis from the win itself.

took the toss

A shorter, more direct way of saying "won the toss", suitable for informal contexts.

succeeded in the toss

Replaces "won" with "succeeded", highlighting the successful outcome of the coin flip.

emerged victorious from the toss

Highlights the process and the resulting victory, adding a narrative element.

FAQs

What does "won the toss" mean in sports?

In sports, "won the toss" means a team has won the coin flip or similar procedure used to determine which team gets to choose an option, such as serving first or which side of the field to start on.

How to use "won the toss" in a sentence?

You can say, "The home team "secured the toss" and elected to bat first" or "Our team "claimed the toss" and chose to receive."

Is it always beneficial to "win the toss"?

While winning the toss provides an initial advantage, it doesn't guarantee victory. The strategic value depends on the sport, field conditions, and team strengths.

What are some alternative ways to say "won the toss"?

Alternatives include "prevailed in the toss", "was victorious in the toss", or "gained the advantage in the toss", each emphasizing different aspects of the outcome.