“Smash and grab”

Definition

Soccer borrowed it to describe a team that runs the same play. Soak up the punishment, nick one goal, and bolt for the door. One team does all the attacking and makes all the chances. The other defends for their lives, scores once against the run of play, and escapes with all three points. Daylight robbery.

Origin

This one’s stolen from the world of crime, not soccer. The term dates back to the 1920s, describing a thief who smashes a shop window, grabs whatever is in reach, and bolts before the alarm stops ringing. It boomed during the depression of the 1930s and the name stuck around.

Used in a sentence

“We got battered for ninety minutes and still won 1-0. Total smash and grab.”