league

Everyday

1. A group of sports teams or clubs that play matches against each other to see who is best. tree →
2. A level of quality: «He is not in the same league». tree →
3. A group of people or countries who join together for a shared aim. tree →
4. An old measure of distance, about three miles (about 5 kilometres). tree →

In the lessons

In sport and PE: «football league», «the top of the league», «league table» (a list that ranks teams by points — reading it uses addition and comparing numbers). In stories: «Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea» uses the old distance meaning. Phrases: «in league with» (working secretly with someone).

Examples

• Our team is top of the league. tree →
• She plays in a girls' football league. tree →
• We get three points for a win in our league. tree →
• Look at the league table to see who is winning. tree →
• That chess player is out of my league. tree →
• The pirates were in league with the guards. tree →
• In the old story, they walked seven leagues in one day. tree →

Note

Spelling trap: «league» ends in «-gue», said «leeg». Countable: a league, leagues. In a league table, teams with equal points are ranked by goal difference (goals for minus goals against).

In Jewish tradition

Here it means a treaty or friendly agreement between people or nations, and not a sports group.

Interpretation. Solomon and Hiram made a league of peace. Job's promise of being "in league with the stones of the field" is read as a picture of safety in nature for a righteous person.

Examples

• And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; and he shall come up and become strong, with a little nation. (Writings DAN.11.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. (Writings JOB.5.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together. (Prophets 1KI.5.26, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling trap: «league» ends in «-gue», said «leeg». Countable: a league, leagues. In a league table, teams with equal points are ranked by goal difference (goals for minus goals against).