ref

Everyday

1. (informal) A ref is a referee, the official who makes sure players follow the rules in games like football, rugby, boxing and basketball. tree →
2. (informal, verb) To ref a game means to referee it. tree →
3. Ref is a short form of reference: a number or code used to find a letter, order or document ("Ref: 4471"), or a reference that says what a person is like. tree →

In the lessons

In sport talk and stories, players argue with the ref and fans shout "Come on, ref!". In letters, emails and forms, "Ref" or "Our ref" shows the reference number to quote. Phrases: the ref, ref's whistle, your ref, our ref, ref no.

Examples

• The ref blew his whistle for half-time. tree →
• "That was a foul, ref!" tree →
• My dad refs our Saturday football games. tree →
• Please quote our ref 5839 when you reply. tree →
• The ref gave him a yellow card. tree →
• I need a ref from my old teacher for the job. tree →

Note

Informal short form; the full words are referee and reference. Written with a capital in letters: "Ref:". Past: reffed (double f).