sparring

Everyday

1. In boxing and martial arts, sparring is practice fighting with a partner, using light hits and safety gear, to train, not to hurt. tree →
2. Sparring is also arguing in a friendly or not very serious way, trading quick clever remarks. tree →
3. (verb) To spar means to do that practice fighting, or to argue with someone. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and clubs such as karate or taekwondo, sparring has rules, gloves and head guards. In stories and news, politicians or friends "spar" with words. Phrases: "sparring partner" (someone you train or argue with often), "sparring session", "spar with".

Examples

• We have sparring practice at karate on Fridays. tree →
• You must wear a head guard for sparring. tree →
• The boxer's sparring partner helped him get ready. tree →
• The two friends enjoy sparring about football. tree →
• The leaders sparred on TV about taxes. tree →
• In taekwondo sparring, you score points for kicks. tree →
• Sparring is not real fighting; we stop when the coach says. tree →

Note

"Spar" doubles the r: sparred, sparring. A "spar" is also a pole on a ship's mast (a different word). Sparring partner can mean a friend you often argue with for fun.