Sport is riddled with very specific language used by those that play the game and darts is no different. Stepping into a bar during a darts league match or tuning in to watch the stars of darts on TV I can guarentee you will hear some of the terms and slang commonly used in darts I have listed below.
I have compiled an extensive list of darts terms and slang used in the UK and USA but I am sure there will be more used locally to you or in your native language. Feel free to drop me a comment on my social media if you hear or use darts slang I haven’t included.
118 COMMON DARTS TERMS AND DARTS SLANG
As mentioned I am sure I will have missed some darting nuances used by you or in your local darts comps but here are 118 darts slang terms that are commonly used:
ANNIE’S ROOM (or ANNIE’S HOUSE)
Double 1.
Often used as another word for darts, eg one friend in the pub says to the other “did you bring your arrows?”
ARCHER
Refers to a player who throws very quick smooth darts, like an archer’s arrow (also known as a ‘Derek’). A perfect example is “Rapid” Ricky Evans
BABY FISH
When a player finishes a game with a maximum score of 130. This must be done by scoring treble 20, single 20, double bull, with only three darts.
BABY TON
A score of 95, usually by scoring five 19s.
BAG O’ NUTS
A score of 45.
BARREL
The Tungsten or brass metal portion of the dart (where you grip the dart)
BASEMENT
The double-3.
BED
A section of a number / a scoring area of the board i.e. double bed, Treble bed
BIG FISH
When a player finishes a game with a maximum score of 170. This must be done by scoring treble 20, treble 20, double bull, with only three darts.
BOMBS / BOMBERS
Very large or heavy darts usually quite a short fatter barrel
BOUNCE OUT
Scoring dart falls out of the board or hits the wire and bounces off. The dart doesn’t score any points in steel tip darts but in some soft-tip darts where the board registers pressure the score will count.
BREAKFAST / BED & BREAKFAST
A score of 26, made up of a single-5, single-20, single-1 in a game of x01. This is a common score in darts because players aiming for the 20 segment (which contains the highest scoring area on the board) will often accidentally hit the 1 and the 5 segments, which are located on either side of the 20. The term comes from the typical price of a bed-and-breakfast in times gone by: 2 shillings and sixpence, or “two and six”.
BUCKET/BAG OF NAILS
Landing all three darts in the 1’s.
BUCKSHOT
A throw when darts land wildly all over the board much like the buckshot used in duck hunting.
BULL-OFF
When deciding which player throws first in the match they throw one dart at the bullseye with the closest to the bull starting the match.
BULL-UP
Another expression for deciding the order of play in a match by throwing 1 dart at the bullseye.
BULL-OUT
Winning a game with a double bull score of 50 points
BULLSEYE (or BULL)
The centre of the board. (see also: “SINGLE-BULL” and “DOUBLE-BULL”) Score of 50
BUST
Hitting more than you needed in a game of x01. The darts do not count and the player begins their next turn on the same score
C
In a darts Cricket game this refers to high scores base on the number of darts scored. For example a triple-20, single-20, single-20 would be called a C-5 because “5 darts” were scored with three darts.
CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST
Hitting treble 20, treble 1 and treble 5 in three darts (see “BREAKFAST”)
CHAMPAGNE FINISH
A big checkout usually at a crucial point of the game. The checkout will usually feature one, two, or on the rarest of occasions three bullseyes in the combination.
CHALKING
Keeping score / marking the game and refers to a person writing the scores on the scoreboard usually situated to the left of the dartboard providing a visual record of the progress down from the starting score of 501
CHECKOUT
Total number of points scored by a player in their final visit to the oche in which a player wins the leg, with all legs having to finish on a double or the bullseye
CHIPS
A score of 26. (See also: “BREAKFAST /BED & BREAKFAST”)
CHUCKER
Describes a player who (seemingly) just “chucks” the darts at the board, doesn’t seem to aim or care.
CIRCLE IT
When a player scores a single digit (less than 10) with three darts, his team-mates would shout out “Circle it!” to the scorekeeper to highlight the terrible throw. A variation on this tradition is to draw a fish around the score, often leading to aquarium-related jokes being aimed at particularly poor or unlucky players.
CLOCK
Description of the dartboard itself, usually in the context of the game of “ROUND THE CLOCK”.
COMBINATION FINISH
Checkout which requires use of two or three perfectly aimed darts rather than just one dart at a double segment.
CORK
The centre of the dartboard from the cork in the end of a keg when ends of kegs were used for targets in the game’s early days.
Name given to the condition whereby a dart player is unable to release his / her dart during a throw.
DEVIL
The treble-6, so called due to the 3 sixes in ‘666’ commonly seen as the number of the devil.
DIDDLE FOR THE MIDDLE
Another term for determining the first person to throw in a match, also known as a “BULL OFF”, “MIDDLE FOR MIDDLE” and “OUT FOR BULL”.
DINKY-DOO
A rhyming slang term for the score of 22.
DOUBLE
The outer scoring ring of the board. In standard x01 games, a double counts for two times the number hit.
DOUBLE-BULL
On most steeltip dartboards the centre ring consists of two inner circles, with the outer circle green in colour and worth 25 points and the inner circle red in colour and worth 50 points. Hitting the innermost ring of this type of bullseye is sometimes called a “DOUBLE-BULL” but more commonly used in the game of darts cricket. (See also: “BULLSEYE”)
DOUBLE IN (DI)
A variant of x01 in which a double must be thrown before a player starts to score in the game.
DOUBLE OUT (DO)
A double of a number (or the bullseye) must be thrown to win a game of ‘x01
DOUBLE TOP
The term used by players and commentators for the double-20.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Not being able to hit the double needed to win the game. Often double trouble will see players end in the “Madhouse”
DOWNSTAIRS
The lower portion of the board, usually in reference to the 19s in a game of x01 when a player has blocked access to the treble 20 or when scoring on 19s will give access to a finnish.
EASY IN
A game that requires no special shot to begin scoring. Not commonly used
FAT
The largest portion of a number on the dartboard, the area between the double and triple ring.
FEATHERS
The ‘feathers’/ Flights of the dart which makes the dart more aerodynamic dating back to times when the flights were actually made from feathers of a bird (usually turkey feathers). Also used for a score of 33
FISH, CHIPS AND PEAS
Also used to describe a score of 33
The “wings” at the end of a dart that make it fly straight. Also known as feathers.
GAME ON
Term typically used by the mc or “caller” to advise all players that the match has now started
GAME SHOT
Used by the referee to signify that the leg winning double has been hit
GARDEN GATES
A Score of Eighty-Eight.
GOOD GROUP
A compliment for tight, accurate throwing whereby the 3 darts thrown are very close together in the board
GRAND SLAM
Hitting the T5, T20 & T1 in one throw also known as the champagne breakfast.
GRANNY
A loss without scoring, see SHUT OUT cricket game
HAIL MARY
The lucky third dart that lands in a high treble where the first two darts scored low single numbers
HAT TRICK
Hitting three bullseyes in a single throw.
HIGH TON
Scoring between 151-180 points in a game of x01
HOCKEY
The throw or Toe line in darts when ‘Oche’ is pronounced as Hockey
ISLAND
The scoring area of a dart board (inside the doubles ring). Missing this area entirely is sometimes referred to as “Off the island”.
KELLY’S EYE
Terminology also used in calling Bingo numbers referring to Kelly’s eye. It comes from the book hero Tim Kelly, who wore a jewel called the Eye of the Zoltec around his neck which protected him from harm. Hence Kelly Eye!.
KILLER
A darts game variant where a number of players “own” a number on the dartboard and compete to build up “lives” (by hitting that number). Usually players have to hit 6 of their number before attempting to “kill” other players by removing the lives they have built up by hitting their numbers. The game plays down until a single player is left.
LEG
One game of a match, typically 501. Darts matches are made up of a number of sets, each of which is split into legs, or a fixed number of legs that need to be won.
LIPSTICK
Name given to the treble twenty made famous by Geordie darts commentator Sid Waddell. Also the nickname for former BDO world champion and PDC tourcard holder Christian Kist
LITTLE / SMALL
The single scoring section of the numbers on a dartboard between the bull and the triple
LOW TON
Scoring between 100-150 points in a game of ’01
MAD HOUSE
The double-1. Used because it can drive you mad trying to hit double one in a game of x01 due to the fact that hitting a single busts the score unlike the other numbers on the board.
MAXIMUM
A score of 180 in 501 darts (and other x01 variants such as 301)
MAXIMUM CHECK-OUT
A score of 170 to end a leg of darts. Also known as the big fish where the player scores treble-20, treble-20, inner bull to checkout
MOTOWN
Scoring 44 finish i.e single 4 and double 20 (tops). This refers to the ‘Four Tops’ music group that were associated with the Motown Music label
MUGS AWAY
Loser of the previous game goes first in the next game.
OCHE
The throw line you stand behind and to throw the darts. (pronounced ‘Hockey’)
PERFECT GAME
Fewest possible number of darts used to win a leg of darts 501 – 9 darts
PERFECT SCORE
When a player scores a maximum 180 points in one throw of three darts. More commonly used in American English
POINTS
Despite points being scored by each throw in darts this term is used to describe, point or tip of the dart. Darts and dartboards are referred to as steel tipped or soft tipped.
When you throw a dart into the shaft of another dart resulting in no points being scored
ROUTE 66
Scoring 66 points in a throw.
ROUND THE CLOCK
Describes the darts game variants where players compete to be the first to hit all the segments on the board in an agreed order (usually numerical) finishing with the bullseye. Sometimes referred to as around the world.
SHAFT / STEM
The part of a dart behind the barrel into which the flights are mounted.
SHANGHAI
A score of a single, double and triple in the same number. “Shanghai” commonly refers to a checkout of 120 (single, treble and double 20).
SHOOTER
American term describing dart thrower whose turn it is
SHUT OUT
When you lose a game without ever scoring in it. This is a very rare feat in 501 darts but does happen when double in is played, for example at the PDC World Grand Prix.
SINGLE BULL
Refers to the outer circle of the bullseye on dartboards. Most commonly known as 25 which is the value of this section. (See also: “BULLSEYE”)
SLOP / SLOPPY DARTS
Darts that score, but not where you were aiming
SPIDER or WEB
The wires of a dartboard which divides the various scoring segments of the board.
SPLITTING THE SCORE
Deliberately throwing a dart into a single number in order to leave a preferred double on which to finish. Often players will “split” on a finish of 38 as this is seen as a hard double to hit, and by landing in the single and odd number is left.
STACKER
Dart landing on top and touching a previous dart thrown forming a stacked effect. Players with a flat throw such as Gian van Veen and Keene Barry are stackers due to the angle of entry.
STRAIGHT IN / SINGLE IN / STRAIGHT OFF
A game of darts that requires no special shot to begin scoring.
SUNSET STRIP
A Score of 77
SWAN LAKE
A Score of 22
THREE IN A BED
Three darts in the same number.
THROW LINE
The line you stand behind when throwing the darts. Also known as the ‘Oche’ Line or Toe Line.
TOE LINE
The line you stand behind when throwing the darts. Also known as the ‘Oche’ Line / Throw Line.
TON
A score of 100 in a game of x01.
TON PLUS
Scoring 100+ points in a throw (Ton 40 would be 140 points)
The double 20 section of the board.
TOPS
The double 20 section of the board
TRIPLE / TREBLE
The thin inner ring of the board which counts for three times the number hit.
TROMBONES
Scoring 76 points in a throw.
TWO & SIX
Scoring 26 points in a throw (Old English money term)
TWO FAT LADIES
Scoring 88 points in a throw also used in bingo
UNDER STACKER
Dart landing underneath and touching a previous dart thrown forming an ‘under stacking’ effect.
UPSTAIRS
The upper portion of the board, usually in reference to the 20s.
VARIETIES
A score of 57. References the Heinz 57 Varieties seen on products like tomato ketchup
WEB
Web is another term used for the Spider or wiring on a dartboard. This is the wire in the dartboard which separates the individual scoring areas.
WHITE HORSE
White horse is used in a game of Cricket and refers to scoring (or opening) 3 different triples that have not been scored or opened by other players.
WILSON
Used in the USA for a situation where a darts player misses with all three darts on a game of Cricket.
WIRING
Wiring a dart means throwing a dart which lands just on the wrong side of the wire of the board, for example touching the outside of double 20 when going for a 40 finish.
Darts Bingo Card
Next time you tune in to watch darts on TV you might like to see how many of the 118 darts terms and darts slang you hear the commentators say. I am sure you will hear a good few mentioned!
When watching darts with friends why don’t you make a bingo card for your favourite ones and see who gets closest to bingo!