English Explanatory Dictionary

sport one's oak

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To close one's door (originally the outer door of one's set of rooms in a college) as an indication that visitors are not welcome.

Pronunciation

/ˌspɔːt wʌnz ˈəʊk/ /ˌspoɹt wʌnz ˈoʊk/ En-au-sport one's oak.ogg

Word forms

sport one's oak sports one's oak sporting one's oak sported one's oak sport the oak

Etymology

From sport (“(archaic) to close or shut (a door)”) and oak (“outer (lockable) door of a set of rooms in a college (especially of the University of Cambridge or University of Oxford) or similar institution, especially one made of oak wood”). Compare French trouver visage de bois (“to find no one at home”, literally “to find a wooden face (that is, the door)”).

Synonyms

sport timber

Related words

sporting door cut someone cold cut someone dead give someone the brush-off give someone the cold shoulder
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