Dart Lingo
A mostly useful guide to what dart players are talking about.
Proper Dart Talk
The terms that actually mean something on league night. Learn these and the scoresheet stops being a mystery.
Match basics
OcheStandard
The throwing line. Your feet stay behind it while you throw.
Every turn.
“Toe up to the oche — not over it.”
VisitStandard
One turn at the board, normally up to three darts.
Scoring and commentary.
“Nice visit — 100 scored.”
LegStandard
One complete game, usually from 501 down to exactly zero.
League and tournament scoring.
“One leg down; next one starts fresh.”
SetStandard
A group of legs used in some match formats.
Longer tournament formats.
“Win enough legs and you take the set.”
MatchStandard
The overall contest between players or teams, made up of the required games or legs.
Schedules and results.
“That leg was close; the match isn't over.”
Double InStandard
A format where you must hit a double before your scoring starts.
Some 01 formats.
“Still on 501 until that first double lands.”
Double OutStandard
A format where the final dart must land in a double.
Standard 501 finishing.
“Sixteen left? Double 8 gets you out.”
Straight InStandard
Scoring starts immediately; no opening double is required.
Normal 01 play in many leagues.
“First dart counts. Away you go.”
Chalker / ScorerCommon term
The person recording the score and remaining total.
League night.
“Be kind to your chalker. They know what you actually scored.”
Bull-off / Diddle for the MiddleCommon term
Throwing at the bull to decide who starts.
Before some matches or deciders.
“Closest to the bull gets first throw.”
The board
Bullseye / Inner BullStandard
The very centre of the board, worth 50 points.
Scoring and finishes.
“Fifty left? Bull will do nicely.”
Outer BullStandard
The ring around the bullseye, worth 25 points.
Scoring and practice.
“Outer bull — 25.”
DoubleStandard
The thin outside scoring ring, worth twice the number.
Finishing a leg.
“Double 20 is worth 40.”
Treble / TripleStandard
The thin inner scoring ring, worth three times the number.
Scoring.
“Treble 20 scores 60.”
BedCommon term
One scoring section of a number — especially a particular double or treble section.
Grouping and slang.
“All three landed in the same treble bed.”
Spider / WireCommon term
The metal dividers that separate scoring sections.
Bounce-outs and close misses.
“Right on the wire. Naturally.”
BarrelStandard
The weighted metal body of the dart — the part you grip.
Talking equipment.
“Same player, new barrels, seventeen opinions.”
Shaft / StemStandard
The section between the barrel and the flight.
Talking equipment and repairs.
“Loose shaft? Tighten it before blaming the board.”
FlightStandard
The fins at the back of the dart that help stabilize it in the air.
Talking equipment.
“Flights do eventually become a consumable item.”
PointStandard
The steel tip that enters the board on a steel-tip dart.
Equipment and board wear.
“Point first is generally the preferred arrival method.”
Scoring and finishing
Checkout / FinishStandard
Taking your remaining score to exactly zero to win the leg, normally ending on a double.
End of a leg.
“Forty left means you're on a finish.”
BustStandard
A visit that doesn't count because you score more than you have left, leave 1, or reach zero without finishing on the required double. Your score goes back to what it was before the visit.
Finishing.
“Needed 32, hit 40 — bust. Back to 32 next visit.”
LeaveCommon term
The score you have remaining after a visit.
Checkout planning.
“That 60 leaves 40 — tops next time.”
Setup ShotCommon term
A dart or visit used to leave a preferred finishing number rather than simply chase the biggest score.
Checkout strategy.
“Don't just score — leave yourself something friendly.”
Cover ShotCommon term
Switching to another treble because your preferred target is blocked.
High scoring.
“T20 blocked? T19 is the usual cover.”
Maximum / 180Standard
The highest possible three-dart score: three treble 20s.
Scoring and stats.
“Three in T20 — 180.”
TonCommon term
A score of 100 in one visit.
Scoring calls.
“Ton! Nice solid visit.”
Three-dart AverageStandard
Average points scored per three darts over a leg, match, or longer period.
Player statistics.
“Averages tell more of the story than one hot visit.”
Bogey NumberCommon term
A score below 170 that cannot be finished in one three-dart visit.
Board management.
“169 looks impressive until you remember you can't take it out.”
Nine-darterStandard
Finishing 501 in the minimum possible nine darts.
Professional darts and rare league magic.
“The perfect leg. We will also accept 'ridiculous'.”
Throwing and match play
Marker DartCommon term
A dart sitting close to the target that gives the next dart a useful visual reference.
Grouping and doubles.
“First one's a good marker — follow it.”
Break of ThrowCommon term
Winning a leg when your opponent threw first.
Competitive match commentary.
“That's a break — now hold your own throw.”
Hold ThrowCommon term
Winning a leg when you had the first throw.
Competitive match commentary.
“Break them, then hold. Easier said than done.”
Match DartCommon term
A dart at a finishing double that would win the whole match.
Pressure finishes.
“This is a match dart. No pressure whatsoever.”
GroupingStandard
How closely your darts land together.
Practice and coaching.
“Good grouping in the 5 is still good grouping. Sort of.”
Bounce-outStandard
A dart that hits the board, wire, or another dart but does not stay in; it scores nothing.
Any match.
“Looked perfect for half a second. Then the floor scored it.”
Things You'll Hear Around the Oche
Slang, nicknames and the things people say after a dart does something unhelpful. Some of it is universal, some of it belongs to one pub in one town, and a fair bit of it changes meaning depending on who is throwing.
Heard just about everywhere
Standard darts slang and phrases you will hear on almost any league night.
Three in a BedCommon
All three darts land in the same scoring bed.
Most famously three T20s for 180, but it can be any single, double or treble bed.
“Three in the bed — somebody's buying a frame for that grouping.”
Banging the NeighbourSCDL/local + community usage
You aim at one number but hit the number immediately beside it instead.
Going for D20 and landing in D5 or D1; or T20 and finding T1/T5.
“Quit banging the neighbour and go home to the 20.”
Right Church, Wrong PewCommon / variable usage
You find the correct number but the wrong scoring section — or, in some usage, the right type of bed on the wrong number.
Aiming T20 and hitting S20; usage varies a bit by league.
“Right church. Wrong pew. Still technically in the building.”
Right House, Wrong BedCommon / variable usage
A close miss where the dart reaches the right general area but not the bed you wanted.
Useful after a near miss on a double or treble.
“Right house, wrong bed — we've all had evenings like that.”
Robin HoodCommon
A dart sticks into the shaft or flight of a dart already thrown instead of reaching the board.
Rare, dramatic, and normally worth no points for the second dart.
“Great photo. Terrible scoring strategy.”
TopsVery common
Double 20.
When 40 remains.
“Forty left — tops.”
MadhouseVery common
Double 1, or being left in the awkward area around one and D1.
Usually after a string of missed doubles.
“Welcome to the madhouse. Population: anyone stuck on D1.”
Big FishVery common
The 170 checkout: T20, T20, bull.
The highest possible standard checkout.
“Big fish on the hook. Now just reel in two trebles and a bull. Simple.”
ShanghaiVery common
A single, double and treble of the same number in one visit.
Can happen in scoring, checkout routes, or the game called Shanghai.
“One of each — tidy little Shanghai.”
Pub ScoreCommon / regional
Usually 26 from 20, 5 and 1 while aiming around T20.
A familiar recreational score.
“The famous 26 — known in every pub for reasons nobody is proud of.”
Bail Out / RedeemerCommon
A strong final dart rescues two weak opening darts.
For example, two low singles followed by T20.
“First two were scouting darts. Third one found the building.”
Slop / FalloutCommon / regional
You score well somewhere you were not actually aiming.
A lucky treble next door still counts.
“Completely intentional. Please don't inspect the original target.”
LipstickCommon commentary slang
Treble 20.
Usually heard in British-style commentary.
“Straight into the lipstick.”
ArrowsCommon UK slang
Another word for darts.
British pub and commentary usage.
“Grab your arrows. League night awaits.”
Double TroubleCommon
Getting stuck because the finishing double refuses to cooperate.
End of a leg.
“Scoring was easy. Apparently doubles require a separate subscription.”
Upstairs / DownstairsCommon
The upper or lower areas of the dartboard.
Switching targets, especially 20s to 19s.
“T20 blocked? Head downstairs to the 19s.”
DevilCommon
Treble 6, because three sixes make 666.
Usually when T6 appears accidentally or deliberately.
“Found the devil. Wasn't looking for him.”
Tough DartsCommon
A sympathetic comment after a very close or unlucky miss.
Wiring a double or suffering a bounce-out.
“That was right there. Tough darts.”
That's DartsCommon
The standard response when something ridiculous, unlucky or inexplicable happens.
Basically any league night.
“Wire the double, bounce out, then hit it by accident next visit? That's darts.”
Good MarkerCommon
The first dart sits close enough to the target to guide the next one.
Usually at doubles or trebles.
“Good marker. Now just do the same thing only slightly better.”
Older pub slang
Traditional pub and score-calling nicknames. Still fun; not always still in daily use.
Bed and Breakfast / BreakfastCommon / older
A 26 made with 20, 5 and 1.
Classic T20 miss pattern.
“Twenty, five, one. Breakfast is served.”
Champagne BreakfastCommon / older
The treble version of breakfast: T20, T5 and T1.
A spectacularly upgraded 26-shaped visit.
“Same neighbourhood, considerably fancier breakfast.”
Regional and variable usage
These change from league to league. Say them if they fit your room, but do not expect everyone to agree on the meaning.
Bag of NailsRegional / older
Three single 1s for a total of 3.
One of those visits that deserves a very quick walk back from the board.
“Three ones. Efficient use of almost none of the board.”
Wet Feet / PaddlingRegional / older
Standing over the throwing line.
When somebody's toe starts exploring forbidden territory.
“Dry your feet and get behind the oche.”
Mugs AwayRegional / older
The loser throws first in the next game or leg, depending on the house format.
Casual or traditional play.
“Mugs away — at least losing gets you first throw.”
Hat TrickVariable usage
Three bulls in one visit; exact bull requirements can vary by game or local usage.
Bull-heavy practice or soft-tip/Cricket circles.
“Three bulls — tip of the cap.”
Black Hat / Black EyeVariable / regional
Often used for three inner bulls in one visit.
Bull-heavy games; usage can vary.
“Three dead-centre bulls. That's allowed to feel smug.”
BasementRegional / older
Double 3 at the bottom of the board.
When 6 remains.
“Six left — down to the basement.”
Baby TonRegional / older
A score of 95 in one visit.
Score-calling slang.
“Ninety-five — apparently the ton brought its kid.”
TrombonesRegional / older
A score of 76.
Traditional score-calling humour.
“Seventy-six trombones. The marching band is optional.”
Bag of NutsRegional / older
A score of 45.
Traditional score nickname.
“Forty-five — bag of nuts. No actual nuts awarded.”
CrackedRegional / older
Hitting the single when you were aiming at the double.
Near-miss on a checkout.
“Cracked it. Unfortunately not in the useful sense.”
Circle ItRegional / older
A joking instruction to highlight a very low visit on the score sheet.
Traditionally used for a score under 10 in some circles.
“Seven? Circle it so future generations can study the event.”
Dairylea DartsRegional / obscure
A visit scattered around the board rather than grouped together.
When all three darts appear to have independent travel plans.
“Nice spread. Shame we're playing darts, not serving cheese.”
Cricket-specific
Terminology from Cricket rather than ordinary 501 play.
White HorseCricket-specific
Three trebles on three different Cricket numbers in one visit.
Cricket, not ordinary 501 terminology.
“Three different trebles — that's a white horse.”