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In basketball, an assist is a pass that enables a teammate to score a basket. The term dime is used to refer to a type of assist or pass that leads to a basket for a teammate. The origin of the term is not readily known, but it is believed to have come from the phrase dropping a dime which dates back to when payphones were widely used and cost $0.10 to make a call. Dropping a dime was considered assisting someone in making a phone call, and this phrase eventually transitioned to basketball, where assisting a teammate in scoring was likened to helping them drop a dime. The term dime may also be related to the small size of the coin, implying that a precise pass has been made to a minute space.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Etymology | Likely dates back to the cost of pay phone calls being $0.10 or a dime in the past. This led to the phrase "dropping a dime" to describe assisting someone, including the police. |
| Other Theories | The phrase may also be related to the cost of a phone call, with people asking for a dime to make a call and thus being "assisted". Other terms like "passing on a dime", "turning on a dime", and other similar phrases refer to precision and quick action, characteristics of most assists in basketball. |
| Usage | "Dropping dimes" in basketball refers to a perfect pass or assist, often used to describe unselfish play that sets up a teammate for an easy score. |
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What You'll Learn
'Dropping dimes' is considered positive in basketball, but not in other contexts
In basketball, a dime is a pass that leads to an assist. An assist is recorded when a player passes the ball to a teammate, who then scores a basket. This requires good court vision and the ability to read the defence and anticipate the movements of teammates and opponents. While the exact origin of the term is unclear, it is thought to be related to the cost of a payphone call, which was $0.10 or "a dime" in the US. This led to the phrase ""dropping a dime", which meant assisting someone in making a phone call.
The term "dropping dimes" in basketball is considered positive, as it refers to a player's ability to make precise and timely passes that set up teammates for easy baskets. However, "dropping dimes" outside of basketball can have negative connotations. For example, it can be used to label someone as a "snitch" or someone who tells on another person. The phrase has also been used in the context of "dropping dimes to homeless persons", which may be considered derogatory.
The use of the term "dime" in basketball is an example of the specialised language or "lingo" that often develops within sports cultures. While it may confuse those who are not regular basketball watchers, it is part of the game and culture, and helps to create a sense of community among fans and players.
There are also other theories about the origin of the term "dime" in basketball. Some suggest it is related to other phrases that refer to precision, such as "passing on a dime", "turning on a dime", or "stopping on a dime". These phrases describe the quick and precise nature of assists in basketball. Another theory suggests that it originated from the Babylonian phrase "di-me", which means "pass me the rock so I can take it to the hole and dunk on these playahs".
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'Dropping a dime' can mean to snitch on someone
In basketball, a dime is a term used to refer to a type of pass that leads to an assist. An assist is recorded when a player passes the ball to a teammate, who then scores a basket. This pass should be accurate and timely, allowing the teammate to shoot in one fluid motion. The term "dropping dimes" refers to this act of assisting a teammate.
The phrase "dropping a dime" has a different meaning outside of basketball, however. It is used to describe an act of snitching or informing on someone, usually to the police. This usage of the phrase dates back to when pay phones cost $0.10 or one dime, and people would use these pay phones to call the police and provide information. This sense of the phrase is reflected in the Simpsons TV show and the Godfather movie.
The act of "dropping a dime" can also refer to making a phone call in general, as in the expression "drop me a dime," which means "phone me." This usage stems from the fact that a pay phone call used to cost a dime.
Thus, the phrase "dropping a dime" has multiple meanings, including making a precise pass in basketball, snitching to the police, and making a phone call.
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The term likely originated from pay phones, which cost 10 cents
The use of the term "dime" in basketball to refer to an assist likely originated from the days when pay phones were the primary means of communication. Back then, pay phone calls cost 10 cents, or a dime, and it was common for people to ask others for a dime to make a call. This act of requesting assistance or “dropping a dime” to make a phone call translated into basketball slang. When a player makes a precise and well-timed pass that assists a teammate in scoring, it is likened to providing them with the necessary dime for a phone call. This terminology is especially fitting given the small size of a dime, implying that the pass was accurately placed in a tight space.
The exact origins of this basketball slang are difficult to pinpoint, but it is believed to have emerged from urban slang, particularly in the East Coast region, including Philadelphia. The phrase "dropping a dime" was used to describe "assisting" the police in an investigation by making an anonymous call, likely due to the cost of pay phone calls. This phrase had negative connotations, suggesting that the person was acting as a snitch or informant. However, when applied to basketball, "dropping a dime" took on a more positive meaning, reflecting the positive act of assisting a teammate.
The term "dime" in basketball also aligns with the concept of precision and quick execution. Phrases like "dropping it on a dime," "turning on a dime," and "stopping on a dime" emphasize the swiftness and accuracy of an assist, similar to the agility of a car stopping on a dime-sized space. This analogy further reinforces the connection between the small size of the dime coin and the precise nature of a well-executed assist in basketball.
While the exact etymology of "dime" in basketball may be unclear, it is widely believed to be rooted in the cost of pay phone calls and the act of assisting someone in need of making a call. This slang term adds colour and creativity to the language of basketball, reflecting the cultural and linguistic nuances that evolve within the sport.
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'Drop a dime' can refer to a precise pass
The term "dropping dimes" in basketball is used to refer to a precise pass that assists a teammate in scoring a basket. While the exact origin of this phrase is not definitively known, there are several theories that relate it to the cost of a payphone call, which was $0.10 or a dime.
One theory suggests that the phrase originated from the idea of "dropping a dime" to make a phone call, which was a common expression when payphones were widely used. "Dropping a dime" in this context meant having the necessary change to make a call, and by extension, assisting someone in making a call. This phrase was then transferred to the basketball court, where assisting a teammate in making a basket became analogous to assisting someone in making a phone call.
Another theory relates the phrase to the idea of precision. Phrases like "dropping it on a dime," "turning on a dime," "at the drop of a dime," and "stopping on a dime" all refer to actions that are quick, precise, and done without hesitation. This characteristic of speed and accuracy is often associated with assists in basketball, where a quick and precise pass to a teammate enables them to score.
Some sources also suggest that the term may have originated from urban slang used to describe assisting the police in an investigation by making an anonymous call, which cost a dime. This usage of the phrase "dropping a dime" carried a negative connotation, labelling someone as a snitch or an informant.
In the context of basketball, "dropping dimes" has taken on a positive meaning, referring to a player's ability to make precise and effective passes that set up teammates for easy baskets. This type of pass requires good court vision, an understanding of defensive movements, and the ability to anticipate the actions of both teammates and opponents. Players who excel at making these "dime" passes are often lauded for their court awareness and passing skills.
While the exact etymology of the phrase may be difficult to pinpoint, "dropping dimes" in basketball has become a well-established part of the sport's culture and lingo, adding a layer of colour and creativity to the way we describe the game.
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The term may have originated from the 1971-72 basketball season
The term "dimes" in basketball refers to an "assist". A player draws multiple defenders towards themselves and then passes the ball to a teammate for an easy score. The passer is credited with an "assist" for this effort.
The term "dimes" may have originated from the 1971-72 basketball season. During this season, Bob Cousy had lost Oscar Robertson and gained Tiny Archibald. Cousy wanted Archibald to pass the ball more, so he promised to tip him every time he got an assist. However, Cousy, being notoriously cheap, only gave Archibald a dime for each assist. As a result, Archibald started calling assists "dimes" in honour of Cousy's cheapness.
The term "dropping dimes" also has origins in the phrase "drop a dime", which originally meant to ""snitch" on someone to the cops. Payphones cost 10 cents, or a dime, so it was like giving an "assist" to the police. Additionally, the phrase "passing on a dime" refers to making a precise pass to a minute space, similar to how automobiles were advertised as being able to "stop on a dime".
The term "dimes" may also be related to the cost of a phone call. A successful pass to a teammate who then scores is like "connecting with" that person, similar to how one would connect a phone line by feeding it dimes.
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Frequently asked questions
In basketball, a dime is a type of pass that leads to an assist.
There are several theories as to why assists are called dimes. One theory is that the term originated from the cost of a payphone call, which was $0.10 or a dime. "Dropping a dime" was considered assisting someone to make a phone call. Another theory suggests that the term comes from the phrase "passing on a dime", referring to a precise pass that lands in a minute space.
To perform a dime in basketball, a player must make an accurate and timely pass to a teammate who is in a position to score. This requires good court vision and the ability to read the movements of both teammates and opponents.
LeBron James is known for his ability to make dime passes and has consistently been one of the top assist leaders in the NBA. Other players may also be skilled at making dime passes, but it is difficult to confirm without specific data and statistics.
