# nelson

/ˈnɛɫsən/ (US) · /nˈɛlsən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nelson
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. wrestling hold

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a move in wrestling where you put your arm under your opponent's arm and press your hand against their neck.

For teachers: a grappling hold in which a wrestler places their arm under the opponent's arm from behind and applies pressure to the neck or head.

- The wrestler won the match after trapping his opponent in a full nelson.
- The referee watched closely as the athlete applied a half nelson, ensuring the pressure remained within the legal limits of the competition.

Usage: Often specified as a 'full nelson' or 'half nelson' depending on the number of arms used.

### 2. cricket score

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Technical

a score of 111 in cricket, which some people believe is unlucky.

For teachers: a score of 111 runs achieved by a team or individual batsman, traditionally regarded as unlucky in cricketing superstition.

- The crowd went quiet when the team reached a nelson, fearing a wicket would fall.
- Superstitious fans often lift their feet off the ground when the scoreboard shows a nelson to ward off bad luck.

Teaching tip: This is a very specific cultural term used almost exclusively in cricket-playing nations like the UK and Australia.

## Examples

- He escaped the nelson before his shoulders touched the mat.
- The coach demonstrated how to apply a full nelson safely during the wrestling practice session.
- While the full nelson is a powerful controlling technique in amateur wrestling, it is often restricted or banned in certain youth divisions due to the risk of neck injury.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.