# tackle

/ˈtækəɫ/ (US) · /tˈækəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tackle
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to deal with a problem

verb · CEFR B2

to start dealing with a difficult task or problem in a determined way.

For teachers: to undertake a task or confront a problem with significant effort or determination.

- The government needs to tackle the problem of rising house prices soon.
- The new CEO promised to tackle the systemic inefficiencies that had plagued the manufacturing division for over a decade.

Usage: Often used with abstract nouns like 'issue', 'problem', 'challenge', or 'crisis'.

### 2. to stop an opponent

verb · CEFR B1

to try to take the ball away from another player or knock them down in a game.

For teachers: to intercept an opponent in a contact sport to seize the ball or halt their progress.

- The defender managed to tackle the striker just before he could shoot.
- He was penalized for an illegal slide tackle that caught the opponent's ankle instead of the ball.

Usage: Transitive verb taking the player or the ball as the direct object.

### 3. a sports move

noun · CEFR B1

an act of trying to take the ball or stop a player in sports.

For teachers: the act of physically challenging or stopping an opponent in sports like football or rugby.

- That was a great tackle that saved the team from losing a goal.
- The referee reviewed the replay to determine if the tackle was made with excessive force.

### 4. fishing equipment

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the tools and equipment used for fishing, like rods, hooks, and lines.

For teachers: the collective equipment used in angling, including rods, reels, and lures.

- He spent the morning cleaning his fishing tackle before the trip to the lake.
- The shop specializes in high-end fly-fishing tackle, catering to serious enthusiasts who travel internationally for the sport.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to fishing gear.

### 5. lifting equipment

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a system of ropes and wheels used for lifting heavy objects.

For teachers: an assembly of ropes and blocks used to gain a mechanical advantage for lifting or pulling.

- The sailors used a block and tackle to lift the heavy sail into place.
- The construction crew rigged a complex tackle to hoist the generator onto the roof of the building.

Teaching tip: Commonly found in the fixed phrase 'block and tackle'.

## Examples

- I need to tackle my laundry before the weekend starts.
- The government has promised to tackle the housing crisis by building more affordable apartments in the city center.
- While the initial report identified several systemic failures, the committee must now tackle the more difficult challenge of implementing long-term structural reforms across the entire organization.

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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.