onside

adj

1. (not-comparable)Not in an offside position; In the part of the playing area where one can legally play the ball, puck, etc.

   “The goal was allowed because the attacker was onside.”

   “After passing the puck, the center immediately breaks to the front of the net, making certain to stay onside.”

   “Rafael van der Vaart then stayed onside to slot past Paddy Kenny when he collected Ledley King's mis-hit shot.”

   “The difference in recovery percentage between surprise onside kicks and non-surprise onside kicks is striking.”

   “If the ball carrier you are doubling gets the ball through the lane, the rotation is as follows: The onside man who was denying his man the ball continues the same technique.”

2. (broadly, not-comparable, slang)Within bounds.

   “[Verse 2:Kano]:On-sight, thought he was onside, innit. Saw them guys, no shots fired innit. If you ain't real then don't ride, innit. That postcode, that's offside, innit.”

3. (not-comparable)On the side of a vehicle from which the driver, paddler, etc. propels it.

   “The toll plaza will consist of an administration building and 16 onside modern barrier-type toll boths, with provision for four additional toll booths should future traffic demand require them.”

   “No, there's no way I call up just for a chat, like 'Hi, Nigel, you've left your rear onside winker on!'”

   “Continue the rotation until your onside shoulder is pointing toward the bow and your onside arm is fully extended.”

   “For more advanced paddlers the boat can be steered back onto the onside stroke by putting a little offside edge on at the end of the stroke, thus reducing the need for cross-bow strokes.”

   “The reverse sweep turns the canoe sharply onside, reducing forward momentum. The solo paddler's body rotates onside with the onside shoulder turned towards the stern.”

4. (not-comparable)Favourably located, from the point of view of the player taking a finesse.

   “With A-Q-10 opposite x-x-x, you have a 24% chance of three tricks, both missing honors being onside. You have a 52% chance of two tricks, with one honor onside and the other offside. FInally, you have a 24% chance of making only one trick, when both the king and the jack are offside.”

5. (not-comparable)In agreement or support; on board.

   “There was a very delicate balancing act the whole time about measures that would keep the Unionists onside without upsetting the Nationalist-Republican community too much.”

noun

1. The portion of the playing area where one can legally play the ball, puck, etc.
2. The side of a vehicle on which the driver primarily propels it.

   “The cross-bow rudder uses the offside blade on the onside of the kayak.”