rib-tickler

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A ball bowled short of a length that bounces up higher than expected and strikes the batter in the ribs.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “rib-tickler” mean?

A ball bowled short of a length that bounces up higher than expected and strikes the batter in the ribs.

Is “rib-tickler” formal or informal?

rib-tickler is generally slang.