chop block
noun
American football
: a dangerous and illegal block aimed at the legs and especially knees of another player
Smith is probably the victim of more chop blocks than any defender in the league.
Rick Telander
Rick Telander chop-block
ˈchäp-ˌbläk 
transitive verb chop-blocked; chop-blocking; chop-blocks
Early in the fourth quarter of Kansas City's 26-10 win over Denver … Chiefs defensive tackle Chester McGlockton became enraged after being chop-blocked by Lepsis. Michael Silver
Michael Silver 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Panthers were flagged for a chop block by Tejan Koroma, formerly of BYU, on the play in any event. Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2022 Cole Fenske rushed it in from 4 yards away for a score, and Rice Lake appeared to get the 2-point conversion on a rush from Elliot Nolan but was flagged for a chop block. Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 Nov. 2021 But after a chop block penalty pushed Western Kentucky back, UTSA’s Clarence Hicks ended the night with the defensive spark the Roadrunners were searching for. Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Oct. 2021 In the fourth quarter, running back Isaiah Jacobs was called for a chop block, which wiped away Tagovailoa’s game-tying 41-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr. Ryan Mcfadden, baltimoresun.com, 18 Sep. 2021 The officials called a 15-yard chop block penalty on Casteel for that second down play, pushing the Colts back to the 18. Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2021 Davay Hill put his 220 pounds in the end zone from there, but it was called back on a chop block. Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2021 Keenan had his season cut short by a late-season chop block. al, 13 Dec. 2020 Then running back Gus Edwards couldn’t make a clean chop block on Dupree, giving him a free shot at Jackson. Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 6 Nov. 2020 See More
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2022 Cole Fenske rushed it in from 4 yards away for a score, and Rice Lake appeared to get the 2-point conversion on a rush from Elliot Nolan but was flagged for a chop block. Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 Nov. 2021 But after a chop block penalty pushed Western Kentucky back, UTSA’s Clarence Hicks ended the night with the defensive spark the Roadrunners were searching for. Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Oct. 2021 In the fourth quarter, running back Isaiah Jacobs was called for a chop block, which wiped away Tagovailoa’s game-tying 41-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr. Ryan Mcfadden, baltimoresun.com, 18 Sep. 2021 The officials called a 15-yard chop block penalty on Casteel for that second down play, pushing the Colts back to the 18. Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2021 Davay Hill put his 220 pounds in the end zone from there, but it was called back on a chop block. Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2021 Keenan had his season cut short by a late-season chop block. al, 13 Dec. 2020 Then running back Gus Edwards couldn’t make a clean chop block on Dupree, giving him a free shot at Jackson. Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 6 Nov. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
1954, in the meaning defined above