plumbers and firemen

noun

A notional inferior level of competition that allowed past champions to excel.

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Meanings

noun
  1. derogatoryinformalball gamesA notional inferior level of competition that allowed past champions to excel.

Origin

Originated from a exchange in a 2022 episode of First Take. In response to a remark that Bob Cousy once had 29 assists in a game, JJ Redick responded, "well, he was being guarded by plumbers and firemen".

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Cite this entry
APA

plumbers and firemen. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plumbers%20and%20firemen

MLA

“plumbers and firemen.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plumbers%20and%20firemen. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “plumbers and firemen,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plumbers%20and%20firemen.

Source: plumbers and firemen on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.