good sport
good sport — noun
1. a person who accepts defeat, disappointment, or unpleasant situations calmly and
a person who accepts defeat, disappointment, or unpleasant situations calmly and without complaining, getting angry, or behaving rudely.
After Arjun lost the spelling bee, he congratulated the winner warmly — he's such a good sport.
be a good sport — praised for accepting loss gracefully
Nellie's team lost badly, but she was a good sport about it and bought the other team drinks.
good sport about [something] — reacting well to disappointment
Walid was a good sport after a bad call cost him the match — he just shrugged and shook hands.
be a good sport — accepting a bad call calmly
Yumi did not complain when her painting missed the exhibition; she is a good sport about such things.
good sport about [something] — preposition pattern
- be a good sport
- good sport about it
- such a good sport
- what a good sport
- gracious loser
more formal and less common; specifically refers to losing
- sport
older, informal British usage ('be a sport' = agree to do something as a favour)
- team player
focuses on cooperation rather than reaction to losing
- sore loser
someone who gets angry or upset when they lose
- bad sport
someone who behaves rudely when things do not go their way
Grammar Patterns
be a good sport (about something)
Usage Note
Commonly used in the phrase 'be a good sport' (often followed by 'about'). The speaker is giving a compliment, praising someone's attitude after an unfair or disappointing event.
Common Mistakes
2. a person who willingly helps others, does what is asked, or shares what they hav
a person who willingly helps others, does what is asked, or shares what they have, especially when it requires extra effort or sacrifice on their part.
When the bus broke down, Mira drove her classmates home — she's such a good sport.
be a good sport — praised for willingness to help
Nikos was a good sport and stayed behind to wash all the dirty dishes after the dinner party.
be a good sport and + verb — helping willingly
Abigail was a good sport and agreed to play the villain, even though she wanted a nicer role.
be a good sport and + verb — accepting an unwanted task
Daichi was a good sport and let his sister pick the restaurant for his birthday dinner.
be a good sport and + verb — generously letting someone else choose
Apinya was a good sport and took the early shift so her colleague could care for a sick child.
be a good sport and + verb — doing a favour at personal cost
- be a good sport and help
- be a good sport about it
- such a good sport
- kind soul
more emotional and less common; used when someone shows real warmth
- generous person
more general and slightly more formal
- helpful person
direct and neutral
- selfish person
someone who only thinks about their own needs
Grammar Patterns
be a good sport (and do something)
Usage Note
This sense often appears in the pattern 'be a good sport and + verb' (e.g. 'Be a good sport and help me carry these bags'). Unlike sense 1, the focus is on kindness or generosity rather than on reacting to disappointment.
Common Mistakes
Etymology
The word 'sport' has been used since the 1500s to mean 'someone who plays by the rules' or 'a fair-minded person'. The phrase 'good sport' emerged in the late 1800s in American and British sporting culture, originally referring to players who accepted victory or defeat with good humour. By the mid-1900s, it had expanded beyond sports to describe anyone who handles disappointment or inconvenience with a positive, generous attitude.