DOT
A perfect throw
Dot is sports slang for a perfectly executed throw — both in timing and accuracy — that lands exactly where the intended teammate can make a play, such as a receiver catching a football from a quarterback in stride. While people most commonly use "dot" in football (American and soccer), basketball, baseball, and lacrosse, you might see or hear the term in any sport where throwing (or passing) accuracy is important.
The term gained popularity in the 2010s through highlight reels, sports commentary, and social media posts showcasing incredible precision plays. In these instances, athletes, commentators, and fans may use dot to praise a flawless throw. For example, you might hear a quarterback throw a "dot" to a wide receiver downfield, or see a basketball player feed a teammate with a "dot" pass through a tight defense.
Example
Cam Newton with a dot against the Lions
Related Slang
| Dime | Assist |
| Dropping dimes | Making difficult passes for assists in basketball |
| Cannon | An impressive throwing arm |
| Tunneling | Throwing different pitches with a similar trajectory to fool hitters |
| Yeet | To throw something out of rage |
| QB | Quarterback |
| Ballin | Playing sports well |
| Beast mode | Dominating gameplay |
| On fire | Performing very well |
| Torch | To beat someone in competition |
| Stud | A highly skilled individual |
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Gamers use DOT to discuss attacks that deal "damage over time." These attacks deal small, periodic chunks of damage to an enemy, rather than dealing all their damage at once.
DOT attacks typically deal damage for a fixed, limited duration. For example, a DOT attack might deal 15 damage per second (DPS) for 15 seconds, adding up to a total of 225 damage. When attacking an enemy, players often lead with DOT attacks, to maximize the amount of damage the attack will do during the battle. (For example, if a battle's going to last only ten seconds, you'll want your DOT attack to start dealing damage right away.)
Some DOT attacks are also area of effect (AOE) attacks, and many can pierce or ignore an enemy's armor. Often, DOT attacks are flavored as being poison-, burn-, or trap-based, to give an in-game reason why the damage they deal occurs over time, instead of all at once.