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User_gary Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

Zip and sting

Writing for the Hindustan Times, Arthur said, "Zaheer (Khan) bowled well but lacked support while Harbhajan, who has in my opinion been below his best for several years now, must be questioning his future."
"His bowling lacked the zip and sting that was so characteristic in the early years of his career. He must be honest with himself and the management and selectors must be honest too.

Could you please explain to me the emboldened parts?

I guess "zip" means "energy" but no idea what "sting" means here.

Source : http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/23991/arthur-questions-harbhajans-place-in-the-side
  

Top answer

User_gary zip and sting Zip means "having great enthusiasm and energy" and zip can be substituted for "ability to instigite" or "ability to affect greatly, often in a painful way". com/browse/sting Noun, meaning 17.

— Fandorin

  • User_gary zip and sting Zip means "having great enthusiasm and energy" and zip can be substituted for "ability to instigite" or "ability to affect greatly, often in a painful way".
  • com/browse/sting Noun, meaning 17.
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4 Answers
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User_garyzip and sting
Zip means "having great enthusiasm and energy" and zip can be substituted for "ability to instigite" or "ability to affect greatly, often in a painful way".

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sting

Noun, meaning
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Thank you friend.
Does that mean "Harbhajan bowling lacks energy or enthusiasm and stimulus that lures batsmen to get out"?
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User_garythat lures batsmen to get out"?
I don't know where it comes from and I can't deduce it from the context given. What Arthur's sharing his opinion and assessing Harbhajan's sport abilities.
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User_gary
Does that mean "Harbhajan bowling lacks energy or enthusiasm and stimulus that lures batsmen to get out"?

"zip and sting" just refers to the speed and energy that was once apparent in his bowling. A consequence of this speed and energy was, presumably, that batsmen found it difficult to play against him.
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