noun
mulligan
MULL-ih-gun/mˈʌlɪɡʌn/
An extra attempt allowed without penalty after a poor first try.
The golfer takes a mulligan after the first poor shot.
Etymology
Maolagan supplies the surname’s meaning, “little bald one.” The free retry in golf is sometimes attributed to a golfer named Mulligan whose friends granted him an extra shot in gratitude for driving them to the course.
In context
Looks like the challenger will have to take a mulligan and try again later!
More examples
- They allowed one mulligan.
- She asked for a mulligan.
- The game offered no mulligans.
Forms
mulligan · mulligans
Similar words
- do-over
- The ordinary informal equivalent.
- retry
- Another attempt that may still carry a penalty.