Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

Does *in the zone* mean *have the inspiration to do something*? Last night, I suddenly felt motivated to write over 4 postcards to send to friends.
Can I use in the zone?

Thanks

[bud]

It comes from sports. To be in the zone is to be playing so well that you can do no wrong. You are reacting without even having to think, as if you were an airplane on autopilot. In a basketball game, if a player makes 24 of 26 shots, then he/she is in the zone.

You can generalize the expression, and even blur it's meaning a bit. If you feel you're getting a lot done, or everything is coming out very well for you today, then "in the zone" would describe it. If it's unusual for you to write 4 postcards, then you can say you are in the zone.

So you have to be inspired to be "in the zone," but I'd say the expression refers more to the results of your inspiration rather than to the inspiration itself.

[missdaredevil]

So, is it right to say "I was in the zone of writing so many postcards back home?"

Thanks

[iitimone7]

i was in the zone writing postcards. i don't think this is a phrase or sentence that i've ever used in general conversation before, but i'm not a sports nuts, either. maybe i'd use it more watching football games or in conversations about sports.

iitimone7

[bud]

I wouldn't have a problem with you using it in a non-sports context, but with "[to be] in the zone" as a sentence by iitself. So instead of "I was in the zone of writing postcards," it would sound more natural to me as, "I wrote four postcards last night! I was in the zone!"