FOOTBALL EXPRESSIONS KEY

Back of the net! to score a goal

·         You should’ve seen it, it was such a great goal. Back of the net!

Man on! this is usually shouted out during a match to warn someone that a player of the other team
is right behind them. Often a call to pass the ball.

·         Quick! Man on! Pass the ball to Jones!

We were robbed: a phrase used to express that a defeat was unjust, possibly due to an injustice
committed by somebody else.

·         The referee didn’t see that foul. If he’d given that player a yellow card he wouldn’t
have scored that goal. We were robbed!

He’s (she’s) got a sweet left foot: referring to a player who is very skillful at kicking the ball
with his / her left foot (most players use the right foot)

·         She’s one of the best players on the team, and she’s got a sweet left foot.

He (she) pulled off a great save, what a save! referring to a very quick, acrobatic stop of a shot
by the goalkeeper.

·         What a save by the goalie. That was fantastic!

Hit the woodwork: when a player intends to shoot into the goal but hits the crossbar or the post of
the goal instead, and was very unlucky not to have scored.

·         He almost had it, but unfortunately it hit the woodwork.

Ran the defence ragged: referring to an attacking player who made the defenders from the opposing
team look uncomfortable or incompetent.

·         He deserves to be Man of the Match. He scored a hat-trick and ran the defence ragged!

He (she’s) got a lot of pace: a very fast player

·         Jones is definitely a great player, he’s got a lot of pace.

The goalkeeper made a howler: used when the goalkeeper makes a very basic mistake (and probably
lets the other team score a goal).

·         They were in the lead, but then the goalkeeper made a howler and the other team scored.

It’s a game of two halves: an expression referring to the fact that a football match can change
unexpectedly throughout the 90 minutes. Especially between the first half and second half of the
match.

·         Well, they may be losing now, but it’s a game of two halves!
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FOOTBALL-RELATED IDIOMS

Idioms are different from the above expressions because they can be used in conversation about any
topic and not just football.

Get the ball rolling: to get something started. Begin a process.

·         We need to have everything ready for the party by next week, so if you could please get
the ball rolling by inviting everyone, that would be really helpful.

Get a kick out of something: to enjoy watching or doing something.

·         If you get a kick out of horror movies, then you’ll love the new Quentin Tarantino film!

To kick something off, to kick-start something: to begin or cause something to begin.

·         We’re going to kick-start the summer with a lovely weekend trip to the countryside.

·         If you want to be a successful businessman, you need to keep your eye on the ball all the
time.

·         He took his eye off the ball when he shouldn’t have done, and the rival company managed
to snatch the deal from him.

To watch from the sidelines: a position where someone is observing a situation rather than being
directly involved in it.

·         You never supported me when I needed you. You just watched from the sidelines!

To move the goalposts: to unfairly change the rules or conditions of a procedure during its course.

·         Jessica quit her job because her boss kept moving the goalposts about her promotion
prospects.

To be on the ball: someone who is very quick to respond and very aware of new ideas and methods.

·         What’s wrong with you? You used to be on the ball with your work all the time.

A political football: a topical issue that is the subject of continued argument or controversy.

·         Retirement age is a big political football in the European Union’

At this (late) stage in the game: this simply means ‘at this point’.

·         There’s nothing we can do at this stage in the game. You should’ve told me earlier.

To kick someone around: to treat someone roughly or disrespectfully.

·         I don’t think it’s fair the way you kick him around all the time. He deserves some
respect.

To score an own goal: an act that unintentionally harms one’s own interests.

·         Unfortunately, Sarah scored an own goal by quitting her job before signing her new
contract.

To take sides: to support one person, or stand against another, in a dispute or contest.

·         I’m not taking sides. I think you’re both wrong, so I’m not getting involved!

League: a class or category of quality or excellence.

·         When it comes to achieving perfection, John is in a league of his own.

To blow the whistle on someone: to bring an illicit activity to an end by informing on the person
responsible.

·         She was offered a lot of money as a bribe, because she threatened to blow the whistle on
the company’s illegal activities.

A game plan: a strategy worked out in advance

·         We need to come up with a better game plan; this idea will never work!

Know the score: to be aware of the essential facts about a situation.

·         I don’t need to explain anything else to my boss, he knows the score.

A game changer: an idea, procedure or event that significantly changes the current way of doing or
thinking about something.

·         The new software had become known as the new ‘game-changing’ entertainment experience.