FOOTBALL EXPRESSIONS

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

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

We were robbed:  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: 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!  What a save by the goalie. That was fantastic!

Hit the woodwork:  He almost had it, but unfortunately it hit the woodwork.

Ran the defence ragged:  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: Jones is definitely a great player, he’s got a lot of pace.

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

It’s a game of two halves:  Well, they may be losing now, but it’s a game of two halves!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

To watch from the sidelines: You never supported me when I needed you. You just watched from the
sidelines!

To move the goalposts:  Jessica quit her job because her boss kept moving the goalposts about her
promotion prospects.

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

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

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

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

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

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