If you’ve ever wondered what it means to “kick off” or why someone would “park the bus,” you’re in for a treat. Join us as we explore the idiomatic side of soccer, adding a layer of flavor to the on-field action that goes beyond the scores and statistics.
Idioms for Soccer
1. Hit the back of the net
Meaning: Scoring a goal; hitting the back of the opponent’s net with the ball.
In a Sentence: “After a breathtaking build-up, the striker finally managed to hit the back of the net, sending the fans into a frenzy.”
2. Score an own goal
Meaning: Accidentally scoring a goal in one’s team’s net.
In a Sentence: “His attempt to clear the ball ended in disaster as he unintentionally scored an own goal, much to the dismay of his teammates.”
3. Play second fiddle
Meaning: Being in a subordinate or supporting role; not the primary focus.
In a Sentence: “Despite his talent, he often found himself playing second fiddle to the star striker in the team.”
4. Kick off
Meaning: The initial kick to start the match.
In a Sentence: “The excitement in the stadium reached its peak as the referee prepared to kick off the highly anticipated match.”
5. Out of bounds
Meaning: The ball going beyond the designated playing area.
In a Sentence: “The winger’s powerful cross sailed out of bounds, much to the frustration of his teammates.”
6. Blow the whistle
Meaning: The referee signaling the end of a match or stopping play.
In a Sentence: “With seconds left on the clock, the referee decided to blow the whistle, bringing the thrilling game to a close.”
7. Keep the ball rolling
Meaning: Sustain an activity or process; maintain momentum.
In a Sentence: “Even after taking the lead, the team was determined to keep the ball rolling and secure a convincing victory.”
8. Bend it like Beckham
Meaning: Curving the ball with precision and skill, as famously demonstrated by David Beckham.
In a Sentence: “The young midfielder showcased his talent, managing to bend it like Beckham with a free-kick that left everyone in awe.”
9. Park the bus
Meaning: Adopting a defensive strategy by placing many players behind the ball.
In a Sentence: “Facing a formidable opponent, the underdog decided to park the bus, hoping to secure at least a draw.”
10. Offside trap
Meaning: A defensive tactic where players move forward simultaneously to catch opponents offside.
In a Sentence: “The well-executed offside trap caught the opposing striker off guard, thwarting a potential goal-scoring opportunity.”
11. Take a dive
Meaning: Simulating a foul by deliberately falling to deceive the referee.
In a Sentence: “The forward’s attempt to take a dive and win a penalty was met with skepticism from the referee.”
12. Pass the ball
Meaning: Share responsibility or information.
In a Sentence: “In a collaborative effort, the team decided to pass the ball, ensuring everyone contributed to the overall success.”
13. Yellow card
Meaning: A caution given by the referee, typically for a foul or unsporting behavior.
In a Sentence: “The defender received a yellow card for a reckless tackle, leaving his team to play with ten men.”
14. Red card
Meaning: A more severe punishment than a yellow card, indicating expulsion from the match.
In a Sentence: “The striker’s violent conduct resulted in a red card, leaving his team with a numerical disadvantage.”
15. On the ball
Meaning: Being alert, attentive, or in control.
In a Sentence: “Despite the pressure, the goalkeeper remained on the ball, making crucial saves to keep his team in the game.”
16. Play by ear
Meaning: Adapt to the situation without a fixed plan; improvise.
In a Sentence: “With key players injured, the coach had to play by ear and adjust the team’s strategy on the fly.”
17. Level the playing field
Meaning: Ensure fair competition by equalizing advantages and disadvantages.
In a Sentence: “Introducing salary caps in the league helped to level the playing field, promoting a more competitive environment.”
18. Move the goalposts
Meaning: Change the rules or conditions during an activity to gain an advantage.
In a Sentence: “Trying to move the goalposts by lobbying for rule changes, the team faced backlash from other clubs.”
19. Hitting the woodwork
Meaning: Striking the goalposts or crossbar without scoring.
In a Sentence: “The forward’s powerful shot beat the goalkeeper but ended up hitting the woodwork, denying him a goal.”
20. Nutmeg
Meaning: Passing the ball through an opponent’s legs.
In a Sentence: “With a skillful nutmeg, the midfielder effortlessly bypassed the defender and continued his run.”
21. Back of the hand
Meaning: Rejection or dismissal, often delivered with a lack of courtesy.
In a Sentence: “His suggestion to change the formation was met with a back-of-the-hand response from the coach.”
22. Play the field
Meaning: Engage in romantic or social relationships with multiple people.
In a Sentence: “The charismatic captain was known for his tendency to play the field, enjoying the attention from fans and admirers.”
23. Sudden death
Meaning: An additional period in a knockout match where the first team to score wins.
In a Sentence: “The tension was palpable as the match entered sudden death, with both teams vying for the decisive goal.”
24. Touch and go
Meaning: A situation that is uncertain and could go either way.
In a Sentence: “Throughout the penalty shootout, it was touch and go, with each team having an equal chance of advancing.”
25. Break the deadlock
Meaning: Score the first goal in a game that was previously tied.
In a Sentence: “The striker’s header in the 75th minute finally managed to break the deadlock, altering the course of the match.”
26. Hold the line
Meaning: Maintain a strong defensive position.
In a Sentence: “Faced with relentless attacks, the defenders had to hold the line to prevent the opposing team from scoring.”
27. Dead ball
Meaning: When the ball is not in play, usually during set-piece situations.
In a Sentence: “The team’s set-piece specialist excelled when the ball was dead, delivering accurate crosses and creating goal-scoring opportunities.”
28. Squeaky bum time
Meaning: The nervy and intense final moments of a close match.
In a Sentence: “As the clock ticked down, it was squeaky bum time for both sets of fans, anxiously awaiting the outcome.”
29. Hat trick
Meaning: Scoring three goals in a single game.
In a Sentence: “The striker’s incredible performance included a hat trick, solidifying his reputation as a goal-scoring maestro.”
30. Get a kick out of
Meaning: Derive enjoyment or satisfaction from something.
In a Sentence: “Even after years in the game, the veteran player still got a kick out of scoring crucial goals and contributing to his team’s success.”
Summary
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Hit the back of the net | Scoring a goal | “After a breathtaking build-up, the striker finally managed to hit the back of the net.” |
| Score an own goal | Accidentally scoring in one’s team’s net | “His attempt to clear the ball ended in disaster as he unintentionally scored an own goal.” |
| Play second fiddle | Being in a subordinate role | “Despite his talent, he often found himself playing second fiddle to the star striker in the team.” |
| Kick off | The initial kick to start the match | “The excitement in the stadium reached its peak as the referee prepared to kick off the match.” |
| Out of bounds | The ball going beyond the playing area | “The winger’s powerful cross sailed out of bounds, frustrating his teammates.” |
| Blow the whistle | Referee signaling the end of a match or stopping play | “With seconds left, the referee decided to blow the whistle, ending the thrilling game.” |
| Keep the ball rolling | Sustain an activity or process; maintain momentum | “Even after taking the lead, the team was determined to keep the ball rolling for a convincing win.” |
| Bend it like Beckham | Curving the ball with precision and skill | “The young midfielder showcased his talent, managing to bend it like Beckham with a free-kick.” |
| Park the bus | Adopting a defensive strategy with many players behind the ball | “Facing a formidable opponent, the underdog decided to park the bus, hoping for at least a draw.” |
| Offside trap | Defensive tactic to catch opponents offside | “The well-executed offside trap caught the opposing striker off guard, thwarting a potential goal.” |
| Take a dive | Simulating a foul to deceive the referee | “The forward’s attempt to take a dive and win a penalty was met with skepticism from the referee.” |
| Pass the ball | Share responsibility or information | “In a collaborative effort, the team decided to pass the ball, ensuring everyone contributed.” |
| Yellow card | Referee’s caution for a foul or unsporting behavior | “The defender received a yellow card for a reckless tackle, leaving his team with ten men.” |
| Red card | More severe punishment than a yellow card, leading to expulsion | “The striker’s violent conduct resulted in a red card, leaving his team with a numerical disadvantage.” |
| On the ball | Being alert, attentive, or in control | “Despite the pressure, the goalkeeper remained on the ball, making crucial saves.” |
| Play by ear | Adapt to the situation without a fixed plan; improvise | “With key players injured, the coach had to play by ear and adjust the team’s strategy on the fly.” |
| Level the playing field | Ensure fair competition by equalizing advantages and disadvantages | “Introducing salary caps in the league helped to level the playing field, promoting competitiveness.” |
| Move the goalposts | Change the rules or conditions to gain an advantage | “Trying to move the goalposts by lobbying for rule changes, the team faced backlash from other clubs.” |
| Hitting the woodwork | Striking the goalposts or crossbar without scoring | “The forward’s powerful shot hit the woodwork, denying him a goal.” |
| Nutmeg | Passing the ball through an opponent’s legs | “With a skillful nutmeg, the midfielder effortlessly bypassed the defender.” |
| Back of the hand | Rejection or dismissal, often delivered rudely | “His suggestion was met with a back-of-the-hand response from the coach.” |
| Play the field | Engage in romantic or social relationships with multiple people | “The charismatic captain was known for playing the field, enjoying attention from fans and admirers.” |
| Sudden death | Additional period where the first team to score wins | “The match entered sudden death, with both teams vying for the decisive goal.” |
| Touch and go | A situation that is uncertain and could go either way | “Throughout the penalty shootout, it was touch and go, with each team having an equal chance of advancing.” |
| Break the deadlock | Score the first goal in a previously tied game | “The striker’s header finally broke the deadlock, altering the course of the match.” |
| Hold the line | Maintain a strong defensive position | “Faced with relentless attacks, the defenders had to hold the line to prevent the opposing team from scoring.” |
| Dead ball | The ball not in play, usually during set-piece situations | “The team’s set-piece specialist excelled when the ball was dead, delivering accurate crosses.” |
| Squeaky bum time | Nervy and intense final moments of a close match | “As the clock ticked down, it was squeaky bum time for both sets of fans, anxiously awaiting the outcome.” |
| Hat trick | Scoring three goals in a single game | “The striker’s incredible performance included a hat trick, solidifying his reputation as a goal-scoring maestro.” |
| Get a kick out of | Derive enjoyment or satisfaction from something | “Even after years in the game, the veteran player still got a kick out of scoring crucial goals.” |
Conclusion
And there you have it – a journey through the colorful world of soccer idioms. These expressions add flavor and character to the game, transforming it into a linguistic dance on the pitch.