Football Cliches

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Every week during the 2010-11 season, the languagecaster team will be explaining a football phrase or cliché connected to football. Below is the complete list which will be updated weekly and by clicking on the phrase you will be taken to a post with a transcript and an audio file. You can find many more examples by going to our previous season football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here and of course by listening to our Weekly football podcast for all learners of English

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen Here | See the complete list here

Today’s World Cup phrase of the day is the to not take lightly. If you take something lightly, it means you do not take it seriously, you do not think it is important. Most of the time this phrase is used in the negative - to not take lightly. Most people want to say that they do their job seriously, that they care about something, so they say they don’t take it lightly. Now in the World Cup there is always a game for the losers of the semi-finals, to decide a third place in the World Cup. Many teams, players and coaches take this game lightly, they do not think it is important. However, Uruguayan coach, Oscar Tabarez, has promised his team will not take this game lightly, that they will try to win. They feel it is worth coming third, that it is important. To not take lightly.

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen Here (coming soon) | See the complete list here

Today’s World Cup phrase of the day is the expression to hold on. This phrase is often used with ‘lead’ – as in to hold on to a lead. This means a team does not give in when a team is attacking them and putting them under a lot of pressure. To hold, means to grip tightly with the hand, so to hold on, means to not let go of the game, to keep in the game and not lose or give up a lead. Today, Holland went two goals up against Uruguay in the World Cup semi-final and were leading 3-1. But they held on to win despite the fact that Uruguay scored a late goal to make it 3-2 and were attacking for most of the last 20 minutes. To hold on.

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen Here (coming soon) | See the complete list here

The Hand of God, refers to a goal scored by Maradona against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter finals – scored with his hand. After that game the Argentinian maestro said the goal was, ‘a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the Hand of God.’ At this World Cup, nearly 25 years later there is a new Hand of God. Luis Suarez’s save on the goal line in the last few seconds of extra time put Ghana out – they lost on penalties. Suarez parried the ball away with a fantastic reflex save with his hands. Heartbreak for Ghana, but instead of feeling a little sheepish about the hand ball which stopped a certain goal, Suarez has claimed, ‘the real Hand of God belongs to me,’ referencing Maradona’s famous ‘goal’.

Very cruel on Ghana and another chapter in the history of the World Cup – the Hand of God part II!

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen here | See the complete list here

Today’s World Cup Phrase of the Day is scapegoat. A scapegoat is someone that is blamed for another’s mistake. Originally used to refer to a goat that was sacrificed to pay for people’s sins. Yesterday, England were hammered by a technically superior German team that was full of imagination, verve and self-belief. However, many in the English tabloid press are blaming the referee and his linesman for not allowing an England goal that would have made the scores 2-2. The media are making the officials scapegoats for England’s poor performance. The fact is that England lost becasue they were not good enough. The English media should stop looking for scapegoats.

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team will be explaining a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen Here | See the collection of phrases from the first 2 weeks click here

Today’s World Cup phrase of the day is to lack a creative spark. A spark is used to start a fire or to drive an engine – you need a spark in the engine to burn the petrol or gasoline. So a spark leads to energy, heat, movement and power. In football, teams need a spark to play well. Usually there is a moment or a player that provides a spark, gives a creative spark to the team.  To lack, means to not have something, to be short of something. Yesterday, Italy were sent tumbling out of the competion after losing 3-2 to Slovakia. Many of their critics say they lacked a creative spark, there was no-one to give them inspiration. Also, Denmark were beaten by Japan 3-1 and in the game, although they had a lot of possession, they lacked a creative spark, their play was slow and predictable, they had no energy or speed. To lack a creative spark.

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen Here | See the complete list here

On day one of the World Cup we brought you the word vuvuzela, the plastic horn that is creating such a special atmosphere at the South African World Cup. Today, another word special to this competition, jabulani. The jabulani is the new ball being used at the tournament, the word means ‘rejoice‘ in Zulu. But the ball, made by Adidas, is not being rejoiced by some, who say that it’s flight through the air is unpredictable or that it is too light. Last night, Kawashima, Japan’s goalkeeper missed a straightforward looking save and his defenders have been quick to say that it was the jabulani moving at the last minute. Another goalkeeper, David James of England, has also criticised the ball, but he added that it was the same for everyone – a much more balanced opinion. The jubulani.

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen Here | See the complete list here

Today’s World Cup phrase of the day is the expression to be out of their depth. Like the last expression we looked at, to be out of their hands, this  expression is not restricted to football. The direct meaning of the phrase means someone is in deep water and is in danger of drowning. In football, it to be out of their depth means that a team’s skill level is low compared to their opponents, the team is finding it hard to compete with the opposition. Yesterday, although ranked in the top ten by FIFA, England looked out of their depth against Algeria. The had a very poor performance and it is difficult not to think that they are out of their depth at the World Cup. To be out of their depth.

 Print This Post | Subscribe: World Cup Football Phrase

Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team will be explaining a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Below is the complete list which will be updated daily and by clicking on the phrase you will be taken to a post with a transcript and an audio file. You can find many more examples by going to our regular season football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here and of course by listening to our World Cup podcast

Date	Phrase	Date	Phrase
June 11th	Vuvuzela	June 12th	Set-piece
June 13th	A Howler	June 14th	To Take the Game to
June 15th	Group of Death	June 16th	Delivery
June 17th	To Blow Wide Open	June 18th	To be out of their hands
June 19th	To Be Out of Their Depth	June 20th	Jabulani
June 21st	To turn on the style	June 22nd	To Turn on the Style
June 23rd	To Implode	June 24th	Qualifying
June 25th	Lack a Creative Spark	June 26th	To See Off
June 27th	Consolation Goal	June 28th	Scapegoat
June 29th	To Pull the Strings	June 30th	To Step Down
July 1st		July 2nd	To Kick Out
July 3rd	Hand of God	July 4th	Rout
July 5th		July 6th	To Hold On
July 9th	Not Take Lightly	July 10th	To Go For It
July 11th		July 12th	To be littered with fouls

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team will be explaining a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

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What a shock last night! Switzerland beat Spain 1-0 in the final first round game of the World Cup. And because of that shock, today’s World Cup phrase of the day is to blow wide open. To blow comes from the phrasal verb to blow up (use a bomb to make an explosion) and the wide open refers to  making a big hole. When a big team, or a favourite is beaten in a competition or in the league it opens a chance, or a hole, for other teams. The big team drops points and they can’t build a lead. Last night Switerland beat Spain, a big shock, so you can say the group has been blown wide open or Switzerland have blown group H wide open. Now, all the teams in Group H may think they can qualify for the knockout stages.

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team will be explaining a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page, here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen Here

Day 5 and Japan are taking on Cameroon in a group E clash. Their coach, Okada, has said his team will take the game to the Indomitable Lions. To take the game to, means to attack, to play a positive game. Yesterday, the German side took the game to Australia and won easily 4-0. Holland, also in Group E with Japan, Cameroon and Denmark are expected to take the game to all their opponents. If Japan do take the game to Cameroon, they will have to be careful of being hit on the counter as Cameroon boast one of the world’s top strikers, Samuel Eto’o. To take the game to.

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Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team will be explaining a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript. You can find many more examples by going to our football phrase page, here football clichés here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen Here

Day 3 and we’ve seen some great games already. South Korea had an impressive display against Greece and Argentina scored from a set play. Meanwhile, in Group B, England and the USA met in a game that may decide who tops their group. England were in control of the game after a goal from their captain Steven Gerrard, until a howler by Robert Green their goalkeeper. A howler, is a big mistake, an error that often means you give a goal away, or miss an easy chance. A howler is so bad, that it is almost funny. When a goalkeeper makes a howler, it is sometimes referred to as dropping a clanger. So, on day 2 of the World Cup, Robert Green makes a howler. I wonder which team will make the next one. A howler.

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Each week we explain a soccer phrase or cliché on our weekly languagecaster podcast. You can find many more examples by going to our football cliché page here.

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This week’s English for football phrase is to give the ball away cheaply. This expression is used to describe a situation in a game when one team, under little or no pressure, loses the ball to the opposing team. It is similar to an unforced error in tennis. We use the word cheaply to describe the fact that the opposition have not had to work hard (or ‘pay’) to get the ball back. Coaches and fans become very frustrated when their team gives the ball away cheaply as it may prevent an attack from building or worse may give the opposing team a chance to counter attack. To give the ball away cheaply.

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Each week we explain a soccer phrase or cliché on our weekly languagecaster podcast. You can find many more examples by going to our football cliché page here.

Listen here to this week’s football phrase

This week’s English football phrase is to run riot. This expression is used when one team completely dominates another team and scores lots of goals. Before this week’s Champions League game between holders Barcelona and German side Stuttgart the experts were suggesting that Barca would run riot , however, the game finished 1-1. Another example was when Premier League side, Tottenham ran riot against Wigan earlier on in the season when they won 9-0. The expression can also be used to describe a player’s performance against an opponent as in, Wayne Rooney ran riot against the West Ham defence in the 3-0 victory. To run riot.

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Each week we explain a soccer phrase or cliché on our weekly languagecaster podcast. You can find many more examples by going to our football cliché page here.

Listen here to the football phrase

This week’s English for football expression is the phrase to be a handful which means that something or someone is difficult to handle or control. In football this is used when one team has difficulty controlling or defending against a player from the opposing team. The phrase often collocates with the verb to prove as in ‘… Chris Maguire proved to be a handful for Celtic with his vigour‘ which means that the Scottish side Celtic were unable to control Chris Maguire because of his power or pace. The phrase can also be used without the verb to be in it. So, recently, Wayne Rooney has been playing very well for his club Manchester United and in this week’s Champions League game against AC Milan he scored twice and proved a real handful for the Rossoneri defence. To prove to be a real handful.

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