Football Phrases

Each week Damon and Damian explain a football phrase on the weekly languagecaster podcast. All of these phrases come with a transcript and separate audio file which can help with listening and reading practice as well as improve vocabulary building. These English for Football expressions can be accessed by clicking on the season links below. You can also find a list of football language in alphabetical order by visiting our football glossary page here.

2010-11 Season

All the 2010-11 phrases
2009-10 Season

  • His first game for the club, hisdebut, finished as a draw
  • Tothump a team means to beat them heavily
  • Liverpoolbroke the deadlock in the 90th minute to win 1-0

    • All the 2009-10 phrases

    2008-09 Season

    All the 2008-09 phrases
    2007-08 Season

  • The Spanish teamtook Russia apart 3-0 in Euro 2008
  • The tense part of the season is calledSqueaky-bum time
  • To be in with a shout means to still have a chance

    • All the 2007-08 phrases
    2006-07 Season

  • The manager wasfired after the poor performance
  • The team needs to showbouncebackability
  • Ronaldo has often been described as aprima donna.

    • All the 2006-07 phrases
    Football Cliches

  • The midfielderran his socks off during the game
  • The playersfelt as sick as parrots after the loss
  • The winners wereover the moon after the victory

    • More football cliches here

    Check out our football glossary here

    The football glossary has a huge collection of football vocabulary, technical terms, clichés and football phrases complete with definitions, examples and worksheets and online quizzes that are being added to all the time. Come along to this great footballing vocabulary resource and let us know if we are missing anything!