Clichés are expressions or sayings that have become so overused that they have lost some of their original impact. In football, clichés are used quite a lot and they are often associated with the emotional aspect of the game. Sometimes the meaning is clear or extremely obvious, e.g. football is a game of two halves but more often than not the original meaning of a cliché is often difficult to understand. Why, for example, are parrots sick? How can a player give 110% when 100% surely is the maximum? And why does a victory send players and managers over the moon?
Many feel that the overuse of clichés demonstrates the fact that football players, managers, fans, commentators and pundits have a poor vocabulary and are lacking in imagination. However, clichés form part of the football discourse and though there is often no logical explanation to their meaning, they do provide some colour and humour for the football world.
If you hear any other cliches then let us know by posting a comment here. It will, to paraphrase the great manager, Brian Clough, only take a second.
- Football Cliche Quiz (Online version)
- FA Cup Cliche Quiz (Online version)
Latest Football Cliches
- Weekly Football Cliche: Old School
- Football Language: Good feet
- Weekly Football Phrase: A goal that deserves to win any game
- Weekly Football Phrase: Second Season Syndrome
- Weekly Football Phrase: The Team to Beat
- Weekly Football Phrase: Dying Breed
- Weekly Football Phrase: David and Goliath
- Football Language: Hallowed Turf
- FA Cup Cliche Quiz
- Football Language: Cup Run
- Football Cliche: The game needs a goal
- Football Cliche: Share the Spoils
- Listening Report: Football Cliches
- Weekly Football Phrase: Put a Shift In
- Weekly Football Phrase: To want it more
- Football Phrase: Six of one and half a dozen of the other
- World Cup Cliche: Slow starters
- Weekly Football Phrase: The Dugout
- Main Listening Report: Football Language – Getting Fired
- Weekly Football Language Phrase: Can’t buy a goal
- Weekly Football Phrase: Vote of Confidence
- Weekly Football Phrase: To be out of the cup
- Quiz: Football Cliche (2)
- Football Cliche Quiz
- Weekly Football Phrase: Schoolboy Error
- Weekly Football Phrase: Unplayable
- Football Glossary: Seen them given
- Weekly Football Phrase: Cliche – Bad Day at the Office
- 5 Ferguson-inspired Languagecaster Posts
- Football Cliche: (they) Wanted it more
- Football Glossary: Pipped at the post
- Weekly Football Phrase: (to) Lob
- Weekly Football Phrase: Roy of the Rovers (stuff)
- Football Glossary: Never say die attitude
- Weekly Football Phrase: On paper
- Football Glossary: Sent to the stands
- Football Glossary: (a) Minnow
- Football Glossary: (the Managerial) Merry-Go-Round
- Football Glossary: In with a shout
- Football Glossary: Stamp your authority on
- Football Glossary: Funny Old Game
- Football Glossary: To go pear-shaped
- Football Glossary: Two-horse race
- Football cliche: Men against boys
- Football Glossary: Hairdryer treatment
- Football Glossary: Fox in the box
- Weekly Football Phrase: To Hang Up Your Boots
- Football Glossary: To go down to the wire
- Footbal Glossary: Do the double over
- Football Glossary: Underdog
- Football Glossary: To Lose the Dressing Room
- Weekly Football Phrase: It’s a funny old game
- Football Glossary: Get off to a flier
- Football Glossary: Dead Man Walking
- Football Glossary: Days are numbered
- Football Glossary: (a) Cracker
- Football Glossary: (to) Come Back From the Dead
- Football Glossary: To Come a Cropper
- Football Phrase: Chickens Come Home to Roost
- Weekly Football Phrase: Mind Games
- Weekly Football Phrase: Clean sheet
- Football Glossary: (to) Choke
- Football Glossary: Business End of the Season
- Football Glossary: Brought Down to Earth
- Football Glossary: (to) Bounce Back