To sign a player: When a club buys a new player from another club.
Sneak a win: to get something without fully deserving it, to obtain something in a sneaky way. A team can sneak a win or sneak a point or a...
Slump: A bad run of form, a time of bad luck or bad results. It can also be used as a verb - to slump.
(to be) Sent to the stands: To be sent off; to receive a red card; to be removed from the pitch. The stand is where the fans sit and watch...
What do you call a small team that has little chance chance of winning? Check out 'minnow' in our football glossary.
(to) Send someone off: The referee has to send off a player for bad conduct on the pitch. When a player receives a red card he has to leave...
Qualifier: Games played to decide which teams progress to the main tournament or knock-out stages of a competition. A game to qualify for...
(to be) Relegated: To move down a division because of poor performances - to finish in the bottom 2 or 3 positions in the table
La Selección: Nickname (In Spanish) for the Spanish international football team.
Serie A: The Italian top league / division. The equivalent in Germany is the Bundesliga and in England is the Premier League.
Season: The time it takes for each team to twice play all the other teams in the league (home and away). The season in England lasts from...
One-way traffic: When only one team is doing all the attacking - the direction of play is going in one direction only.
How would you say the score 0-0? Zero zero? Check out 'nil' in languagecaster's football glossary.
Football glossary @ languagecaster: What happens when you no longer trust or believe in someone? To lose faith in
(to) Seal a deal: To complete a deal or transaction. In football we use it when talking about player transfers; the movement of players...
The 2014 World Cup qualifiers continue this week and we feature games from Europe, South America, Africa, Central America and Asia.
In the doldrums: To be at a low point; to be in a bad way
(to be) In the bag: Looking to be safe; the result of the game does not appear to be in danger.
International: Used when describing a game between two countries or to describe a player who has played for his/her country.
Injury time: The time added on by the referee after 90 minutes (See also: stoppage/added time)
injury: When a player is hurt during the match we can say that they have suffered an injury. If a team has many players...
An inept performance: A performance showing no skill; one that is clumsy or poor
The English for Football expression to stamp your authority on something has a basic meaning of showing who is in charge or demonstrating...
Today's English for Football expression is a classic footballing cliche - football is a funny old game.
The football phrase 'to set your sights on' means to have a goal, to decide you want to do something.
When a plan goes wrong, is not successful, and it results in a disaster you can use the phrase 'go pear-shaped'
Hooligan: Football supporters involved in violence; yob (hooliganism).
Holders: The current champions of a competition or cup (they hold the trophy)
Hat-trick: To score three goals in one game
The languagecaster team explain a new football phrase or cliche for learners of English who love the sport. Click on the link below to...
Football glossary - The time added on by the referee after the 90 minutes have finished (injury/added time): See also squeaky bum time.
(the) Group stage: The earlier rounds of a competition or tournament when teams play each other to determine which sides progress to the...