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Here are some of the words and phrases that we used on this week’s show.
You can practise the vocabulary with our online crosswords here
Check out the BBC’s football vocabulary page here
- deserve a pat on the back – deserve praise, you say this when you have done something well
We deserve a pat on the back. We’ve been doing the podcast for a year.
- sink or swim – left with no help, having to rely on yourself
I think players should be left to sink or swim.
- to drop like flies – quickly collapse, die, or get sick
Chelsea’s defence is dropping like flies.
- to fall out – to disagree, have an argument
Gillet and Hicks seem to have fallen out over plans for a new stadium.
- repercussion – an unplanned consequence
There were repercussions all around Italy
- to hang by a thread – be in danger of failing, very close to failing
England’s chances of qualifying for Euro 2008 are hanging by a thread.
- to cost (someone) dearly – to cause (someone) a lot of problems, to have a bad effect on (someone)
Poor away form has cost McClaren’s team dearly.
- a mixed bag – a variety of something (in this case, reactions)
So, a mixed bag from the England fans.
- malaise – sickness, unease, depression
The malaise of the team isn’t down to McClaren.
- to smack of – to look / sound like
Quotas frankly smacks of desperation at best.
- to border on – to nearly be something
It’s bordering on racism.
