Here are some words and phrases you can hear on this week’s languagecaster’s Good, Bad and Ugly section of the podcast. For more English practice check out our worksheets, football glossary and English for football phrases.
- Fierce rivals: Strong enemies, when a really negative feeling exists between clubs
Example: Fierce rivals Liverpool were held at lowly Stoke City on Saturday evening …
- To be held: To not be able to beat a lower-ranked team, to draw a game
Example: Liverpool were held at lowly Stoke City last weekend.
- Thrashing: To beat another team heavily
Example: Manchester United gave Chelsea a thrashing last weekend.
- Woeful: Awful, really bad
Example: Chelsea were woeful in their 0-3 defeat at Man Utd last weekend.
- Lacklustre display: Really poor performance from the team, no fight at al
Example: Tottenham gave a lacklustre display against Wigan last week.
- To slip into the bottom three: To move into the relegation zone
Example: Tottenham slipped into the bottom three after their defeat to Wigan.
- To point the finger at: To blame, to accuse
Example: Felipe Scolari pointed the finger at some of his payers after the defeat at Old Trafford last week.
- Capitulation: Complete disintegration, to fall apart, to be beaten easily
Example: Chelsea’s capitulation really angered fans and manager alike.
- Foul language: Bad language, swearing
Example: Wayne Rooney was yet again accused of using foul language at the referee last weekend.
- Steely determination: Showing great resolve, stubbornness
Example: West Ham are showing steely determination by not wanting to sell their best players.
- To go into receivership: To become bankrupt, to go out of business.
Example: West ham may go into receivership if the club does not find a buyer by March.
- Harsh: Extremely unfair, strict
Example: It seems harsh that West Ham are in trouble when top clubs owe a lot more.
