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World Cup Cliche: Slow starters

World Cup ClicheEach day during the 2014 World Cup the languagecaster team will be explaining a key word or phrase for learners of English in our World Cup Language posts. With two days to go until the start of the tournament we feature the World Cup cliche ‘slow starter‘.

World Cup Cliche – Slow Starters

The World Cup cliche ‘slow starters‘ is often used when talking about Italy, the Azzuri. In the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain, they drew their first three games and since then they have a reputation for not winning their opening game. In the same tournament, of course, they went on to be crowned champions, so the cliche slow starters also has the inference that they will get stronger. The adjective ‘notorious‘ is often added to the cliche to give ‘Italy are notorious slow starters‘. With just two days to go before the start of the tournament, England, Italy’s first opponents, will be hoping the cliche is true!

  • Example: Italy are notorious slow starters in international tournaments.
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I was born and brought up near Chester in the north west of England. I have always loved playing and talking about sport, especially football!
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