Football/Soccer idioms & phrases!

The start of the 2020/21 football season is fast approaching in England, and what a crazy season it’s been! Covid19, Liverpool champions and Sheff Utd & Wolves challenging for Champions League.

To celebrate a the coming season here’s a list of popular football / soccer idioms and phrases that can be heard in stadiums all around the country, every weekend:

You’ll hear many soccer idioms while watching a game!

a game of two halves: it was like watching two different games.

– We played terrible in the first half, but we were great in the second half, it was definitely a game of two halves!

route 1 football: long ball football.

– Any team managed by Sam Allardyce will always play route 1 football, kicking the ball long and looking for the big forward to win the headers. 

FUN FACT: A long aimless ball is often accompanied by a loud shout of HOOF by football crowds in England!

it was a stonewall penalty: it was a definite penalty

– I can’t believe the referee has missed that, it was a stonewall penalty! 

missed a sitter: he missed an easy chance

– Mo Salah missed a sitter on Saturday!

score a screamer: he scored with a long range great shot

– What a goal, it was a screamer from the edge of the area. 

play out of your skin: to play amazingly well

– Messi played out of his skin in the cup final.

take the game by the scruff of the neck: to take control of the game

– Ronaldo came on as sub and took the game by the scruff of the neck.

FUN FACT: scruff of the neck is the name of the skin at the back of a neck.

bogey team: team you never seem to beat, always lose to etc

– Next week we are playing our bogey team West Ham, we never beat them!

squeaky-bum time: towards the end of the season when tension is high

– With one game to go, the season is reaching squeaky bum time for the teams in the relegation battle.

FUN FACT: This phrase was created by Sir Alex Ferguson!

the business end of the season: towards the end of the season when all of the games are very important

– it’s the business end of the season now, every point counts! 

avoid the drop: not get relegated

– it looks as if Southampton are going to avoid the drop. 

to grind out a result: to play below average/badly but still get a point or win

– Man Utd managed to grind out another win last week. 

As always, if you have any questions about the phrases or any suggestions for the list, comment on this post or on comment on our Facebook page and we’ll get straight back to you!

Enjoy the rest of this incredible EPL season, and see if you can use any of these soccer idioms when you’re talking to your friends!

**Want to learn more soccer idioms? Click here to book a FREE no risk Trial lesson on Skype with Michael now!**