While you might think of it as a game with a ball and two teams, there’s a whole world of idioms associated with soccer that can help you understand the sport on a deeper level.
In this listicle, we’ll kick around some common soccer idioms, explain what they mean, and show you how they are used in everyday language.
What is an idiom for soccer?
Idioms are expressions that go beyond the literal meanings of words. They use figurative language to convey ideas or emotions, often in a creative or colorful way.
Soccer, being a global sport, has its fair share of idioms that have made their way into everyday language.
Let’s explore some of these idioms and understand their meanings:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Kick the ball around | To casually play soccer or engage in a relaxed game. | After work, we like to gather in the park and kick the ball around for fun. |
| A level playing field | A situation where everyone has an equal opportunity and chances are fair. | In this company, promotions are based on merit, creating a level playing field for all employees. |
| Play ball | To cooperate or participate in a situation. | The two teams decided to play ball and work together to organize the charity event. |
| Keep your eye on the ball | To stay focused on the task at hand and not get distracted. | If you want to succeed in school, you need to keep your eye on the ball and study regularly. |
| Pass the buck | To shift responsibility or blame to someone else. | Instead of admitting his mistake, he tried to pass the buck to his colleague. |
| Score an own goal | To unintentionally harm your own interests or team. | By missing the important meeting, he scored an own goal for his career. |
| Offside trap | A defensive strategy where players move forward together to catch opponents in an offside position. | The team successfully executed the offside trap, preventing the opponents from scoring. |
| Red card | A card shown to a player as a penalty for a serious foul or misconduct, resulting in ejection from the game. | The referee had no choice but to show a red card to the player who committed the dangerous tackle. |
| Yellow card | A card shown to a player as a warning for a less severe foul or misconduct. | After the late tackle, the referee issued a yellow card, cautioning the player. |
| Hometown advantage | When a team performs better in their home environment due to familiarity and support from local fans. | The team’s strong performance at their home stadium was a result of the hometown advantage. |
| Hat-trick | When a player scores three goals in a single game. | The striker’s incredible hat-trick secured the team’s victory. |
| Play by the rules | To follow the established guidelines and not cheat or take shortcuts. | In this competition, it’s essential to play by the rules to maintain fairness. |
| Blow the whistle | To signal the end of a game or activity, often used metaphorically. | After the final presentation, the boss will blow the whistle, and we can all go home. |
| Corner kick | A type of free kick taken from the corner of the field. | The team had a corner kick opportunity to score a goal. |
| Kick off | To start a game or event. | The referee will blow the whistle to kick off the match. |
| Foul play | Unfair or dishonest behavior, often used in a non-soccer context. | The investigation revealed evidence of foul play in the financial transactions. |
| Ball is in your court | It’s your turn to take action or make a decision. | I’ve done my part; now the ball is in your court to decide. |
| Play for keeps | To take a situation seriously, with permanent consequences. | This job interview is not a practice round; we’re playing for keeps. |
| Go for goal | To attempt to score a goal, often used metaphorically. | In this project, we need to go for goal and achieve our objectives. |
| On the back foot | In a defensive or disadvantageous position. | After losing the key client, the company is on the back foot in the market. |
| Call the shots | To be in charge and make decisions. | In our group project, Sarah likes to call the shots and lead the team. |
| Put the boot in | To criticize or attack someone, often harshly. | Instead of offering help, he chose to put the boot in and blame her for the mistake. |
| Play second fiddle | To have a less important or influential role. | Although she’s talented, she’s always played second fiddle to her more successful sibling. |
| The beautiful game | A nickname for soccer due to its elegance and global appeal. | Many around the world refer to soccer as “the beautiful game.” |
| The final whistle | The end of a game or event. | With the final whistle, the championship match concluded, and the winners celebrated. |
| Park the bus | A defensive strategy where a team focuses on defending with many players near their own goal. | With a one-goal lead, the team decided to park the bus to secure the victory. |
| Goalmouth scramble | A chaotic situation in front of the goal when players struggle to score or defend. | The last-minute goalmouth scramble resulted in a dramatic equalizer. |
Playing soccer is like a symphony of swift feet and a goal that’s the crescendo of teamwork. If you want more comparisons to describe soccer, you can find them at this link: Similes for soccer. And for a variety of metaphors related to soccer, you can explore this link: Metaphors for soccer.
Idioms for Soccer
1. Kick the ball around
Meaning: To casually play soccer or engage in a relaxed game.
In a Sentence: After work, we like to gather in the park and kick the ball around for fun.
2. A level playing field
Meaning: A situation where everyone has an equal opportunity and chances are fair.
In a Sentence: In this company, promotions are based on merit, creating a level playing field for all employees.
3. Play ball
Meaning: To cooperate or participate in a situation.
In a Sentence: The two teams decided to play ball and work together to organize the charity event.
4. Keep your eye on the ball
Meaning: To stay focused on the task at hand and not get distracted.
In a Sentence: If you want to succeed in school, you need to keep your eye on the ball and study regularly.
5. Pass the buck
Meaning: To shift responsibility or blame to someone else.
In a Sentence: Instead of admitting his mistake, he tried to pass the buck to his colleague.
6. Score an own goal
Meaning: To unintentionally harm your own interests or team.
In a Sentence: By missing the important meeting, he scored an own goal for his career.
7. Offside trap
Meaning: A defensive strategy where players move forward together to catch opponents in an offside position.
In a Sentence: The team successfully executed the offside trap, preventing the opponents from scoring.
8. Red card
Meaning: A card shown to a player as a penalty for a serious foul or misconduct, resulting in ejection from the game.
In a Sentence: The referee had no choice but to show a red card to the player who committed the dangerous tackle.
9. Yellow card
Meaning: A card shown to a player as a warning for a less severe foul or misconduct.
In a Sentence: After the late tackle, the referee issued a yellow card, cautioning the player.
10. Hometown advantage
Meaning: When a team performs better in their home environment due to familiarity and support from local fans.
In a Sentence: The team’s strong performance at their home stadium was a result of the hometown advantage.
11. Hat-trick
Meaning: When a player scores three goals in a single game.
In a Sentence: The striker’s incredible hat-trick secured the team’s victory.
12. Play by the rules
Meaning: To follow the established guidelines and not cheat or take shortcuts.
In a Sentence: In this competition, it’s essential to play by the rules to maintain fairness.
13. Blow the whistle
Meaning: To signal the end of a game or activity, often used metaphorically.
In a Sentence: After the final presentation, the boss will blow the whistle, and we can all go home.
14. Corner kick
Meaning: A type of free kick taken from the corner of the field.
In a Sentence: The team had a corner kick opportunity to score a goal.
15. Kick off
Meaning: To start a game or event.
In a Sentence: The referee will blow the whistle to kick off the match.
16. Foul play
Meaning: Unfair or dishonest behavior, often used in a non-soccer context.
In a Sentence: The investigation revealed evidence of foul play in the financial transactions.
17. Ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
In a Sentence: I’ve done my part; now the ball is in your court to decide.
18. Play for keeps
Meaning: To take a situation seriously, with permanent consequences.
In a Sentence: This job interview is not a practice round; we’re playing for keeps.
19. Go for goal
Meaning: To attempt to score a goal, often used metaphorically.
In a Sentence: In this project, we need to go for goal and achieve our objectives.
20. On the back foot
Meaning: In a defensive or disadvantageous position.
In a Sentence: After losing the key client, the company is on the back foot in the market.
21. Call the shots
Meaning: To be in charge and make decisions.
In a Sentence: In our group project, Sarah likes to call the shots and lead the team.
22. Put the boot in
Meaning: To criticize or attack someone, often harshly.
In a Sentence: Instead of offering help, he chose to put the boot in and blame her for the mistake.
23. Play second fiddle
Meaning: To have a less important or influential role.
In a Sentence: Although she’s talented, she’s always played second fiddle to her more successful sibling.
24. The beautiful game
Meaning: A nickname for soccer due to its elegance and global appeal.
In a Sentence: Many around the world refer to soccer as “the beautiful game.”
25. The final whistle
Meaning: The end of a game or event.
In a Sentence: With the final whistle, the championship match concluded, and the winners celebrated.
26. Park the bus
Meaning: A defensive strategy where a team focuses on defending with many players near their own goal.
In a Sentence: With a one-goal lead, the team decided to park the bus to secure the victory.
27. Goalmouth scramble
Meaning: A chaotic situation in front of the goal when players struggle to score or defend.
In a Sentence: The last-minute goalmouth scramble resulted in a dramatic equalizer.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1:
Question: What does the idiom “Play ball” mean?
- To engage in a soccer match.
- To cooperate or participate in a situation.
- To play with a ball.
Answer: 2. To cooperate or participate in a situation.
Quiz 2:
Question: What does the expression “Score an own goal” imply?
- Scoring a goal in your opponent’s net.
- To unintentionally harm your own interests or team.
- Scoring a hat-trick.
Answer: 2. To unintentionally harm your own interests or team.
Quiz 3:
Question: What is the meaning of the soccer idiom “Yellow card”?
- A card shown to a player as a penalty for a serious foul.
- A card shown to a player for scoring a goal.
- A card shown to a player as a warning for a less severe foul or misconduct.
Answer: 3. A card shown to a player as a warning for a less severe foul or misconduct.
Quiz 4:
Question: What does the idiom “Blow the whistle” signify?
- To celebrate a goal in soccer.
- To signal the end of a game or activity.
- To request a substitution.
Answer: 2. To signal the end of a game or activity.
Quiz 5:
Question: What does the expression “Hometown advantage” refer to?
- When a team performs better in their home environment.
- A strategy used in soccer to score more goals.
- When a team brings its own fans to an away game.
Answer: 1. When a team performs better in their home environment.
Quiz 6:
Question: What is the meaning of the idiom “Put the boot in”?
- To tie your shoelaces.
- To criticize or attack someone, often harshly.
- To encourage your team.
Answer: 2. To criticize or attack someone, often harshly.
Quiz 7:
Question: What does “Play by the rules” signify?
- To break the established guidelines.
- To follow the established guidelines and not cheat or take shortcuts.
- To make up your own rules.
Answer: 2. To follow the established guidelines and not cheat or take shortcuts.
Quiz 8:
Question: When is the idiom “Go for goal” typically used?
- To attempt to score a goal.
- To defend against an opponent’s attack.
- To pass the ball to a teammate.
Answer: 1. To attempt to score a goal.
Quiz 9:
Question: What does the soccer idiom “Call the shots” mean?
- To make important decisions.
- To criticize the referee’s decisions.
- To celebrate a goal.
Answer: 1. To make important decisions.
Quiz 10:
Question: What does “Play second fiddle” imply?
- To be the star player of the team.
- To have a less important or influential role.
- To play a musical instrument.
Answer: 2. To have a less important or influential role.
Conclusion
Soccer isn’t just a sport; it’s a source of inspiration for idioms that have found their way into everyday language. These expressions offer colorful ways to describe various situations and actions.
