Soccer is one of the most popular sports around the world. In the United States, many kids play soccer at school or with local teams. When people talk about soccer, they sometimes use special sayings called idioms. These idioms help describe the game in a fun and colorful way. Instead of saying something in a plain way, idioms use creative words to express what’s happening.
In this article, you’ll learn 30 idioms that are used when talking about soccer. These sayings can help make stories about soccer more interesting. Whether you’re watching a game, playing with friends, or just talking about your favorite team, these idioms will help you understand and describe soccer in a better way.
Idioms for Soccer
1. Kick off
Meaning: To begin something, like a game or event.
Samples: We will kick off the game at 4 PM. / The teacher kicked off the lesson with a fun quiz.
To Put it Another Way: Let’s start now. / The event began.
2. On the ball
Meaning: Being alert and ready.
Samples: The goalie was really on the ball during the game. / You have to be on the ball in class too.
To Put it Another Way: Paying attention. / Ready to act fast.
3. Move the goalposts
Meaning: To change the rules in an unfair way.
Samples: It felt like they moved the goalposts when they added more work. / That’s not fair you can’t move the goalposts now!
To Put it Another Way: Changing the rules at the last minute. / Making things harder after starting.
4. Get the ball rolling
Meaning: To start something.
Samples: Let’s get the ball rolling on our project. / He got the ball rolling with his first goal.
To Put it Another Way: Let’s begin. / He started it.
5. A game of two halves
Meaning: A situation that changes from good to bad or the other way.
Samples: The match was a game of two halves we lost the first but won the second. / His day was a game of two halves: bad morning, great afternoon.
To Put it Another Way: Things changed during the middle. / It went from one extreme to another.
6. Score an own goal
Meaning: To do something that accidentally makes things worse for yourself.
Samples: Forgetting his homework was like scoring an own goal. / She scored an own goal by arguing with the coach.
To Put it Another Way: Hurting yourself by mistake. / Making your own problem.
7. Hit the ground running
Meaning: To start something quickly and with energy.
Samples: Our team hit the ground running after halftime. / He hit the ground running at his new school.
To Put it Another Way: Started fast and strong. / Wasted no time.
8. On the sidelines
Meaning: Not taking part, just watching.
Samples: I had to sit on the sidelines after getting hurt. / She felt on the sidelines when her friends played without her.
To Put it Another Way: Not involved. / Just watching.
9. Keep your eye on the ball
Meaning: Stay focused.
Samples: Keep your eye on the ball if you want to win. / I kept my eye on the ball and finished my homework early.
To Put it Another Way: Pay attention. / Stay focused.
10. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to make a decision or act.
Samples: I gave him the idea, now the ball is in his court. / She knows what to do the ball is in her court.
To Put it Another Way: It’s your move. / You decide now.
11. Get a kick out of
Meaning: To enjoy something a lot.
Samples: I get a kick out of watching soccer games. / He gets a kick out of making people laugh.
To Put it Another Way: I really like it. / It makes me happy.
12. Blow the whistle
Meaning: To report or stop something wrong.
Samples: The referee blew the whistle on a foul. / She blew the whistle on the cheating.
To Put it Another Way: Call out the bad stuff. / Stop something wrong.
13. Kick it into high gear
Meaning: To speed up and work harder.
Samples: We kicked it into high gear and scored two goals. / Time to kick it into high gear and finish this assignment.
To Put it Another Way: Hurry and try harder. / Go faster.
14. Take one for the team
Meaning: To do something hard for the benefit of the group.
Samples: He took one for the team by playing goalie. / I took one for the team and cleaned up.
To Put it Another Way: Helped the group by doing the hard part. / Did it for everyone else.
15. Red card
Meaning: A serious warning or punishment.
Samples: That bad foul got him a red card. / Skipping school again might earn you a red card from your teacher.
To Put it Another Way: Big trouble. / A serious warning.
16. Pass the ball
Meaning: Share the task or give someone else a chance.
Samples: Pass the ball we all want to play. / In group work, you should pass the ball sometimes.
To Put it Another Way: Share the job. / Let others try.
17. It’s a whole new ball game
Meaning: Everything has changed.
Samples: After the new coach came, it was a whole new ball game. / High school is a whole new ball game.
To Put it Another Way: Everything feels different. / It’s a new start.
18. Put your best foot forward
Meaning: Try your hardest.
Samples: He put his best foot forward in the tryouts. / Always put your best foot forward when meeting new people.
To Put it Another Way: Do your best. / Try hard.
19. Play your cards right
Meaning: Make smart choices.
Samples: If you play your cards right, you’ll win. / He played his cards right and made the team.
To Put it Another Way: Be smart. / Choose wisely.
20. Back of the net
Meaning: A successful result.
Samples: That goal went straight to the back of the net! / Getting an A felt like hitting the back of the net.
To Put it Another Way: A big win. / Total success.
21. Out of bounds
Meaning: Not allowed or acceptable.
Samples: That tackle was out of bounds. / Her rude words were out of bounds.
To Put it Another Way: Not okay. / Over the line.
22. Under the radar
Meaning: Not noticed or getting attention.
Samples: He played well but stayed under the radar. / That team is under the radar but strong.
To Put it Another Way: Quiet but good. / Not standing out.
23. Call the shots
Meaning: Be the one who makes the decisions.
Samples: The coach calls the shots in the game. / At home, Mom calls the shots.
To Put it Another Way: The boss. / The one who decides.
24. Drop the ball
Meaning: Make a mistake.
Samples: I dropped the ball and forgot my cleats. / Don’t drop the ball during the test.
To Put it Another Way: Messed up. / Made an error.
25. Keep it in play
Meaning: Keep things going smoothly.
Samples: She kept the ball in play near the goal. / Try to keep the conversation in play.
To Put it Another Way: Keep things working. / Don’t let it stop.
26. Field day
Meaning: A fun or exciting time.
Samples: We had a field day at the tournament. / The science fair was a field day for our class.
To Put it Another Way: A super fun time. / Everyone enjoyed it.
27. Save the day
Meaning: Fix a bad situation.
Samples: The goalie saved the day with that stop. / He saved the day by finding the lost ball.
To Put it Another Way: Made it better. / Helped just in time.
28. Out of left field
Meaning: Unexpected.
Samples: That goal came out of left field! / Her answer was out of left field and surprised us.
To Put it Another Way: A surprise. / Didn’t expect that.
29. Level the playing field
Meaning: Make things fair.
Samples: New rules helped level the playing field. / Giving everyone the same tools leveled the field.
To Put it Another Way: Make it equal. / Give everyone a fair chance.
30. Final whistle
Meaning: The end of something.
Samples: The final whistle blew, and we won! / After the final whistle, we all cheered.
To Put it Another Way: It’s over. / The end happened.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Soccer
Title: “The Big Soccer Match”
It was the day of the big soccer match between the Tigers and the Eagles. The school field was packed. Coach Taylor told everyone, “Let’s kick off strong and show our teamwork!”
Jamal was on the ball, watching every move. He kept his eye on the ball, making quick passes. During the first half, they scored a goal, and the crowd cheered, “Back of the net!”
But things changed after halftime. The Eagles scored twice. It felt like a game of two halves. Coach shouted, “We need to kick it into high gear if we want to win!”
In the last minute, the Tigers got a free kick. Everyone was nervous. Jamal looked at the goal, took a deep breath, and kicked. The ball soared and hit the net just before the final whistle!
After the game, Coach smiled and said, “You all really took one for the team today.”
Your Task:
Can you find and underline or list all 8 idioms used in the story?
Answer Key
- Kick off
- On the ball
- Kept his eye on the ball
- Back of the net
- Game of two halves
- Kick it into high gear
- Final whistle
- Took one for the team
Conclusion
Soccer idioms are fun and help us talk about games in exciting ways. These phrases come from the sport but can be used in everyday life too. You might use them when you’re doing a project, solving a problem, or even just having fun with friends.
When you learn idioms like “kick it into high gear” or “take one for the team,” you’re learning how to say things in a more interesting way. Try using one the next time you’re working hard or helping a friend. It will make your language more colorful and fun to hear.
