Football Idioms in English

Football isn’t just played on the pitch; it has scored a place in the English language too.

Many football idioms and expressions are now used in everyday conversations, business, and the media. The tricky part? They often have nothing to do with football at all.

You can move the goalposts without moving a real goal, or be on the ball without touching one.

In this guide, you’ll discover common football idioms in English, their meanings, and how to use them naturally in everyday sentences.

What is football?

Football is one of the world’s most popular sports, played by millions of people around the globe. It is a team game where two teams of 11 players compete to score goals by kicking a round ball into the opponent’s net.

But watch out, football can be a little confusing! In American English, this sport is usually called soccer because football refers to a completely different game. Same word, very different sport!

What Are Football Idioms?

A football idiom is a phrase that comes from the beautiful game but has a meaning far beyond the pitch. These expressions have become part of everyday English, and native speakers use them all the time without even thinking about it.

The tricky bit? Football idioms are not always meant literally. If someone moves the goalposts, they probably haven’t grabbed a pair of goalposts and carried them away! They have changed the rules or expectations of a situation.

Learning these phrases will help you understand natural English, follow conversations, and sound more like a native speaker.

Common Football Idioms and Their Meanings

Ready to kick off? Let’s dive into some of the most common football idioms in English, including their meanings and real-life examples. Don’t worry, you won’t need football boots for this one!

a hat trick

meaning: three successful achievements or events in a row

examples:

  • She scored a hat trick by winning three awards in the same year.
  • He completed a hat trick of successes by getting promoted three times in five years.
  • The company achieved a hat trick of record-breaking sales this quarter.
  • I managed to complete a hat trick by finishing three big projects before the deadline.
Cartoon chef in kitchen celebrating a "hat trick" of competition wins with three trophies.

a level playing field

meaning: a fair situation where everyone has the same opportunities and no one has an unfair advantage

examples:

  • The new rules were introduced to create a level playing field for all businesses.
  • Small companies need a level playing field so they can compete with larger organisations.
  • The teacher wants to give every student a level playing field by providing extra support.
  • The changes to the competition rules will help create a level playing field for all teams.
Cartoon teacher addressing students during an exam to illustrate the idiom "a level playing field."

get a kick out of something

meaning: to enjoy something or get pleasure from something

examples:

  • I get a kick out of watching old football matches.
  • She got a kick out of surprising her friends at the party.
  • He has always got a kick out of learning new languages.
  • We’ll get a kick out of seeing the team play live next weekend.
Cartoon illustration explaining the idiom "get a kick out of something" featuring a Frank Sinatra-style singer on stage.

get someone on side

meaning: to gain someone’s support or make someone agree with your ideas or plans

examples:

  • She got her team on side before starting the new project.
  • He got his boss on side by explaining his plan clearly.
  • They have got the local community on side with their new campaign.
  • We’ll need to get everyone on side before making a final decision.

get the ball rolling

meaning: to start something or begin a process

examples:

  • Let’s get the ball rolling and start the meeting.
  • She got the ball rolling by asking the first question.
  • They have already got the ball rolling on their new project.
  • We’ll get the ball rolling once everyone arrives.
An illustration explaining the idiom 'get the ball rolling' with characters on a beach, a missing dog poster, and text definitions.

keep one’s eye on the ball

meaning: to stay focused on what is important and avoid distractions

examples:

  • You need to keep your eye on the ball if you want to finish the project on time.
  • She kept her eye on the ball and achieved her goals.
  • He has always kept his eye on the ball when it comes to his career.
  • We’ll need to keep our eyes on the ball during the final stages of the competition.
Cartoon illustration of a stressed baker in a messy kitchen holding a tray of burnt cupcakes and explaining, 'I didn't keep my eye on the ball,' relating to the idiom on the screen.

keep the ball rolling

meaning: to continue something or keep a process moving forward

examples:

  • We need to keep the ball rolling and finish the project this week.
  • She kept the ball rolling by organising another meeting.
  • They have kept the ball rolling despite facing several challenges.
  • We’ll keep the ball rolling once the new team members join.
Cartoon illustration of a boss handing a large stack of files to an office worker to illustrate the football idiom "keep the ball rolling.

kick off

meaning: to start something, or to start a fight or argument

examples:

  • The football match will kick off at 3 pm.
  • The meeting kicked off with a short introduction.
  • They have kicked off their new marketing campaign this week.
  • We’ll kick off the project after the holidays.
An illustration of a man with a weapon about to 'kick off' outside a house with a broken window, defining the football idiom

know the score

meaning: to understand a situation and know what is really happening

examples:

  • She knows the score and understands how difficult the job will be.
  • I knew the score before I agreed to join the team.
  • They have known the score from the beginning.
  • You’ll know the score once you’ve read the instructions.
Cartoon illustration of an angry woman holding a baby as she orders her drunk husband out of the house, illustrating the football idiom "know the score".

move the goalposts

meaning: to unfairly change the rules or expectations of a situation, usually to make something more difficult

examples:

  • The company moved the goalposts and added new requirements at the last minute.
  • They moved the goalposts after we had already agreed on the plan.
  • He has been moving the goalposts throughout the project.
  • They’ll move the goalposts again if we don’t set clear rules.
Cartoon of a cleaner refusing extra work after a customer changes the agreement, illustrating the football idiom "move the goalposts".

on the ball

meaning: to be alert, prepared, and quick to understand or react to something

examples:

  • She is always on the ball and never misses a deadline.
  • He was on the ball and solved the problem quickly.
  • They have been on the ball throughout the entire project.
  • You’ll need to be on the ball during the final interview.
Illustration of a family by a lake, with a father, mother, and running toddlers, demonstrating the football idiom 'on the ball.' Text shows the idiom's meaning: 'to be alert, prepared, and quick to understand or react.

on the bench

meaning: to be a substitute player who is waiting to join the game, or to be temporarily left out of an activity

examples:

  • He was on the bench for most of the match.
  • She has been on the bench since recovering from her injury.
  • The manager left him on the bench because he was tired.
  • I’ll be on the bench until the coach decides to put me in.
Construction cartoon illustrating the football idiom 'on the bench' meaning temporary side-lining.

on the sidelines

meaning: to be watching or waiting instead of taking part in an activity or situation

examples:

  • He spent most of the match on the sidelines because of an injury.
  • She felt like she was on the sidelines during the important decisions.
  • They have been sitting on the sidelines instead of getting involved.
  • I don’t want to stay on the sidelines; I want to be part of the team.
Cartoon illustration of two sick zombies on a couch with a speech bubble and text box explaining the football idiom "on the sidelines."

score an own goal

meaning: to make a mistake that causes problems for yourself or damages your own success

examples:

  • The company scored an own goal by ignoring customer complaints and losing many loyal customers.
  • He scored an own goal during the interview by speaking badly about his previous employer.
  • The politician scored an own goal by making comments that upset many voters.
  • I scored an own goal by leaving my application until the last minute and missing the deadline.
Cartoon illustrating the football idiom "score an own goal" showing an upset woman sitting by a birthday muffin while her husband leaves to watch a match, having forgotten her birthday.

tackle something

meaning: to deal with or try to solve a problem or difficult situation

examples:

  • We need to tackle this problem before it gets worse.
  • She tackled the difficult task and finished it on time.
  • They have tackled several challenges during the project.
  • He’ll tackle the issue when he returns tomorrow.
Cartoon illustration of a woman in an office explaining the idiom 'tackle something,' with a definition box at the bottom.

You can download a table of football/soccer idioms and expressions below.

Download

Football Idioms vs Literal Football Words

Football has kicked its way into everyday English, but this can make things a little confusing for learners. A word that sounds like it belongs on the pitch might have a completely different meaning in a conversation.

Don’t worry, you won’t need a referee for this one! Here are some common football words and phrases that have taken on a new life outside the game.

 

Football word or phrase Football meaning Everyday meaning
kick off to start a football match to start an event, activity, or conversation
move the goalposts to move the posts where players score to unfairly change rules or expectations
on the ball to have possession of the ball to be alert, prepared, and quick to react
drop the ball to lose control of the ball to make a mistake or fail to do something
the ball is in your court often confused with football, but actually comes from tennis it is your responsibility to make the next move
get the ball rolling to start play to start a process or activity
level playing field a fair pitch for both teams a fair situation where everyone has the same opportunities
against the run of play when a team scores unexpectedly based on the match something happens when it seems unlikely or unexpected
back on the pitch returning to play after leaving the field returning to an activity or situation after a break
drop into the game joining a match becoming involved in an activity or situation

 

 

So next time someone says they are on the ball, they probably don’t mean they are balancing on a football! These expressions show how much football has influenced the English language.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are football idioms?

Football idioms are phrases that come from football but have meanings beyond the sport. Native English speakers often use these expressions in everyday conversations, business, and the media.

What are some common football idioms?

Some popular football idioms include move the goalposts, kick off, get the ball rolling, be on the ball, drop the ball, and level playing field.

What does “move the goalposts” mean?

Move the goalposts means to unfairly change the rules, requirements, or expectations of a situation, making something more difficult.

Is “kick off” a football idiom?

Yes, kick off is a football expression that is also used in everyday English. It means to start something, such as a meeting, event, or project.

What is the difference between football idioms and football vocabulary?

Football vocabulary describes things directly related to the game, such as goal, pitch, and striker. Football idioms use football words but have a different, figurative meaning.

Are football idioms used outside sport?

Yes. Many football idioms are used in everyday English, even when people are not talking about football. For example, someone can be on the ball at work or drop the ball by making a mistake.

Why are football idioms difficult to learn?

Football idioms can be tricky because the meaning is often not literal. A person who moves the goalposts is not actually moving football equipment; they are changing the rules of a situation.

Are football idioms only used in British English?

No. Many football idioms are used in different varieties of English, although some expressions are more common in British English because football is especially popular in the UK.

Want to Keep Learning?

Enjoyed exploring the world of football idioms? Don’t stop there! There are plenty more English expressions, tricky phrases, and language challenges waiting for you.

Head over to our other pages and keep building your English skills:

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There’s always another phrase to learn, so keep exploring and keep improving your English!

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