This football language glossary explains the words, phrases, football cliches, and expressions used in real matches, commentary, and football discussions. You can search for a term or explore the glossary alphabetically. Each entry includes a clear definition, examples, and links to related football language. Want to practise using these phrases? Join the discussion in our Football Language Forum and try writing your own examples.
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A-BC-DE-FG-HI-K L-NO-QR-ST-VW-Z0-9
A
- Acres of space
- Across the face of goal
- Acute angle
- Add some steel
- Adrift
- (to) Advance
- (a great) Advert for the game
- AFCON
- After extra time (AET)
- Against the run of play
- (on) Aggregate
- Agree a deal
- All (e.g. two all)
- (to be) All over a team
- (to be) All over the place
- All to play for
- Angled drive
- Apertura
- Apiece
- (to) Appoint a new manager
- As it stands
- Assistant referee
- Assist
- (to be) At it
- Atlantic League
- (to be) At sixes and sevens
- (to be) At stake
- At the death
- (to/an) Attack
- Attacker
- Attacking flair
- Attendance
- At the end of the day
- (to) Avoid the drop
- Award a penalty
- Away goals
- (to be) axed
- Azzurri
B
- B-team
- Back foot
- Back four
- Backs to the wall
- Back pass
- Back to back (victories)
- Back with a bang
- A Bad day at the office
- Bafana Bafana
- Ball
- Ball hog
- Ball is there to be won
- Ball to hand
- Ballon d’Or
- Balloon over (the bar)
- Ball watching
- Ban
- Basque derby
- Battling for survival
- BBC
- (to) Be in the bag
- (to) Beat a player
- (the) Beautiful game
- (to) Bed in
- Behind closed doors
- (to be) Below par
- Between the sticks
- (to) Be up for it
- (to) Be drawn against
- (to) Be sidelined
- ‘Becks‘
- Bench
- Best third-placed sides
- Beyond the pale
- Bicycle kick
- Bid
- Big ask
- Blast
- Blatant penalty
- Blaze over the bar
- Blinder
- (to) Blow away
- (to) Blow a chance
- (to) Blow a lead
- (to) Blow wide open
- Blunder
- Blushes are spared
- Bogey team
- (to) Bomb forward/on
- (to) Book a place in
- (to) Book their place
- (to be) Booked
- (a) Booking
- (to get the) Boot
- Bore draw
- (to) Boss the game
- (to) Bottle
- (to) Bounce back
- Bouncebackability
- (to) Bow out
- Boxing Day fixtures
- Box-to-box midfielder
- (a) Brace
- Bragging rights
- (to) Break a hoodoo
- (to) Break the bank
- (to) Break the deadlock
- (to) Break the offside trap
- Breakaway goal
- (to) Break down a defence
- (to) Bring down in the box
- (to be on the) Brink
- (to be) Brought down to Earth
- (to) Brush aside
- Buffet ball
- (to be) Bullish
- (a) Bullet header
- (to) Bully an opponent
- Bundesliga
- (to) Bundle
- (to) Bundle home
- (to) Bury (the ball)
- (the) Business end of the season
- Buy a goal (Can’t buy a goal)
- By the letter of the law
- By the skin of their teeth
- Byline
- Byline v Goal line
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