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Fun with English sharing by Pioneer Junior College's PE Department
Sports Idioms
• Phrases from sports that have become
idioms in common daily usage.
• They have meanings independent of sports.
• Often used by those with little knowledge of
these games.
CAN YOU SPOT THE SPORTS IDIOM?
THIS IS JOSE MOURINO.
HI! JOSE!
JOSE IS “THE SPECIAL ONE”!
JOSE IS A FOOTBALL CLUB MANAGER.
HE IS THE MANAGER OF CHELSEA FC.
THIS IS JURGEN KLOPP.
HI! JURGEN!
JURGEN IS ALSO A FOOTBALL CLUB MANAGER.
HE IS THE MANAGER OF BORUSSIA DORTMUND.
THIS IS ARSENE WENGER.
ARSENE IS “THE PROFESSOR”.
HE IS ALSO A FOOTBALL CLUB MANAGER.
HE IS THE MANAGER OF ARSENAL FC.
Jose: Hey Jurgen, have you heard the latest?
Jurgen: Yeah, they’re looking for a manager
again. Seems like the goal posts have been
moved on him.
Jose: Yeah…Moyes was on a sticky wicket.
Wasn’t really a level playing field for him.
JOSE JURGEN
MOVING THE GOAL POSTS
If you move the goal posts half way through a game
it changes the original aim of the game for the
players. This means to change the aim or rules after
something has started.
STICKY WICKET
After rain it is difficult to play
cricket as the ground or the
grass is sticky. This means an
awkward situation.
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
Refers to the game being
fair if both teams are
evenly matched in terms
of experience, quality of
players and other factors.
This means a fair
situation.
Jurgen: The board said that he wasn’t up to
par and asked him to resign but he told them
he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel so they
sacked him!
Jose: No way…that’s just not cricket. So who
do you think’ll get it this time?
JOSE JURGEN
TO THROW IN THE TOWEL
When a boxer is in trouble the fight can be
stopped by the trainer by throwing a towel into
the boxing ring. This therefore means to give up.
IT’S JUST NOT CRICKET
Cricket is seen as a very
gentlemanly, fair game and
therefore something is seen
as unfair if we use this
expression.
Jurgen: Apparently, Andre has applied for it.
Jose: Well, that’s par for the course. Any
other serious contenders?
JOSE JURGENANDRE
PAR FOR THE COURSE / ON A PAR WITH
Par is the normal number of strokes that it takes to get
round a golf course. Therefore this means what is
normal or expected.
Jurgen: I think Harry has a chance, his work
at Spurs really impressed me.
Jose: Seriously?? The man is only good for
the S-League!
Jurgen: Well, that’s a bit below the belt even
if he’s not up to par.
JOSE JURGEN
HARRY
BELOW THE BELT
Refers to a low illegal punch in a match. This means
something is unfair or not following the rules.
NOT UP TO PAR
This is below the expected level of achievement.
Jose: I’ve got inside news it’s going to be
Giggs.
Jurgen: No, you’re backing the wrong horse
there; he’d never go into management
JOSE JURGEN
GIGGS
BACKING THE WRONG
HORSE
Refers to betting
money on the wrong
horse.
This means making a
bad or inappropriate
choice.
Jose: Hmmmm…Ancelotti from Real Madrid!
Hard working, respected by the players and
the board love him!
JOSE JURGEN
Jurgen: Too true, horses for courses I say!
Jose: It could be neck and neck between him
and Andre; and I think Andre is on a par with
him in experience. So Jurgen, what are you
up to?
JOSE JURGEN
HORSES FOR COURSES
Refers to owners needing to
choose the right horse for the
right race course. This means
different people are suited to
different things or situations.
NECK AND NECK
Refers to when the horses
are side by side. This means
exactly even in competition
or comparison.
Arsene: Hi Jurgen, ready to go?
Jurgen: Sorry Jose, catch you later…going to
grab a pint with Arsene.
Jurgen (to Arsene): Thanks Arsene, saved by
the bell, didn’t want to tell him that I’ve
applied for the job!”
JOSE JURGEN
ARSENE
SAVED BY THE BELL
Refers to the bell ringing at the end of each round
which temporarily stops the fight. This means to get
out of a difficult situation at the last minute.
THANKS FOR STAYING AWAKE…
YOU’VE BEEN A GREAT AUDIENCE

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Fun with English sharing by Pioneer Junior College's PE Department

  • 2. Sports Idioms • Phrases from sports that have become idioms in common daily usage. • They have meanings independent of sports. • Often used by those with little knowledge of these games.
  • 3. CAN YOU SPOT THE SPORTS IDIOM?
  • 4. THIS IS JOSE MOURINO. HI! JOSE! JOSE IS “THE SPECIAL ONE”! JOSE IS A FOOTBALL CLUB MANAGER. HE IS THE MANAGER OF CHELSEA FC.
  • 5. THIS IS JURGEN KLOPP. HI! JURGEN! JURGEN IS ALSO A FOOTBALL CLUB MANAGER. HE IS THE MANAGER OF BORUSSIA DORTMUND.
  • 6. THIS IS ARSENE WENGER. ARSENE IS “THE PROFESSOR”. HE IS ALSO A FOOTBALL CLUB MANAGER. HE IS THE MANAGER OF ARSENAL FC.
  • 7. Jose: Hey Jurgen, have you heard the latest? Jurgen: Yeah, they’re looking for a manager again. Seems like the goal posts have been moved on him. Jose: Yeah…Moyes was on a sticky wicket. Wasn’t really a level playing field for him. JOSE JURGEN
  • 8. MOVING THE GOAL POSTS If you move the goal posts half way through a game it changes the original aim of the game for the players. This means to change the aim or rules after something has started.
  • 9. STICKY WICKET After rain it is difficult to play cricket as the ground or the grass is sticky. This means an awkward situation.
  • 10. LEVEL PLAYING FIELD Refers to the game being fair if both teams are evenly matched in terms of experience, quality of players and other factors. This means a fair situation.
  • 11. Jurgen: The board said that he wasn’t up to par and asked him to resign but he told them he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel so they sacked him! Jose: No way…that’s just not cricket. So who do you think’ll get it this time? JOSE JURGEN
  • 12. TO THROW IN THE TOWEL When a boxer is in trouble the fight can be stopped by the trainer by throwing a towel into the boxing ring. This therefore means to give up.
  • 13. IT’S JUST NOT CRICKET Cricket is seen as a very gentlemanly, fair game and therefore something is seen as unfair if we use this expression.
  • 14. Jurgen: Apparently, Andre has applied for it. Jose: Well, that’s par for the course. Any other serious contenders? JOSE JURGENANDRE
  • 15. PAR FOR THE COURSE / ON A PAR WITH Par is the normal number of strokes that it takes to get round a golf course. Therefore this means what is normal or expected.
  • 16. Jurgen: I think Harry has a chance, his work at Spurs really impressed me. Jose: Seriously?? The man is only good for the S-League! Jurgen: Well, that’s a bit below the belt even if he’s not up to par. JOSE JURGEN HARRY
  • 17. BELOW THE BELT Refers to a low illegal punch in a match. This means something is unfair or not following the rules.
  • 18. NOT UP TO PAR This is below the expected level of achievement.
  • 19. Jose: I’ve got inside news it’s going to be Giggs. Jurgen: No, you’re backing the wrong horse there; he’d never go into management JOSE JURGEN GIGGS
  • 20. BACKING THE WRONG HORSE Refers to betting money on the wrong horse. This means making a bad or inappropriate choice.
  • 21. Jose: Hmmmm…Ancelotti from Real Madrid! Hard working, respected by the players and the board love him! JOSE JURGEN
  • 22. Jurgen: Too true, horses for courses I say! Jose: It could be neck and neck between him and Andre; and I think Andre is on a par with him in experience. So Jurgen, what are you up to? JOSE JURGEN
  • 23. HORSES FOR COURSES Refers to owners needing to choose the right horse for the right race course. This means different people are suited to different things or situations.
  • 24. NECK AND NECK Refers to when the horses are side by side. This means exactly even in competition or comparison.
  • 25. Arsene: Hi Jurgen, ready to go? Jurgen: Sorry Jose, catch you later…going to grab a pint with Arsene. Jurgen (to Arsene): Thanks Arsene, saved by the bell, didn’t want to tell him that I’ve applied for the job!” JOSE JURGEN ARSENE
  • 26. SAVED BY THE BELL Refers to the bell ringing at the end of each round which temporarily stops the fight. This means to get out of a difficult situation at the last minute.
  • 27. THANKS FOR STAYING AWAKE… YOU’VE BEEN A GREAT AUDIENCE