Football words and expressions beginning with E and F
Quite a lot (especially F)! Any feedback you can give us will be put into the final version of the complete dictionary, coming soon(ish)
Early bath- An amusing way of saying a RED CARD, because you will go back to the LOCKER ROOM before the other players
Elimination- Losing a match and going out of a KNOCKOUT COMPETITION, or losing a match and so not being able to get enough points to PROGRESS to the NEXT STAGE
Equaliser- A goal which makes the scores EVEN, for example going from 2-1 to 2-2
Even- Both teams having the same score during a match, e.g. being 2 ALL (2-2) at HALF TIME. Often confused with a DRAW, which is the score at the end of the match being equal
Executive box- A luxurious area in which the chairman of the club, rich businessmen etc can watch the match and socialise in comfort
Expulsion- see RED CARD
Extra time- Play continuing after the REGULATION TIME of 90 minutes because the scores are EVEN and so the winner is not yet decided. GOLDEN GOAL is a particular kind of extra time.
FA (The)- The (English) Football Association, the English member of FIFA, in charge of all divisions below the PREMIERSHIP, and the NATIONAL SIDE
FA Charity Shield- See CHARITY SHIELD
FA Cup- The most prestigious CUP COMPETITION in England. Unlike the LEAGUE CUP, NON-LEAGUE SIDES can also play in this competition
Fan- A supporter of a particular club. Although fan comes from the word FANATIC, their modern meanings are very different.
Fanatic- Someone who is too obsessed with a particular team, an extreme FAN
Fanzine- A magazine (usually more like a newsletter) written by and published by fans, often critical of the club management and sold by people in the street outside the stadium before a game
Far post- The post that is furthest away from the person taking a SHOT at goal
Favourite- The team that most people think will win
Feint- See DUMMY
FIFA- The International Federation of Association Football (French: Fédération Internationale de Football Association), in charge of international football such as the World Cup. Pronounced as it was one word, like “feefer”
Final- The last match of a CUP COMPETITION, deciding who the champion is
Finishing- SHOOTing, usually used to talk about how well a player does so
Firm- A slang way of referring to a gang of football hooligans
First half- The first 45 minutes of match (plus INJURY TIME), followed by a break
First leg- When which team wins will be decided after two matches, usually HOME and AWAY (e.g. the Champions’ League SEMI FINALS), the first of the two matches which is played is the first leg
First team- Another way to say SENIOR TEAM
First touch- (1) Being able to quickly control the ball when it comes to you, e.g. being to PASS it without needing to TRAP it first (2) The first time a player kicks or heads the ball after coming into the match, e.g. “After coming on as a SUBSTITUTE, Owen scored the EQUALISER with his first touch (of the ball)”
Five a side- A form of football with only 10 players in total on the pitch, which is usually smaller than a REGULATION PITCH
Fixture- A MATCH
Fixture list- A list of all the games that a team will play during a season and which ones will be AT HOME or AWAY
Flag- See CORNER FLAG
Flag post- The (traditionally wooden) post which marks the corner and has a fabric flag on it
Flair player- A player who is very skilful, for example being able to DRIBBLE, GO PAST MEN or do the BICYCLE kick. Often used to suggest that the player isn’t so reliable or won’t do boring things like DEFEND
Flank- Another way to say WING
Flat back four- The defenders playing in (more or less) a straight line. The opposite of the SWEEPER system
Flick- Like a DEFLECTION in that the ball isn’t deflected much from its original route, but deliberate and usually with the foot or head
Floodlights- Lights that mean play can continue when it would otherwise be too dark
Fluke- A lucky goal or save, for example the ball going off your bottom INTO THE NET
Follow a team- Support a particular SIDE
Football kit- See KIT
Football pitch- See PITCH
Footie- An informal British way of saying football, more popular in the UK than the expression “SOCCER” since Brits realised that Americans always use “soccer” (“football” in the USA meaning American football)
Formation- How the players are arranged on the pitch, e.g. FOUR FOUR TWO
Forward- A more official way of saying STRIKER
Four four two- A FORMATION with four DEFENDERs, four MIDFIELDERs and two STRIKERS.
Fourth official- A referee who watches the match on TV and can be asked to look at SLOW MOTION REPLAYs to make a difficult decision, e.g. whether the ball CROSSed THE LINE
Free kick- Similar to a PENALTY, but with the ball further from the goal. Collocations- Awarded a + , Take a +, INDIRECT FREE KICK, DIRECT FREE KICK
Free transfer- A player moving from one team to another without the new club needing to pay TRANSFER FEES, for example as a BOSMAN TRANSFER at the end of their contract
Friendly- A match that is just for practice or charity. The opposite of a COMPETITIVE MATCH
From 12 yards- From the PENALTY SPOT (12 yards is the distance from the goal to the penalty spot).
Full backs- Wider defensive players, in contrast to CENTRAL DEFENDERS
Full international- A match with NATIONAL SIDE that is COMPETITIVE, i.e. not a FRIENDLY. This expression is often used to show that a player has reached the top level of the game, e.g. “Roberts never expected to play his first full international at the age of 34”
Fumble- The GOALKEEPER not catching the ball properly, often leading to a goal
Index of all past and future entries:
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ge...ngenglish.html
Re: Football words and expressions beginning with E and F
'front foot' - England are on the front foot' (after Gerrard scored, before Green spooned the ball into his own net - there's another word for you, later - spoon (a ball))
Re: Football words and expressions beginning with E and F
Not so sure about 'front foot'. It's originally - isn't it? - a boxing metaphor (like many others: 'back foot', 'set him back on his heels', 'technical knockout', 'won on points', 'on the ropes', 'saved by the bell', 'below the belt', 'out on his feet', 'come out fighting', 'have someone in your corner'...) - and it's used in many contexts other than football.
I think the expression 'early bath' was coined by Eddie Waring, for a sport that didn't (at the time - I'm not so sure now, as I don't watch Rugby League) have red cards - malefactors were just sent off. Now, 'early bath' is used for anyone sent off in a competitve game of any sort, with or without red cards. I think the reference to red cards in your definition is unnecessary - and perhaps add a note about the general usage,
b
Re: Football words and expressions beginning with E and F
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BobK 
Not so sure about 'front foot'. It's originally - isn't it? - a boxing metaphor (like many others: 'back foot', 'set him back on his heels', 'technical knockout', 'won on points', 'on the ropes', 'saved by the bell', 'below the belt', 'out on his feet', 'come out fighting', 'have someone in your corner'...) - and it's used in many contexts other than football.
I think the expression 'early bath' was coined by Eddie Waring, for a sport that didn't (at the time - I'm not so sure now, as I don't watch Rugby League) have red cards - malefactors were just sent off. Now, 'early bath' is used for anyone sent off in a competitve game of any sort, with or without red cards. I think the reference to red cards in your definition is unnecessary - and perhaps add a note about the general usage,
b
Take your point but I think Alex is looking for words and expressions commonly used in a football context, whether or not they are exclusively used in this context. If you look at most of the words above and under other letters, a large percentage could be used in other sports and some outside a sporting context.
Re: Football words and expressions beginning with E and F
Surely in football if you are sent off you always get a red card??
My guiding principle is to cover words and expressions that are fairly common in football commentary and journalism and are unlikely to be in an Advanced learner's dictionary. Not sure about front foot one way or the other, will check a dictionary or two when I get back to work
Re: Football words and expressions beginning with E and F
Quote:
Originally Posted by
alexcase Surely in football if you are sent off you always get a red card??
In league games, yes. though it's a relatively new idea - about 35-45 yrs, I'd guess. Now it's very widely used, even outside sport. I can remember such public health slogans as 'Show drink/drivers the red card.'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
alexcase My guiding principle is to cover words and expressions that are fairly common in football commentary and journalism and are unlikely to be in an Advanced learner's dictionary. Not sure about front foot one way or the other, will check a dictionary or two when I get back to work
My ears pricked up when I heard 'England are on the front foot' after the first goal in that match, but I ruled it out; knowing your guiding principle, I'd rule it back in!
b
