Sport idioms & expressions

Learn sports vocabulary with definitions & examples.

English Sport Idioms: Explore winning expressions

Welcome to our blog exploring the thrilling world of sports, competition, and language! We focus on sport idioms and expressions that are commonly used in sporting contexts, for athletics, football and more.

The UEFA European Championship in Germany and the Olympics in France in 2024 makes it a great time to enhance your English language skills in the lead up to these special occasions.

Let’s dive into the excitement of sports while expanding our knowledge of English idioms and expressions.

go for gold

Meaning
to strive for the highest achievement or aim for victory.

Example
In the final lap, he pushed harder than ever to go for gold and won the 400m race in the athletics championship.

jump the gun / false start

Meaning
to start something prematurely or before the right time.

Example
The sprinter jumped the gun and her false start resulted in disqualification from the race.

a level playing field

Meaning
fair and equal conditions for competition.

Example
To ensure a level playing field for all competitors in the Olympics, athletes can be tested anytime and anywhere for prohibited substances.

give it your best shot

Meaning
to try your hardest and with the maximum effort.

Example
Despite being incredibly nervous, the young gymnast gave it her best shot and performed flawlessly on the balance beam.

take the lead

Meaning
to take first position in a competition.

Example
The cyclist gave it his best shot and managed to take the lead in the final lap of the race.

fall behind

Meaning
to perform slower than or not as well as others in a competition.

Example
The marathon runner had a good start, but began to fall behind in the second half of the race.

throw in the towel

Meaning
to give up or stop doing something before you have finished.

Example
After struggling for the whole race, the marathon runner decided to throw in the towel in the second half, and then focus on getting stronger for the next competition.

call the shots

Meaning
to be in control and make decisions.

Example
Even though the football manager calls the shots, some players don’t agree with his decisions about substitutions.

meet your match

Meaning
to encounter someone who is equal or superior in skill or ability.

Example
The world heavyweight boxer met his match last weekend and the referee stopped the fight in the third round.

(hit) below the belt

Meaning
to behave unfairly in sport (originally from boxing) or to say something personal or insulting in an argument.

Example
1. The boxer was warned by the referee for hitting below the belt during the match.

2. When I was having a meeting about a promotion at work, it was below the belt when they asked about my personal problems at home.

down to the wire

Meaning
describes when the outcome is uncertain until the very end.

Example
The basketball game was down to the wire, with both teams tied until the final minutes of overtime.

neck and neck

Meaning
describes when competitors are as strong as each other and have an equal chance of winning.

Example
As they approached the finish line, the two runners were neck and neck, making it impossible to predict the winner.

have the upper hand

Meaning
to have control or an advantage over others.

Example
With a two-point lead and only minutes left in the game, our team finally had the upper hand.

a long shot

Meaning
describes when someone is unlikely to succeed or has little chance of winning in a competition.

Example
The young tennis player was considered a long shot to win against the top-seeded players.

stay ahead of the game

Meaning
to maintain an advantage over competitors.

Example
By constantly adapting to new training techniques, the French football team was able to stay ahead of the game and remain competitive.

frontrunner

Meaning
the leading competitor in a race or competition.

Example
The Kenyan athlete emerged as the frontrunner in the London marathon, maintaining a steady pace ahead of the pack.

go the distance

Meaning
to continue until the end of a challenge or competition.

Example
Despite problems with previous injuries, the tennis player was determined to go the distance and finish the match.

the home stretch

Meaning
to be near the end or in the final stages of a competition.

Example
As the marathon entered the home stretch, the leading runners pushed themselves to maintain their pace for the final kilometres.

win hands down

Meaning
to win easily or decisively.

Example
The defending champion won hands down with superior technique and strength.

a winning streak

Meaning
a series of consecutive victories.

Example
Our basketball team are on a winning streak, having won all their matches in the tournament so far.

Try using sport idioms and expressions

These idioms and expressions offer a fascinating insight into the world of sports. Not only can you enrich your language skills, but you can also deepen your passion for the sport.

By learning these idioms and incorporating them into your language, you will improve your communication in English and sound more like a native speaker. So be ready to score like a pro with these phrases and take your sports vocabulary to the next level!

To learn English idioms about other topics, please visit our free vocabulary lessons too.