FOOTBALL is the most popular sport in the world. Even if you do not follow the sport, you should have a general idea of how it is played, that being two opposing teams kick a ball so that it ends up in the opposite side’s goal. You should also hear many expressions from football used in everyday life.

When you say someone is “on the ball”, that person is clever, alert and capable, such as a student finding grammatical errors that a teacher missed.

Another expression is “back of the net”, which is an exclamation of joy because you feel like you have won something in the same way you kicked a ball into a net. Some people, though, think it makes you sound a little smug or stuck up because you are congratulating yourself!

When you have a “hat trick”, it means you have won or got good results three times in a row. A player can get a hat trick by scoring three times in one game, or a person might win three different awards for the same achievement.

There are other sayings that you might hear in ordinary life that are related to football. If someone accuses another of “moving the goalposts”, it means they are changing the rules and you have to do more than before to achieve something.

Meanwhile, if someone tells you to “keep your eye on the ball”, it means you should stay focused on your task and not get distracted.

Credits: Issue 07, 10 November 2022 (Thursday) by Quest from hkej

1. exclamation (n) 呼喊

2. smug (adj) 沾沾自喜的

3. stuck up (adj phr) 自命不凡的

4. achievement (n) 成就

5. focused (adj) 集中注意力的

6. distracted (adj) 注意力分散的

A HAT trick refers to a series of wins or achievements. There are other expressions that also mean that one is doing well. One could have a “winning streak”, which means you keep winning or having success for a period of time.

When taking part in any game or sport, one can have a “blow out” or a “shutout”, which means the other side scored little, or not at all, as if you pushed them out of the game entirely.

Credits: Issue 07, 10 November 2022 (Thursday) by Quest from hkej

Synonyms are words or phrases that have similar or identical meanings.

1. Happy – It can also mean joyful, delighted, content, pleased and ecstatic.

2. Sad – It can also mean unhappy, sorrowful, melancholy, dejected and gloomy.

3. Tired – It can also mean exhausted, weary, fatigued, drained and worn out.

4. Smart – It can also mean intelligent, clever, brilliant, knowledgeable and wise.

5. Big – It can also mean large, huge, enormous, gigantic and massive.

Below are links to free English Language Learning Materials:

BBC English

Speak Street Worksheet

British Council Learn English

Caro Kowanz English