These usages are arranged alphabetically, all having something to do with the theme of "sports." For fuller information about each usage, see the main list. There are twenty-six files there. Just click on to the appropriate letter.
across the park: where the rival team is
alehouse team: amateurs
Anfield: location of the Liverpool football ground and the center of the earth
away goals rule: counting goals scored away for more than those scored at home in the team standings
babying: handling the ball
backstop: wicket keeper in cricket
ballooning the ball: unusually high arch to the kick
banana kick: a curved trajectory
beating on a sixpence: turning on a dime
Beer Belly and Tattoos League: local pick-up football
bent ball: a kick with a curving pattern
bicycle kick: backward, over the head
billowing the rigging: scoring a goal
blinder, to be playing a: on a brilliant roll
blue nose: Everton fan
booking: referee's recorded warnings
bottle out, to: play timidly
bung: bribe
calcio: football
casey, a: full-sized football
catenaccio: defensive play
clean sheet, to have a: to go scoreless
clean sheets, to keep: not to allow any scores
clogger: a vicious player
cogger: his left is his best foot
corky: an authentic cricket ball
cracking: excellent
daisycutter: low pass
derby games: between teams from the same town
donkey: slow player
dragback: a fake-out maneuver
driller: a very powerful shot
dubbin: football sealant
dustbin: a hapless football team
FA: Football Association
fagger out: a cricket fielder
family planning: a groin kick
favours: colors of a certain team as apparel
flyaway: cheap, plastic football
footee: football
getting the legs of someone: outrunning them
going over the top: a camouflaged foul
Hard man: a very rough player
hare coursing: chasing hares with greyhounds by sight
hat trick: three goals, wins, or other triumphs
heading ball: goal scored with the head
Heysel: site of 1985 soccer tragedy in Belgium
Hillsborough: site of 1989 soccer tragedy in England
Hole, the: midfield space between two opposing teams
hospital pass: one which carries the risk of a dangerous tackle to the receiver
Ibrox Park: site of 1902 soccer tragedy in Scotland
jabbing salute: giving "the finger" to the fans, in a "sieg heil" gesture
jinking: rapid change of direction by a player
Kop, the: revered viewing section of the Liverpool Football Ground
lap of honour: victory strut
magic sponge: first aid swab for injured players
magistrate: player who rides the bench
needle match: traditional team rivalry, often with grudges
nutmeg, to(or nutting): head-butt
on song, to be: to be playing a hot streak
one footed player: always moves the ball with the same foot
onion bag: soccer net
own goal, an: credited to an opposing player
plastic, to be playing on: artificial surface
proey: program
run-out, giving a: gradually phasing a sidelined player back on to the team
sitter, a: an easy shot at the goal
spec, a good: good vantage point for viewing the game
spooning the ball: kicking it too high to be of any use
statues: slow reactors on the field
stiffs, playing in the: riding the bench
stramash: a melee
stroking the ball around: eating up the clock
taken to pieces: decisively thrashed on the field
tanner-megger: small, inexpensive football
terms, getting on: getting competitive in a game
the area: the penalty area
Tranmere: the Raiders, Liverpool's third team
wellied: kicked
SAYINGS (SPORTS)
Grab a shert: mark a member of the other team
Ee's got both legs in one knicker
Dur's more life in me bruvver, and ee's on an ergent note!
Ee cudden stop a pig in a jigger
Ardfaced get!: a vicious player
Ardclock!
Gerrup dur! Dur's money in de game!
Wur's yer white stick?
Rolll up yer Footeee Echo: you'll never make it to the Men's Room
God Save Our Gracious Team!: bless the true royals, Lord
Blind as a one-legged ref
Ittim now sun, yiv got dhe wind wijja: you need all the help you can get
Ee ay addio: Liverpool victory chant
It wuz already broke--honest ref!
To an overweight player"He's fat, he's round, his arse is on the ground."
When a player handles the soccer ball: "He's got `mitre'(trademark of the manufacturer) written on his hand/arm."
Slow and clumsy: " He turns like a North Sea Ferry."
Slow reactions and a consequent goal: "The keeper went down in installments."
Rather than lofting high passes: "Play to feet!"
The call to use the high ball: "Put some snow on it!"
After head butting, or "nutting": "Stitch that, Pal."
To a referee on an unpopular call: "Where's yer white stick?"
At a bald player: "Who's the bastard with the tit on his head?"
Heard about the referee when Celtic is playing: "Who's the Mason in the Black?"
About an inept soccer player" "I've seen milk turn faster."