Forget treadmills and tennis courts — the English language is absolutely obsessed with sport, even when we’re not playing any! From office meetings to dating disasters, Brits can’t resist sneaking a bit of football, boxing, or horse racing into everyday chat.
We’re constantly ‘dropping the ball,’ ‘calling the shots,’ or being ‘out of our league,’ without ever breaking a sweat. These idioms have sprinted off the pitch and straight into daily speech — and if you want to sound fluent, you’ll need to know how to use them.
So, lace up your linguistic trainers and grab your water bottle — here are 20 sporty English expressions that’ll help you stay on the ball in any conversation.
Get the Ball Rolling (and Keep It Going!)
The ball’s in your court
Sport: Tennis
It’s your turn to act or decide.
‘I’ve sent the proposal; the ball’s in your court now, mate.’
To get the ball rolling
Sport: Ball sports
To start an activity or process.
‘Right, let’s stop faffing about and get the ball rolling on this garden project.’
To drop the ball
Sport: Ball sports
To make a big mistake or fail to do your job properly.
‘The whole team was furious when Dave dropped the ball and forgot to book the venue.’
Keep your eye on the ball
Sport: Ball sports
To stay focused and not get distracted.
‘It’s easy to lose track, but you’ve got to keep your eye on the ball with this budget.’
The Battle for Control and Success
To call the shots
Sport: Billiards/Pool
To be in charge and make the decisions.
‘The new manager calls the shots, so we have to do what he says.’
To have the upper hand
Sport: Any contest
To have an advantage or be in control.
‘They had the upper hand in the negotiation because they knew we were desperate.’
To be out of your league
Sport: Baseball
When someone or something is too good or difficult for you.
‘She’s beautiful and a rocket scientist - she’s definitely out of my league.’
Below the belt
Sport: Boxing
An unfair or cruel remark.
‘Bringing up his failed marriage was a bit below the belt, wasn’t it?’
To throw in the towel
Sport: Boxing
To give up or admit defeat.
‘After three failed attempts to fix the washing machine, I decided to throw in the towel and call a plumber.’
A long shot
Sport: Shooting/Hunting
Something that is unlikely to succeed.
‘Asking the boss for a month off is a long shot, but you never know!’
Reaching the Finish Line (or Failing to)
Go the distance
Sport: Boxing/Running
To continue until the end of a difficult task.
‘The project was tough, but we managed to go the distance and finish on time.’
Hit a home run / Knock it out of the park
Sport: Baseball
To achieve great success.
‘That presentation was amazing! You totally knocked it out of the park.’
In the home stretch
Sport: Horse Racing
Near the end of something.
‘Only one more chapter to write, and then we’re in the home stretch!’
To jump the gun
Sport: Racing
To start too early.
‘I bought the celebratory cake, but I think I might have jumped the gun - they haven’t announced the winner yet!’
Neck and neck
Sport: Horse Racing
Two competitors are very close in a race.
‘The two biggest companies are neck and neck in the race to develop the new tech.’
To score an own goal
Sport: Football/Soccer
To make a mistake that harms your own cause.
‘Inviting his ex to the party was a real own goal, wasn’t it?’
A Sporting Mix-Up
Skating on thin ice
Sport: Ice Hockey/Skating
To be in a risky or precarious situation.
‘You’re really skating on thin ice with those late arrivals, pal.’
To be on target
Sport: Archery/Darts
To be doing the right thing to achieve a goal.
‘Our sales figures show we’re on target for a record-breaking year.’
To take a rain check
Sport: Baseball
To postpone or decline politely now but suggest later.
‘I’d love to come to the pub, but I’ll have to take a rain check - I’m swamped with work.’
Three strikes and you’re out
Sport: Baseball
You only get three chances before you’re done.
‘The boss is strict; it’s three strikes and you’re out of this project if you miss any more deadlines.’
Honestly, now you know these, you’ll be hearing them absolutely everywhere. You’ll be talking about your boss calling the shots while you’re in the home stretch of a deadline, only to realise you dropped the ball on a key task and are now skating on thin ice.
It really shows that whether we’re wearing a suit or a sports kit, deep down, everything’s a competition, eh?