Can You Pass This Football Slang Term Quiz?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
7 min
Can You Pass This Football Slang Term Quiz?
Image: Sally Anscombe / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Given time, every subculture develops its own shorthand. These lexicons vary in importance and strangeness; some specific terms are clearly derived and thus clearly understood, whilst other slang is so far removed from its origins that unless one is specifically told, one will not know what is meant by them. Every sport develops some shorthand, be it the use of acronyms or made-up slang, and football is no different.

Football has the advantage of being a very old game with centuries of play behind it. Football's style of play is active and against the clock, meaning that shorthand is valuable to players on the pitch, allowing quick and efficient communication. Being an international sport, football has benefited from the input of many cultures and languages, expanding the possibilities for slang through cultural exchange. Played by children and adults, football incorporates many points of view. Still, even the most ardent player can't know all of the shorthand used by footballers the world over. Knowing even an iota of the entire slang lexicon is enough to improve teamwork, so for the serious footie enthusiast, slang knowledge is a requirement.

Do you know the in-house language of the beautiful game, or are you merely a poseur with a limited vocabulary? It's time to test your footie-in-mouth skills!

Q1 a header
Pexels by Retha Ferguson
If asked to make "a header," would you know what to do?
Yes! Hit the ball with one's head!
Yes! Get ahead in the score!
Yes! Pass the ball to the furthest forward player!
Yes! Kick the ball into someone's head!
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With most players unable to use their hands in play, feet, knees and heads are relied upon. A header is an action by which a player uses their head to deflect or impact the ball to a specific course, either scoring a goal or passing to another player.

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Q2 worm burner
Tom And Steve / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images
Would you know what you saw if you spotted a "worm burner"?
Yes, it would be a dark ball played on a hot day.
Yes, it would be very low and fast.
Yes, it's a football game played on soil without grass.
None of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Some kicks bend through the air. Some kicks soar and dive. A worm-burner is a kick that travels at high velocity without getting very high from the ground, usually only clearing the ground by a few centimeters. It is so named because the ball is hit hard and low enough to affect anything living in the ground, apparently including worms.

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Q3 breakaway
nycshooter / E+ / Getty Images
What do people mean when they say a "breakaway"?
It's when someone falls and breaks their leg.
It's a moment when a player with the ball has nothing but clear space between him and the goalie.
It's when one player leaves a pack of players to distract the goalie.
It's when the ground under a player's feet rips away.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A breakaway is the sort of thing that thrills some fans and causes others to despair. It is a moment when a player who has the ball has nothing but empty space separating him from the goalie and the goal, making it much easier to charge at the goal and attempt to score.

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Q4 marking
Unsplash by Jeffrey F Lin
What is "marking"?
It's when a player has a bounty put on them.
It's a kind of player-coverage.
It's when a player falls and dirties their uniform.
It's when a player makes a mistake in their trousers.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Marking a player means covering the player in a one on one fashion. Marking is usually done when the defender (the player doing the marking) believes that the player they mark is going to be passed the ball. Marking a player is intended as a prelude to intercepting a pass.

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Q5 clearing kick
Henrik Sorensen / DigitalVision / Getty Images
If you heard someone had made a "clearing kick," would you know what they did?
Yes! A stretching exercise!
Yes! Tripping another player.
Yes! Another name for a bicycle kick.
Yes! A kind of defensive kick.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A clearing kick is a kick made defensively. Specifically, a clearing kick is a kick made by a defender in which the ball is transported from the defender's side of the pitch to the other side of the pitch, changing the dynamic of the game and perhaps passing the ball to a striker in on the defender's team.

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Q6 Centring kick
Thomas Barwick / DigitalVision / Getty Images
"Centring kick" sounds very zen. What does it mean?
Kicking the ball to the centre of the goal
A kick that calibrates a player's body coordination
Kicking the ball from the centre of the goal to the sidelines
A kick from the side to the centre
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A centring kick is a kick from the sidelines, sometimes a corner kick or the like, allowing the kicking player to pass to another player in the centre of the pitch. The purpose of a centring kick is usually to set up a striker for a goal, either by kicking or heading the ball.

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Q7 off-the-ball
Tom And Steve / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images
What is someone describing when they say something happened "off-the-ball"?
When muck stuck to the ball gets into someone's eyes
The action taken immediately after a header
Kicking the ball
Action happening with players who do not have the ball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Any action off-the-ball is an action taken by players who do not have the ball at the time of the action. For example, a defender and a striker may try to shove past each other to intercept a ball, but until one of them has the ball, their actions are off-the-ball.

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Q8 Trapping
amriphoto / E+ / Getty Images
"Trapping" sounds scary! What is it really?
Stopping the movement of the ball with one's foot
Cornering a player on four sides
Tripping a player out of the playable area of the pitch
Forcing a player to kick the ball out of bounds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Trapping isn't just stopping the ball from moving using one's foot. Specifically, trapping involves stopping the ball from moving by stamping one's foot down onto the ball, thus "trapping" it between one's foot and the ground.

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Q9 Chip pass
Unsplash by Jeffrey F Lin
"Chip pass" sounds delicious. What's it really?
Passing the ball to the player with whom you've shared a sack of chips
Passing the ball to the hottest player on the team
It's a short, curved pass.
A short pass over a defender's head
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A chip pass is a kind of short pass where the player in possession of the ball hits the ball with a force similar to chipping away at a stone, sending the ball up and over a defender, to the receiver. A chip pass is a clever way of getting around a defence.

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Q10 linesman
ikada / E+ / Getty Images
Who or what is a "linesman"?
Part of a wall
An assistant referee
A player who is very fast when running in a straight line
A player who cannot kick the ball in such a way that it bends
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Linesmen are a special kind of assistant referee whose job is to watch for when the ball crosses a line into an out-of-bounds area. When this happens, they signal the referee, who is responsible for taking action as a result of the call.

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Q11 Whip It in
Andrew Paterson / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images
What is someone doing when they "whip it in"?
Put the ball in the box at speed for someone else to score
Hit another player accidentally
Score an own-goal
Mime kicking the ball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whipping it in is kicking the ball into the box at speed for another player to attempt to score on the goalie. Pace is obviously an important part of this, as doing it slowly could hardly be called "whipping" it in.

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Q12 advantage
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Do you know what "advantage" is?
Yes! When one team leads in scoring.
Yes! When one team has more players on the pitch.
Yes! When one team has more players on the half of the pitch with the ball.
Yes! When a ref does not call a foul but reserves the right to.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Advantage is a special situation when a player has been fouled, but the ref has not called the foul because it hasn't changed the dynamic of the play, meaning the attacker's team is still in a position to score. If the attackers fail, then the ref can call the foul, as it may be deemed to have contributed to the failure of the play.

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Q13 upper v
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Why should "upper v" strike fear into the hearts of defenders? What is it?
It describes the portion of the goal where the sides meet the top, which is almost impossible to defend.
It's when a player misses the ball and kicks the defender between their legs.
It's a formation for attacking the goal.
It's a kind of collarbone injury common to goalies.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An upper V is indeed the top section of the goal where the bar describing the top meets the bar on the side of the goal, forming a sort of "V." When balls are hit to this part of the goal, they are notoriously difficult to reach and because they are so high, even harder to block.

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Q14 area chica
Rudolf Vlcek / Moment / Getty Images
What does "area chica" mean?
The sensitive part of the instep
The space around an unattended ball
The box around the goal
The worst player on a team
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bit of football slang originating in Spanish, "area chica" literally means "girl area," but it isn't clear why this term was chosen for the goalie's box. It is possible that reaching the area is deemed a prize, or that players who are tasked with defending are somehow more feminine. Whatever the origins, the meaning is clear.

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Q15 two-foot
Image Source / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Is "two-foot" a dance move?
No. It is a two-footed tackle.
No. It's a two-footed kick.
No. It's a player who is an excellent attacker.
No. It's a player who is awful.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A slide tackle is a vicious move in the beautiful game, and the most devious players execute it from behind other players. A two-foot is a slide tackle done with both feet, usually behind. It is dangerous and may injure the target of the attack.

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Q16 booked
David Madison / DigitalVision / Getty Images
What does it mean when someone is "booked"?
It means they are sandwiched between two larger players.
It means they trip.
It means their name is written down in a ref's book, noting that they have been carded.
It means they are red-carded.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When referees card players for fouling other players, there are, of course, degrees of cards. When a player is carded, in order to keep track of the number of times they have been carded, and thus the degree of any further infraction, their names are written in the referee's book.

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Q17 Tuck-in
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"Tuck-in" may sound like something players do when they eat. What is it really?
It is the name for the pre-game meal.
Bunch up with other players
It is the name for the post-game meal.
None of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This term is usually used about defence. The meaning of "tuck-in" is for players to bunch together, creating a physical barrier. Such a barrier can either be used to stop players from passing the ball, or attacking the goal, or, indeed, intercepting a player who has the ball.

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Q18 Tiki-taka
Alistair Berg / DigitalVision / Getty Images
"Tiki-taka"? What's that?
A toe-kick
Dribbling the ball using only one's instep
A midfielder who pushes into the attack
A style of play
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tiki-taka is the name given to a style of play popular in Barcelona and Spain. Specifically, tiki-taka involves retaining possession of the ball by frequent, quick passing of the ball from player to player.

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Q19 sweeper
Unsplash by Ruben Leija
What's a "sweeper"?
A long-legged player
A type of dive made by goalies
A ref who breaks up fights
A kind of defensive player
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When most of defence is dedicated to marking players from the other side, one player must remain free to catch the mistakes that slip through. The player tasked with "sweeping up" after these failures is the "sweeper." The job of sweeper is perhaps one of the most important defensive jobs in the game.

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Q20 Derby
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A "Derby"? Is that even a football term?
It's a game involving a lot of running and little scoring.
It's a game between two very fast teams.
It's a game involving cross-town rivals.
It's a game in the rain.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A derby is a game in which the two teams playing come from the same place, but have very different fan bases, as they are rivals. Derbies are often heated affairs, even when little is at stake aside from bragging rights.

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Q21 crack
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A "crack"? What's that?
A talented player
An injured player
A terrible player
A player who cheats
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Spain has produced some of the most peculiar slang in the beautiful game, some perhaps a result of Spanish players living in the UK. In describing a cracking player, Spanish players may refer to that player as a "crack." This is always meant in a nice way.

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Q22 squeaky bum time
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When is "squeaky bum time"?
When the players are very sweaty
When the game is nearly over but not yet decided
When the fans are very sweaty
When a player falls to the ground after the pitch is soaked by rain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Squeaky bum time" is an expression having to do with the perspective of the fans. It means the time toward the end of the game when the game is almost over but not yet decided. Anything can happen at any time in football, and the tide may turn in even the final seconds of a game. Squeaky bum time.

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Q23 Square ball
Unsplash by Jeffrey F Lin
"Square ball"? Is that even possible?
It's when a ball is kicked on six sides by different players.
It's when someone kicks a trapped ball.
It's when two players kick the ball at the same time, in opposite directions.
It's a lateral pass.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A square ball is not a kind of ball, but a kind of pass. There are times when players who have the ball may want to pass it to a teammate, but not want to move the ball forward or backward, for strategic reasons. At this time, a lateral pass (right angle, therefore square) is used.

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Q24 Capocannoniere
Eugenio Marongiu / Cultura / Getty Images
Who or what is a "Capocannoniere"?
A team's coach
A team's owner
The best player in Spain
A kind of Italian player
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Few countries love football quite like Italy. Italy's Serie A football is especially loved, for it is where some of the best players test their skills against their rivals. When Italy's Serie A names its best player, that player is referred to by the nickname "Capocannoniere."

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Q25 shepherding
Pexels by Yogendra Singh
When someone is "shepherding," what are they doing?
Mowing grass
Chasing a ball without catching it
Joining a wall
Guiding an opposing player to a defender
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As in all things, it is possible for a football player to influence the choices of other football players. Shepherding is a perfect example of this. Like a herding dog, the player guides the attacking player toward another defender, thus creating a more advantageous defensive scenario.

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Q26 dummy run
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Who would make a "dummy run"?
Someone deceiving a defender
A very stupid player
Someone who mistakenly sees the ball moving
The ball itself
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A "dummy run" is a kind of play made to break a hole in a team's defence by means of deception. More specifically, a striker would suddenly move as though they have the ball, an act that in the chaos of the pitch, may draw the attention of a defender, even for a moment, creating an opening for whoever really has the ball.

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Q27 rabona
Pixabay by Phillip Kofler
What's a "rabona"?
It's when a player falls, breaking something.
It's when a player takes a dive.
A goal made from a great distance
A deceptive kick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A rabona is a kind of kick used by a player in possession of the ball. It is done to confuse the defenders and to show off just a bit. This type of kick is made by kicking the ball from behind the player's weight-bearing leg, meaning kicking the ball from behind the standing leg.

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Q28 free transfer
Pexels by Markus Spiske temporausch.com
Do you know what a "free transfer" is?
It's a pass made to another player without the opposing team trying to interfere.
It's a player who leaves a team for another team without warning.
It's a player who leaves a team for another and the first team isn't compensated.
It's when the ball is passed to the wrong player, but it works out.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When players transfer from team to team whilst under contract, the team they leave is usually compensated financially in the form of a transfer fee. If this move from team to team takes place after a player's contract ends, then there is no fee paid, and the transfer is deemed "free."

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Q29 perfect hat-trick
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What does it take to achieve a "perfect hat-trick"?
Three goals scored: with head and with each foot
Three goals scored: from within the box, just outside of the box, and from the other end of the pitch
Three goals scored: all done with one's head
Three goals scored past three different defenders
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A perfect hat-trick is a term for a special kind of achievement in football: a player must score three times in a game in three ways. In any particular order, the player must score a goal with a header, with a left kick, and with a right kick.

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Q30 Olympic kick
Sally Anscombe / Photodisc / Getty Images
"Olympic kick"? What's that?
A goal scored from the opposite end of the pitch, with one kick
A goal scored from a corner kick
A kick made in the air
A kick made with one's heel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Akin to the Beckham special, an Olympic kick is a kind of bending kick that is extraordinarily difficult to do. An Olympic kick is a kick made from the corner that bends in the air and scores a goal. Doing this requires incredible control and tremendous spin.

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Q31 golden goal
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Who is the man with the "golden goal"?
Someone who scores the opening goal of a game
Someone who scores a deciding goal with seconds remaining on the clock
Someone who scores a deciding goal in overtime
A goalie who saves his team from the deciding score
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When games go into overtime, the stakes are raised. Players will become more worn out and prone to mistakes as the game drags on. A single goal could decide everything. A golden goal is such a goal: a goal made in overtime that decides the game.

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Q32 panenka
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Who or what is a "panenka"?
The best bad player from Argentina
A way of passing the ball using only headers
A formation
A deceptive kind of penalty kick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When players take penalty kicks, they are usually done with great force. A panenka is a penalty kick in which the kicker's body language signals a strong kick, but in the final moment before the kick, the energy goes down and the kicker softly kicks the ball, usually as part of a strategy to pass it to someone else.

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Q33 hospital ball
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Can you name a "hospital ball"?
I can. It's a player who trips on the ball, injuring him or herself.
I can. It's when a player tries to kick the ball, missing, and injuring themselves.
I can. It's a bad pass resulting in potential for injury.
I can. It's a ball kicked directly into the face of another player.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Poor play on the pitch can lead to accidents, collisions and other dangerous circumstances. A hospital pass is a kind of badly executed pass that puts the receiver in position to be injured in the play resulting from the pass. Dangerous indeed.

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Q34 handbagging
Tim Macpherson / Cultura / Getty Images
When players are "handbagging," what are they doing?
Cheating by holding the ball with their hands
Pushing other players back with their hands
Holding each others' arms as though holding handbags
Having a slap fight
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Handbagging is one of the most delightful expressions in football. It is when players fight on the pitch, but the fight isn't a real fight, but more of a slap fight. This type of combat is called handbagging because it resembles elderly ladies fighting each other with their handbags as weapons.

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Q35 in-swinger
technotr / E+ / Getty Images
Could you spot an "in-swinger"?
I can! It's a ball bending toward the goal.
Yes, I can! It's a player positioning him or herself behind the goalie, to complete a score.
Yes. It's a player rushing toward the goalie, with the ball.
Indeed. It's a ball kicked to one side of the goal.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An "in-swinger" is a kicked ball that bends toward the goal instead of away from it. In-swingers, which would include the Beckham special, are difficult to execute, and players who are good at them tend to specialise in the play.

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You Got:
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