Football slang, explained
Football has its own language, and the weekly kickabout has even more of it. Here are the words you'll hear on the pitch, in the cage and in the group chat, and what they mean.
By Squadcard. Last updated .
In short
- Top bins: the top corner of the goal. A worldie: a brilliant goal.
- Nutmeg: playing the ball through an opponent's legs.
- Howler: a terrible mistake, usually by a keeper.
- Rush goalie: an outfield player who can also go in goal. Next goal wins: the last goal settles it.
Shots and goals
- Top bins: the top corner of the goal.
- Worldie: a world-class goal.
- Toe poke (toe punt): a shot with the tip of the boot.
- Screamer: a shot hit very hard into the net.
- Tap-in: a goal from very close.
- Sitter: an easy chance, usually missed.
- Bottle it: miss a chance through nerves.
- Brace: two goals. Hat-trick: three.
- Banger: a great goal, or a great kit.
Skills and mistakes
- Nutmeg (megs): playing the ball through an opponent's legs.
- Rabona: kicking with one leg wrapped behind the other.
- Rainbow flick: flicking the ball over your own head and an opponent's.
- Howler: a terrible mistake, usually by a goalkeeper.
- Air shot: swinging and missing the ball completely.
- Shinner: a shot off the shin.
- Hospital pass: a pass that gets the receiver clattered.
- Row Z: the back of the stand, where a big clearance goes.
The kickabout
- Jumpers for goalposts: playing anywhere, with jumpers as posts.
- Rush goalie (fly goalie): an outfield player who can also go in goal. See rush goalie rules.
- Next goal wins: the last goal decides it, whatever the score.
- Bibs and non-bibs: the two teams, by who's wearing the bibs.
- Winner stays on: the winning team plays the next team waiting.
- Headers and volleys: a game where goals only count from a header or a volley. See headers and volleys.
- Three and in: whoever scores three goes in goal. See 3 and in.
- Cage: a fenced 5-a-side pitch. Astro and 3G: artificial grass.
- The group chat: where the game is organised, the teams argued about and the excuses posted.
People
Need a name for the group chat to go with the language? Try the football group chat names or the football nickname generator.
- Baller: a very good player.
- Goal hanger: a player who never comes back to defend.
- Sunday league player: a cheerful, unfit amateur. Often used with love.
- Engine: a player who runs all game.
- Cone: a player who doesn't move. Also a training marker.
- Gaffer: the manager.
- Soccer: the word itself is 1880s English slang for "association" football. The story is in who invented football.
Questions
What does top bins mean in football?
The top corner of the goal. A shot into the top bins is one into the top corner.
What is a nutmeg in football?
Playing the ball through an opponent's legs, then collecting it on the other side.
What does worldie mean?
A world-class goal: a brilliant strike.
What is a goal hanger?
A player who stays up front and never comes back to defend.
What does next goal wins mean?
The next goal decides the game, whatever the score, usually when the time is nearly up.