Football Cliches: Decoding the Oddball Phrases, Colorful Gestures, and Unwritten Rules of Soccer Across the Pond

A fun, intelligent, and useful guide to understanding the nuanced language of soccerEvery week, year-round, legions of devoted soccer fans across the country rise at the crack of dawn or quietly sneak out of work to watch their favorite teams play across the pondcomplete with a soundtrack of two cheeky Englishmen spouting a stream of trite phrases and curious words that make maddeningly little sense.

Theyll chat about flying teacups and cultured left feet, or point out a player whos jinking through the corridor of uncertainty, hoping to bag one with aplomb.

Confused? Many Brits are, too.In Football Clichs, London-based soccer writer Adam Hurrey amusingly translates the idioms of the sport, from the quaint to the ridiculous.

Here youll find words for parts of the field and parts of the body; for ways to score a goal and ways to run, walk, or fake an injury.

Youll learn to read the shifting moods of fans at a soccer match and encounter the games oddly expressive gestures, which include the muted celebration and the beleaguered manager clap.

Perfect for the die-hard or fair-weather fan, Football Clichs celebrates the world of soccer in all its glory.