Sports phrasal verbs and vocabulary in English + video

Do you like sports? Are you into working out and staying in shape? How many hours do you work out per week? This lesson is all about the words and phrases that are related to moving your body. So, let’s read the sports newspaper and learn some sports phrasal verbs and vocabulary to talk about it.

 

Read more: How to learn English vocabulary without forgetting

 

Sports phrasal verbs and vocabulary from newspaper

Let’s have a look at some newspaper headlines and learn some sports vocabulary and phrasal verbs!

 

“Weather delays cup final: The kick-off of the cup final between arsenal and Liverpool was delayed yesterday due to bad weather.”

 

Kick off

I’m sure you have heard of this phrasal verb. Actually, it can play the role of a noun or a phrasal verb in a sentence. Kick-off as a noun means the start of a game of soccer. However, as a phrasal verb “to kick off” means to start a game of soccer. Here is another example. 

Today, there are six soccer games kicking off.

This sentence means that the soccer games are starting today.

“Archery: England defeated”

 

Archery

 

 

Do you know what the meaning of archery is?

It is a sport which is about shooting with a bow and an arrow. For doing archery you take the bow that you have, pick an arrow, aim, and release.

 

“England were knocked out of the European archery championship this afternoon in a surprise win by Sweden.”

 

To be knocked out

They were “knocked out” means they were forced to leave the competition as they were defeated. So, basically to be knocked out means to be defeated.

Also, it is one of the sport phrasal verbs in boxing. If you knock somebody out, it means you hit them so hard that they fall and go unconscious.

“Johnson to attempt record: Welsh swimmer Perry Johnson says he’s going for the world record in tomorrow’s 100-meter freestyle event.”

 

To go for something

What do you think is the meaning of “going for something”? To go for something means to try hard to achieve something difficult. For example, “to go for a record”.

Or imagine you see a beautiful girl and then you think “I wish I could talk to her.” then your best friend says “go for it!” What does it mean?

It means to try hard and talk to her, otherwise, you will regret it.

 

“Darnton to play Hartsfield: with both teams on 28 points, Darnton will meet Hartsfield in a play-off this Saturday at Darnton’s home ground to decide who goes up to the first division.”

 

Playoff

Usually, when two teams have the same number of points there is a playoff. A playoff is basically a game to decide who would go higher.

 

Learn more:  What are the problem solution phrasal verbs in English?

 

As you know, there are several phrasal verbs in English, and knowing and using them in our conversations shows our English level. So if you want to learn more about English phrasal verbs, our online English course is perfect for you. Take this course and level up your English level with the help of teacher Maddy.

 

It is enough with the newspaper. Now let’s focus on daily life conversations. I asked four of my friends the question below:

“Do you do any sports or physical activities?”

Judy’s opinion about sports and physical activities

Let’s read Judy’s response to my question:

“I work out at the gym three times a week to try to burn off the calories and stay slim. I find it also helps me to work off the stress of work.”

Now, let’s learn some new sports phrasal verbs and vocabulary:

To work out

 

To work out means to do sports and to do physical activity in order to make yourself stronger or to become physically fit.

 

To burn off something

To burn off calories or energy or something means to work hard to get rid of them and remove them. So, to burn off calories means to remove extra calories. That’s one of the very common phrasal verbs to talk about sports.

 

Slim

Slim is another word for thin and good looking. For example: She looked slim and fit for her age.

 

To work something off

To work something off means to get rid of something. Usually, an emotion that is negative. For example: To work off your stress or work off your anger or work off your anxiety by doing something.

John’s opinion about sports and physical activities

Let’s read John’s response to my question:

“Before I start a match I always do a warm-up. Then, after the match, I make sure to cool down and stretch properly.”

Now, let’s learn some new sports phrasal verbs and vocabulary:

Warm up

A warm-up is the first thing you do before you do sports or physical activity. A warm-up is a very gentle activity just to warm you up and to prepare your body for real exercise. Pay attention: Warm-up is a noun. However, to warm up is a verb! For example: I always warm up before I start working out at the gym!

To cool down

Cool down is the opposite of warm up. It means you do some very gentle exercises to help your muscles cool down.

 

Learn more:  What are the traveling phrasal verbs in English?

 

Joe’s opinion about sports and physical activities

Let’s read Joe’s response to my question:

“World class marathon running can be very hard. You need great mental stamina and you must never give in. It’s a great feeling when you pull ahead of the rest of the field and know you’re winning.”

Now, let’s learn some new sports phrasal verbs and vocabulary:

To give in

What does it mean to give in? To give in means to agree that you have been defeated and to stop trying. It can be seen as a synonym for “give up”.

 

To pull ahead

To pull ahead means to get in front of other people who were running with you at the same speed. For example,

• The two runners were side by side until one pulled ahead.

 

Lily’s opinion about sports and physical activities

Let’s read Lily’s response to my question:

“Table tennis is a great sport. Anyone can join in. We have a knockout competition at work every month, just for fun!

Now, let’s learn some new sports phrasal verbs and vocabulary:

To join in

What does it mean to join in? It means to become involved in an activity with other people. For example: The whole family can join in the fun at Water World.

A knockout competition

A knockout competition is a kind of competition that only the winners of each stage are allowed to play in the next stage and this goes on and on until only one team is the winner.

Let’s learn some other phrasal verbs for sports to complete our list:

Step up

This item of the phrasal verbs related to sports means:

To increase effort or take on more responsibility.
Example: “In the final quarter, the team captain stepped up.”

Wear out

Meaning: Become tired or exhausted.
Example: “The training was so intensive that I was worn out.”

Catch up

Meaning: Go faster so that you reach the person in front of you.
Example: “He was running so fast that I couldn’t catch up with him.”

Race ahead

Meaning: Move quickly ahead of others in a competition.
Example: “She raced ahead and crossed the finish line first.”

Loosen up

Meaning: Do gentle exercises to prepare for intensive activity.
Example: “We watched the players loosen up before the match.”

 

The conclusion of phrasal verbs for sports

Let’s review the phrasal verbs for sports that we have learned in this lesson:

 

Phrasal verb / Vocabulary	Meaning
1. To Kick off	To start a game of soccer
2. Archery	It is a sport which is about shooting with a bow and an arrow
3. To be knocked out	To be defeated
4. To go for something	To try hard to achieve something difficult
5. Play off	A game to decide who would go higher
6. To work out	To do sports
7.To burn off something	To work hard to get rid of something
8. Slim	Thin and good looking
9. To work something off	To get rid of something
10. A warm-up	A very gentle activity just to warm you up and to prepare your body for real exercise
11. To cool down	Some very gentle exercises to help your muscle cool down
12. To give in	To agree that you have been defeated and to stop trying
13. To pull ahead	To get in front of other people who were running with you at the same speed
14. To join in	To become involved in an activity with other people
15. A knockout competition	A kind of competition that only the winners of each stage are allowed to play in the next stage
16. Step up	To increase effort or take on more responsibility.
17. Wear out	Become tired or exhausted.
18. Catch up	Go faster so that you reach the person in front of you.
19. Race ahead	Move quickly ahead of others in a competition.
20. Loosen up	Do gentle exercises to prepare for intensive activity.

 

Try to practice new sport phrasal verbs and vocabulary that you just learned. Remember, without using new vocabulary in context, you won’t be able to use them in speaking. I hope you enjoyed this lesson, make sure to check out the other ones, too!