THE US NATIONAL team are in town for an international friendly with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium tonight (7.45pm).
With that in mind, here are some Irish phrases you would hear on a football pitch explained for our American friends.
“Who’s got tape?”
Meaning: A team-mate is getting stripped in the dressing room before kick-off and has inevitably forgot to bring tape to hold up their shin guards.
“House/Man on!”
Meaning: You receive possession and are immediately warned that there is an opponent right behind you.
“He’s all over him”
Meaning: A player is being fouled. Generally directed at the referee.
“Your man should be at the Olympics”
“Time”
Meaning: There aren’t players close by so you’ve got space to take hold of possession.
“Away!”
Meaning: If in doubt, lash it out. You are being ordered to boot the ball out of defence as hard and as fast as possible.
“How’s he, ref?”
Meaning: Usually said by defenders to call offside.
“He was a mile off “
Meaning: A stronger variation of ‘How’s he?”.
“Get out”
Meaning: The goalkeeper has just collected a cross or delivery from a corner and wants his team-mates to leave the box.
“Jockey him”
Meaning: Stay on your feet. Don’t dive into a tackle.
“Get stuck into these”
Meaning: Put a few challenges in and let the opposing team know they’re involved in a physical match.
“Switch it”
Meaning: Spray the ball from one side of the pitch to the other. Expertly done by Xabi Alonso below.
“Blow it up”
Meaning: Directed at the ref to ask him to bring the game to an end. Often said by a player from a team which is losing heavily in the dying minutes.
Are there any other shouts we should have included?
