Get 'On the Ball' with These Soccer Expressions
Football, or "soccer" as it is called in some countries, is the world's most popular sport with about 4 billion fans around the world. So it's no surprise there are many expressions related to soccer.
Get the ball rolling / Keep the ball rolling
At the beginning of a soccer game, one player rolls the ball to another. So the expression "get the ball rolling" means to start an activity, and to "keep the ball rolling" is to cause an activity to continue. For example, "The company got the ball rolling by borrowing money, and they kept it rolling by selling products."
To be a good soccer player, you must be "on the ball," or pay attention and be quick to react to the ball. This expression can also be used off the field. For example, a student who answers every question in class is "on the ball."
Blow the whistle / Whistle-blower
When a soccer player does something wrong, the referee blows a whistle. So to "blow the whistle" is to tell the public that someone is doing or has done something wrong. For example, Edward Snowden is a famous "whistle-blower" who shared information about secret US government activity.
Soccer players aren't allowed to move goalposts, because that would make it too difficult for the other team to score. In English, to "move the goalposts" is to do something that makes it harder for someone else to get what they want. For example, "We were ready to sign the contract but they moved the goalposts and asked for more money."
