Fitness and Health: Phrasal Verbs, Idioms

sports and fitness: phrasal verbs and idioms

sports and fitness: phrasal verbs and idioms

​Sport and sporting events cause great excitement among supporters and spectators. Not surprisingly, English is full of sport idioms and phrasal verbs relating to the sports themselves, and the concepts of fairness, sporting behaviour, success – and failure.

English sport idioms tend to reflect the popularity of sports played in the UK, such as boxing, horse-racing, cricket and other ball games such as football or tennis, while American sport idioms also include idioms to do with baseball and basketball. In the sport idioms below, the explanations give the meaning of the idiom, rather than the meaning of the sporting terms.

to use up energy or calories through physical activity

I run every morning to burn off some calories.

​

​Burn off

to be strongly interested in or involved with something:

• Jeanne is really into tennis.

• are you into music?

• they are really into skiing.

​

to Be into something

to begin, start something

The game will kick off at 7 pm.

​

​Kick off

to fail to keep up with something or someone

​

​Fall behind

​She's falling behind on her

project because she was sick.

to eat a large amount of carbohydrates before engaging in physical activity

I carb up before every marathon.

​

​Carb up

go to bat for someone

​to support someone when the person needs help

This term originated in baseball, where it means simply substituting for another batter, but it is the idea of helping one's team in this way that has been transferred to more general use.

• ​I tried to go to bat for Bill, but he said he didn't want any help.

• Dad will always go to bat for his kids.

To do or perform something extraordinarily well; to produce

an exceptional achievement.

In baseball: to hit a home run —

any ball hit out of the baseball park

is uncatchable, and therefore an automatic home run.

​knock it out of the park

• ​You really knocked it out of the park with that sales pitch.

Multiple Choice

to decide what you'll try to achieve

• set yourself a goal

• achieve your goal

• represent your club

• get a personal best

Multiple Choice

winning a sporting event

• come first

• get into shape

• be out of condition

• represent your club

Multiple Choice

to do something better than the best known

speed, time, number, etc. previously achieved

• push yourself to the limit

• get a personal best

• come first

• break a record

Multiple Choice

when you are in the best condition possible

• be out of condition

• get into shape

• be in peak form

• set yourself a goal

Multiple Choice

try to do something to the very best of your ability; as hard as you can

• push yourself to the limit

• set yourself a goal

• achieve your goal

• break records

Multiple Choice

Whether you're ___ running, swimming, or team sports like basketball

or soccer, there are plenty of ways to get moving and have fun.

• out

• into

• in

• on

Multiple Choice

Don't forget to warm ___ properly before you start.

• up

• over

• out

• above

phrasal verbs: fitness and health

phrasal verbs: fitness and health

phrasal verbs: fitness and health

phrasal verbs: fitness and health

Fill in the Blanks

^{One answer needed:}

You might find yourself feeling worn ___ or even seizing up

after a particularly intense work ___ or game.

​Give in

stop competing or arguing and accept defeat.

Open Ended

Can you give me an example of a Phrasal Verb?

Go for

​try very hard

to win or get something.

Join in

​start participating in an activity with other people who are already doing it.

Knock out

​eliminate somebody from a competition by beating them/make somebody unconscious.

Take up

​start a sport or hobby.

​

Warm up

​prepare for a race, sport or another activity by stretching

and exercising.

​

Work out

​do physical exercise.

Multiple Choice

He started to walk faster and the children had to run to

• warm up

• keep up

• stretch out

• tire out

Multiple Choice

To prepare for physical exertion or a performance by exercising or practicing gently beforehand.

• keep up

• build up

• warm up

• stretch out

Multiple Choice

He ................. regularly to keep fit.

• builds up

• tires out

• keeps up

• works out

Multiple Choice

How often do you _____ down with a sore throat?

• come

• go

Multiple Choice

Do you _____ on weight easily?

• put

• get

Multiple Choice

What sport or activity would you like to _____ up to improve your health?

• give

• take

Multiple Choice

Have you ever _____ out from the heat?

• worked

• passed

Multiple Choice

To have the ball in your _______

• field

• court

• rink

• basket

Multiple Choice

to _____ the ball rolling

• have

• get

• start

• throw

Multiple Choice

You really need to ... your game

• raise

• step up

• lower

• step down

Multiple Choice

an estimated figure (number) is the actual word for this idiom

• play hardball

• ballpark figure

• curveball

• to strike out

Multiple Choice

to get the ball rolling

• to finally start a process

• the decision is in your hands

• to fail and miss your chance at something

• to negotiate aggressively

Multiple Choice

the decision is in your hands ....

• to have the ball in your court

• to step up your game

• to throw a curveball

• to get the ball rolling

Multiple Choice

If you make a big mistake you ...

• catch the ball

• drop the ball

• throw the ball

• have the ball