The Olympics are a very exciting time! Imagine a big sports party where countries from all around the world come together to celebrate. People from different places meet, play sports, and cheer for their favorite athletes. It’s like a giant sports festival that happens every four years.

A Little Bit About the Olympics

The Olympics started a long, long time ago in Greece. They were a big celebration even back then! Today, the Olympics are held in different countries each time. The games include summer sports and winter sports, depending on the year. Athletes practice a lot because they want to win medals. When they win, they feel very proud and happy.

Phrases You Will Hear at the Olympics

When you watch the Olympics, you will hear many common phrases. Here are some of them:

1. “Go for the gold!”

Meaning: This phrase means to try your best to win the first place, which is often a gold medal.

Example: When the runner started the race, her coach yelled, “Go for the gold!”

2. “Set a new world record!”

Meaning: This means to perform better than anyone else in the world ever has.

Example: The swimmer tried to swim faster than anyone else to “set a new world record.”

3. “That’s a foul!”

Meaning: This phrase is used when a player breaks the rules during a game.

Example: When the player touched the ball with his hand, the referee shouted, “That’s a foul!”

4. “What a comeback!”

Meaning: This is said when someone or a team was losing and then starts to win.

Example: The volleyball team was losing by a lot, but then they started winning. The crowd said, “What a comeback!”

5. “The home stretch!”

Meaning: This phrase is used to describe the final part of a race or competition.

Example: As the runners entered the last part of the race, everyone cheered, “You’re in the home stretch!”

6. “Let the games begin!”

Meaning: This phrase is used when the Olympic games are about to start.

Example: At the opening ceremony, the speaker said, “Let the games begin!”

7. “A true Olympian!”

Meaning: This phrase describes an athlete who really shows the spirit of the Olympics.

Example: After the gymnast helped her competitor, someone said, “She is a true Olympian!”

8. “Break the ice!”

Meaning: This means to do something first, especially to start a conversation.

Example: At the start of the Olympics, the host country performed a dance to “break the ice.”

9. “On your marks, get set, go!”

Meaning: This is what the starter says to tell the runners to start running.

Example: The runners listened for the words, “On your marks, get set, go!” and then they ran as fast as they could.

10. “Underdog wins!”

Meaning: This is said when an athlete or team that wasn’t expected to win, wins.

Example: When the team that was expected to lose won the game, everyone cheered, “Underdog wins!”

11. “That’s a new personal best!”

Meaning: This phrase is used when an athlete achieves their best performance ever.

Example: After the runner finished the race faster than ever before, her coach exclaimed, “That’s a new personal best!”

12. Down to the wire!”

Meaning: This means that the competition is very close and the winner is not clear until the very end.

Example: The basketball game was so close, everyone said it was “down to the wire.”

13. “She/he made the podium!”

Meaning: This phrase means that an athlete won a medal and will stand on the podium.

Example: When the skater finished third, her fans shouted, “She made the podium!”

14. “Knocked out of the competition!”

Meaning: This is used when an athlete or team is eliminated from the competition.

Example: When the boxer lost his match, the announcer said, “He’s knocked out of the competition!”

15. “Going head-to-head!”

Meaning: This describes a direct competition between two athletes or teams.

Example: The final match featured two tennis players going head-to-head for the gold medal.

16. “Victory lap!”

Meaning: This is a celebratory lap around the track or arena that winners often run after their victory.

Example: After winning the race, the runner took a victory lap waving her country’s flag.

17. “Back-to-back victories!”

Meaning: This phrase is used when a team or athlete wins the same competition in consecutive attempts.

Example: The swimmer won the gold medal again, marking back-to-back victories.

18. “Out of bounds!”

Meaning: This indicates that the ball or athlete has gone outside the designated area of play.

Example: The soccer player kicked the ball, but it went out of bounds.

19. “Photo finish!”

Meaning: This is said when a race is so close that a photo is needed to determine the winner.

Example: The horse race was so tight, it ended in a photo finish.

20. “All eyes on [athlete]!”

Meaning: This phrase is used when everyone is watching a particular athlete because they are expected to perform exceptionally well.

Example: As the gymnast prepared for her routine, the announcer said, “All eyes on her!”

21. “Saved by the bell!”

Meaning: In sports like boxing, this means an athlete is saved from being counted out by the bell signaling the end of the round.

Example: The boxer was nearly knocked down, but he was saved by the bell.

Fun and Games

The Olympics are not just about winning. They are about meeting new friends, learning about other cultures, and having fun. Watching the games, you learn many new words and phrases. So next time you watch the Olympics, listen carefully, and see how many of these phrases you can hear!

Remember, the Olympics is a time for the world to come together, so enjoy the celebration, cheer for the athletes, and learn some new phrases!

Keep learning useful words for the Olympics here.