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Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Explore sports-inspired expressions for beginnings, postponement, and shifting expectations.
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Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThe episode uses football language to explore starting a year or event, postponing a decision, and changing the conditions of a discussion. These expressions are useful far beyond sports, though the sports imagery remains part of their flavor.
Cultural note: “Kick off” evokes the opening play in football and has become a common phrase for beginning events. “Punt” comes from kicking the ball downfield and figuratively means delaying a decision or passing it to a later time. “Move the goalposts” describes unfairly changing expectations after work is underway.
Keep exploringA few football images have become everyday planning language. See which one starts the action—and which ones delay or complicate it.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Launch a project, event, or new period.
Meaning
To begin an event, activity, or period.
Tone & use
Common in casual and professional English. It can be used literally in sports or figuratively for projects and celebrations.
Example
“The community meeting will kick off at 6 p.m. with a short welcome.”
Meaning
The start of an event, activity, or campaign; also the opening play in football.
Tone & use
As a noun, it is usually one word. Common in event planning and business, as well as sports.
Example
“We are holding a kickoff for the mentoring program next Tuesday.”
Describe postponement or changing expectations.
Meaning
To postpone dealing with a question or decision.
Tone & use
Informal and often suggests avoiding a decision for now. The object is commonly a question, issue, or decision.
Example
“The committee punted on the budget question until it had better estimates.”
Meaning
To postpone discussion or a decision about a topic.
Tone & use
Meaning varies by region: in U.S. English it usually means postpone; in some other varieties it can mean present for discussion. Make context clear.
Example
“Let’s table the design question until the whole team is here.”
Meaning
To unfairly change the requirements or standards after someone has begun trying to meet them.
Tone & use
Critical and common in work, politics, and debate. It implies that the changed standard is unfair.
Example
“We met every target, but management moved the goalposts and added two new requirements.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
Try it · Choose the best expression
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