Meaning & use
byline football
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Meaning
nouncountableinformal
In soccer, the goal line at the end of the field, especially when a player runs to it to cross the ball.
Grammar: Usually used with 'the': 'the byline'. It is not used for the sideline.
Patterns
- reach the byline
- run to the byline
- cross from the byline
The winger sprinted to the byline and pulled the ball back for the striker.
He beat the defender and reached the byline before crossing.
The goalkeeper came out to narrow the angle at the byline.
Common combinations
- reach the byline
- The full-back reached the byline and delivered a perfect cross.
- run to the byline
- She ran to the byline, leaving the defender behind.
- cross from the byline
- Most assists come from crossing from the byline.
- byline cut-back
- His byline cut-back set up the winning goal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- goal line
- The official term for the line at each end of the field; 'byline' is more informal and often implies attacking play.
- end line
- Used in some sports like basketball; in soccer, 'byline' is the common term for the goal line in attacking contexts.
Commonly confused: byline football or sideline? byline football or byline?
byline football vs sideline
The sideline is the long side of the field, not the end line. Players run to the byline to cross, not to the sideline.
byline football vs byline
In journalism, a byline is the line naming the writer. In soccer, it is the goal line.
Practice
In soccer, what is the 'byline'?
Choose one answer.
The byline is the goal line at the end of the field. The side line is called the 'touchline', the middle line is the 'halfway line', and the penalty area is marked by the 'penalty box'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “byline football”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.