Meaning & use
yellow cards
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“yellow cards” is a form of “yellow card”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralsport
Small cards shown by a referee to warn players that they have broken the rules, as in football.
Grammar: Plural of yellow card; countable: one yellow card, two yellow cards.
Patterns
- show someone a yellow card
- get a yellow card for something
The referee handed out three yellow cards in the first half.
Both defenders picked up yellow cards for late tackles.
Too many yellow cards can lead to a match ban.
nounpluralfigurative
Official warnings given to someone outside sport that they must improve their behavior or face stronger action.
Grammar: Used figuratively, often with issue or hand out.
Patterns
- issue a yellow card to someone
The regulator issued yellow cards to several firms over misleading adverts.
The committee handed out yellow cards to members who missed meetings.
Voters gave the party a yellow card at the local elections.
Word forms
| singular | yellow card |
|---|
Common combinations
- show yellow cards
- The referee showed yellow cards to both captains.
- pick up a yellow card
- He picked up a yellow card for arguing.
- accumulate yellow cards
- The striker accumulated yellow cards across the season.
- yellow cards and red cards
- There were more yellow cards and red cards than usual.
- booked with yellow cards
- Four players were booked with yellow cards.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cautions
- Cautions is the official term in the rules, while yellow cards names the physical cards shown.
- bookings
- Bookings is a British word for being written in the referee's notebook, so it is wider than the card itself.
- warnings
- Warnings is a general word for any caution, whereas yellow cards belong to sport or its figurative use.
Opposites
Word family
- yellow card noun
- a single caution card
- red card noun
- a card that sends a player off
- yellow-card verb
- to show someone a yellow card
- card verb
- to show a card to a player
Commonly confused: yellow cards or red cards?
yellow cards vs red cards
A red card sends a player off the pitch immediately, while a yellow card is only a warning.
Practice
The referee showed two ____ to the same player, so he was sent off.
Choose one answer.
Two yellow cards in one match lead to a dismissal. Green and blue cards are not used this way in football, and a white flag signals surrender.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “yellow cards”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.