25 - I can describe a football match

• on the bench = a player who is on the bench for a match is a subsitute
• gamble on sth/sb = take a risk with sth/sb, hoping you will be succesful
• pay off = (of a plan or action) be successful and bring good results
• brush sb/sth aside = treat sb/sth as unimportant
• hit back = start to perform well against a team that has been in the lead
• in contention (for sth) = having a chance of success; in a position to win sth
• rained off = if an event is rained off, it is postponed because of rain
• gain ground (on sb) = gradually get closer to sb you are competing with
• a long way to go = a lot more to do before you are succesful
• let sb off the hook = allow sb to get out of a difficult situation
• go all out for sth = make a big effort to achieve sth
• within striking distance (of sb/sth) = near enough to reach or attack sb/sth or to achieve sth
• dig deep = use all your effort
• fight back = work hard to achieve or oppose sth, especially in a situation where you are losing
• hold your own (against sb) = compete equally against sb, especially sb stronger than you, in a competition or difficult situation
• come off worse = lose a fight, competition, etc., or suffer more than others
• be in/out of the running (for sth) = have some/no chance of being successful in sth
• lose the plot = no longer understand a situation or how to deal with it