Football Phrase of the Week: Claw Away

In this football phrase of the week we take a look at the phrase, to claw away, used mostly when talking about goalkeepers. You can read the transcript for this post below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com

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DB: You are listening to Languagecaster.com's podcast on football language. My name's Damon and I am one half of the languagecaster team. I'm based in Tokyo, where it is steaming hot and humid. Damian, the other member of the team is based in London, but I believe he's been over in Ireland, watching some hurling recently. How about you listener, have you been watching anything recently? Perhaps the Women's European Championship quarter finals?



Well, on this Football Phrase of the Week, we are going to take a look at a match between France and Germany in that competition. We are going to talk about the phrasal verb 'to claw away' and how it was used to describe an amazing save at the weekend. Have you been enjoyiong the Euro 2025 matches as much as I have? They've been brilliant haven't they!



Stinger: You are listening to Languagecaster (in Italian)



DF: Yes you are listening to Languagecaster.com and that message was in Italian. And well done to Italy, who overcame Norway 2-1 to progress to the semis in the 2025 Euros.

Claw Away

DB: Another team heading for the final four is Germany, who finally overcame France in a dramatic match that went to penalties. This is the game we find our football phrase of the week - claw away.



The verb claw means to scratch or rip something with a claw - think a Lion's fingernail. When you add 'away' to make to claw away, the meaning is to try to remove something desperately with your hands. For example, if there has been an earthquake and someone is trapped under rocks and stones, rescuers will try to claw away the rocks to save the person.



When we use to claw away with football, it is mostly with goalkeepers who make a desperate save by stretching and using their fingers to knock the ball away from the goal. This is exactly what German goalkeeper, Ann-Katrin Berger, did in the match against France.



Here is how Reuters described the save: 'Berger pulled off a contender for the 'save of the tournament', back-pedalling before diving acrobatically to claw away Janina Minge’s misdirected defensive header and keep the scores level'.



http://gty.im/2226036694

Back-pedal

DB: It was a truly amazing save, with Berger flying through the air, reaching upwards and backwards to just claw away the ball and prevent an own goal.



The description from Reuters also has the verb to back-pedal. This means to move quickly backwards, usually while looking forwards. It has a feeling of desperation, maybe a defender trying to get back into a good position while also trying to watch an attacker running with the ball.



In this example from the Morning Star it is Arsenal's goalkeeper who is back-peddling in a match against Crystal Palace: '...up popped Mateta to rob Saliba and launch a superb long-ran...