Newspaper Headlines 16/17 ep.13

In this week's Premier Skills English podcast, Rich and Jack talk about the latest from the Premier League - there were big away wins for the top four! The language focus is on newspaper headlines. What makes newspaper headlines difficult to read? We also have news about our Premier Skills Fantasy Football team, a new football phrase for you to guess and a Premier League prediction for you to make in our weekly vote. Enjoy!

How much did you understand?

Vocabulary

In the podcast, Rich and Jack used some words and phrases that might be new for you. You can see two examples here:

The Foxes fought back and equalised with a great goal from Ahmed Musa.

Sanchez's goal involved 22 passes and broke the previous record - also scored against Sunderland.

There were a few more tricky words in the podcast. Can you remember all of them? Try the activity below, then, listen to the podcast again to hear how we used the words in context. This can really help with understanding.

Activity 1: In this activity, have a look at the vocabulary and try to match it to the correct definition.

Can you match the words to their definitions?

Newspaper Headlines - Alliteration

Newspaper headlines (the titles that you see in large letters) use different techniques to catch the reader's attention. One technique is to write in large letters, but newspapers also use language to attract attention. One way is to use something called alliteration. Alliteration is the technique of using the same letter or sound at the beginning of words. In the podcast headlines we often use alliteration a lot and this week's episode was no exception. Take a look at these examples:

Burnley's goalkeeper was in fantastic form
League leaders

Hero Hazard

United and Spurs held at home

In this activity, try to think of the words that use alliteration in some different sentences.

Activity 2: Newspaper headlines like to use the same sound or letter at the beginning of words. In this activity, put the correct word in each sentence.

Can you complete the headlines?

Newspaper Headlines - Puns

Another technique that newspapers often use to attract attention in newspaper headlines are puns. Puns are phrases that have two or more meanings. Newspapers play with these phrases in some clever and funny ways. In the podcast, we looked at one specific headline:

Are Arsenal Gunner do it?

This pun plays on the phrase 'going to' in connected speech, which is pronounced 'gonna', and Arsenal's nickname - the Gunners. The headline should say 'Are Arsenal going to do it?' but 'going to' is replaced by 'Gunner' to make a pun. In the podcast, we used a pun to create our new section 'Stats amazing' this plays on the phrase 'that's amazing.' Some other puns we used in the podcast were:

When Joe Hart left Manchester City, I was Hart broken!

I've heard that the Manchester City manager gives a good half-time Pep talk!

The first pun plays with the surname of the ex-Manchester City goalkeeper, Joe Hart and the word heartbroken which means to be very sad about something. The second pun also plays with somebody's name. The Manchester City manager is called Pep Guardiola and 'a pep talk' is a short speech that is given to encourage people and make them work harder.

Newspaper Headlines - What do they mean?

In the podcast, we gave you three headlines from last weekend's Premier League matches and asked you to tell us if they used puns or alliteration. Here are the three headlines:

Reds on Rampage
Super-sub Giroud scores two
Luk who scored

If you understand the headlines, tell us what they mean in the comments section!

Transcript

If the listening was difficult, listen again and read the transcript at the same time.

Read and listen at the same time!

Welcome

Rich: Hello my name’s Rich

Jack: and I’m Jack

Rich: and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast

Jack: Where we talk about football and help you with your English.

Latest news headlines

Jack: Let’s start with the Premier League headlines this week.

Rich: League leaders hit four on their travels.

Jack: Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool all scored four goals away from home to win at Sunderland, West Brom and Crystal Palace. Only goal difference separates the three teams at the top of the table.

Rich: Hero Hazard strikes for Chelsea.

Jack: Chelsea’s Eden Hazard was in superb form as Chelsea beat Southampton 2-0. The Blues are only one point behind the top three.

Rich: United and Spurs held at home.

Jack: Manchester Utd and Spurs lost ground on the leaders. Utd could only draw nil-nil at home to Burnley. Burnley’s goalkeeper was in fantastic form and made 11 saves in the match. Spurs could only draw 1-1 with Leicester. Spurs took the lead in the first half but the Foxes fought back and equalised with a great goal from Ahmed Musa.

Player of the Week

Rich: So who was our player of the week? We’ve already said that Burnley’s Tom Heaton and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard had great weekends. Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, Everton’s Ross Barkley and Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho also had wonderful weekends.

Jack: But Manchester City had a great 4-0 win away at West Brom. Sergio Aguero was back to his best with two goals but our player of the week is his teammate - Ilkay Gundogan.

Rich: Good choice. Gundogan is starting to look good in the City midfield and on Saturday he scored two goals and set up another for Aguero. He could be the goalscoring midfielder that City are looking for.

Jack: Do you agree with our choice? Let us know in the comments section. Before we move on to the language focus let’s talk to Stevie Statto, in our new section - Stats Amazing!!

Rich: So Stevie, what stat have you got for us this week.

Statto: Arsenal’s first goal in their 4-1 win against Sunderland came after 22 passes. Nearly every Arsenal player touched the ball before Alexis Sanchez headed the ball past the goalkeeper. This is the most passes before a goal this season and breaks the previous record - 21 passes for a goal scored by Everton’s Romelu Lukaku against Sunderland.

Jack: Thanks for the stat, Stevie. Stat’s amazing!

Language

Rich: What are you looking at there, Jack?

Jack: It’s the newspaper. I’m looking at the football reports. I’m reading about Arsenal.

Rich: What’s the headline?

Jack: Are Arsenal Gunner do it?

Rich: It’s clever how newspaper headlines play with words but this can make them difficult to understand. When we play with words that have two meanings we call them puns. Newspapers use puns a lot and sometimes they use them in clever or funny ways.

Jack: But very often the are not so funny. Sometimes puns make me want to cry!

Rich: The headline Jack was reading asked a question that plays with Arsenal’s nickname - The Gunners.

Jack: That’s right. If I say the headline you hear ‘Are Arsenal gonna do it?’ or more slowly ‘Are Arsenal going to do it?’ but if you were reading the newspaper the headline it says ‘Are Arsenal Gunner do it?’ and the ‘going to’ part of the phrase uses Arsenal’s nickname - the Gunners in the singular form.

Rich: So, Jack you are a Gunner. Are Arsenal Gunner win the Premier League?

Jack: Of course they are! So, this headline played with words.

Rich: We used another pun in our previous section. Stat’s amazing plays with the phrase ‘That’s amazing’ and is replaced with the word ‘stats’ which is a short version of statistics.

Jack: What other ways to newspaper headlines play with language, Rich?

Rich: One very common technique is called alliteration. This is when we use the same sound or letter at the beginning of words. You might have heard some examples in our headlines earlier.

Jack: Rich said ‘League leaders hit four on their travels’ and ‘Hero Hazard’. The first uses the /l/ sound - League and leaders. The second uses the /h/ sound to make the article sound more exciting - Hero and Hazard.

Rich: You can see some more examples of alliteration in our headlines. We said ‘utd and Spurs held at home’, the Foxes fought back’ and ‘Burnley’s goalkeeper was in fantastic form’.

Jack: Have a look at the rest of the lesson on the podcast page if you want to see some more examples of puns and alliteration being used in newspaper headlines and some language activities.

Rich: As I said earlier, these types of headlines can often be difficult to understand. So, what we’re going to do is give you a few headlines that use puns and alliteration from last weekend’s football. We’d like you to tell us what you think the headlines mean in the comments section and tell us if the headlines are using puns, alliteration or both.

Jack: Let’s start with an example.

Rich: OK. Right, Jack, tell me what you think this headline means. ‘Sunder pressure’

Jack: Err…..OK. Well, I know that the phrase is under pressure…..sunder is an unusual word… it can’t be that. Sunder..ah yes of course, Sunder is Sunderland. Arsenal beat Sunderland 4-1 and Sunderland haven’t won all season. Sunderland and their manager David Moyes are under a lot of pressure.

Rich: Very good. Right now, it’s everybody else’s turn. We’ll read out the headlines but you can also see them in the written form in the lesson below or in the transcript.

Jack: Remember all of the headlines are taken from matches or stories in the last week or two.

Rich: Number one: Reds on Rampage

Jack: Number two: Super-sub Giroud scores two.

Rich: Number three: Luk who scored.

Jack: So there are three for you to work out.

Rich: I tell you what! I was very sad when Joe Hart left Manchester City for Italy.

Jack: Why?

Rich: In fact, I was Hart broken!

Jack: Terrible, Rich - Joe Hart - Heart broken, ugh.

Rich: There are more. Hart stopper, Hart attack…

Jack: Please stop. Although I’ve heard that the Manchester City manager gives a good half-time Pep talk!

Rich: Nice. A pep talk is a speech that someone gives to encourage tehm and make them work harder. Manchester City’s manager is, of course, Pep Guardiola.

Jack: It’s brilliant! If you can think of any headlines that use alliteration then write them in the comments section. And we know it’s a bit more difficult, but if you can think of a pun that plays with words we would love to hear it.

Football Phrase

Rich: Have you got a football phrase for us this week?

Jack: Yes, I have, but first last week’s football phrase. The phrase was to take apart. It means to beat an opponent easily. So Manchester City took West Brom apart last weekend.

Rich: Well done to Shobonenok from Russia, Liubomyr from Ukraine, and Kwesimanifest from Ghana. You all got the right answer.

Jack: This week’s phrase is a phrase that you often hear commentators and pundits saying on TV after a player - usually a defender or a goalkeeper - makes a bad mistake. The phrase is * ********* ***** and the phrase is used when a player makes a mistake that is very simple or bad and often results in a goal for the other team. The phrase uses two words the first is child that is still in education and the second is a synonym for a mistake.

Rich: Yep, I’ve got it!

Prediction

Jack: Last week’s prediction was on the Tottenham - Leicester match. And I’m very happy to say that we have our first correct score for the season, and I’m even happier to say that it’s me!!

Rich: Well done, Jack! You correctly predicted that it would finish Leicester 1-1 Tottenham. That also takes you into the lead in our prediction league - you’ve now got 6 points while our listeners, who predicted a Leicester win are on 4 points with me.

Jack: Maybe I should do the main predictions from now on?

Rich: No, no it’s OK. There are plenty of matches left for the rest of us to catch up with you. Anyway, this weekend’s prediction is the North London Derby and I know that you will predict an Arsenal win. I think it will finish in a draw. Final score: Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham.

Jack: I don’t think so Rich. Arsenal are Gunner do it! Arsenal 3-0 Spurs.

Rich: Right, that’s all we have time for this week.

Jack: Don’t forget to write your answers to our questions and make a guess at our football phrase in the comments below. And remember to take a look at our Fantasy Football page and join in the discussions!

Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football!

Quiz

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Premier League Prediction - Gameweek 11 - Arsenal v Spurs

In Gameweek 10, Tottenham and Leicester drew 1-1, Jack made the first correct score of the season! Well done, Jack! It takes him to the top of our leaderboard on 6 points! Rich and our podcast listeners stay on 4 points after picking Tottenham and Leicester victories, respectively. Remember, it's one point for the correct result and two additional points for the correct score. The big match in Gameweek 11 is the North London Derby - Arsenal v Spurs! Can you predict the right score?

	GW 1	GW 2	GW 3	GW 4	GW 5	GW 6	GW 7	GW 8	GW 9	GW 10	GW 11
Rich	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1-0	1-1
Jack	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	1-1	3-0
Podcast Listeners	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	1-2	?

Make your prediction now!

What do you think?

In this week’s podcast, Jack and Rich spoke about newspaper headlines.

Do you read newspapers? Are newspapers usually read online or offline these days?
In the UK, the sport is at the back of a newspaper. Is it the same in your country? What's today's main headline?
We gave you three headlines in the podcast. Can you tell us what they mean? Can you write a new headline using alliteration or a pun?

Remember to write your guess at this week's football phrase and the questions above in the comments section below.

If you want us to correct your English, just write 'correct me' at the beginning of your comment.

Komentar

hsn
06/08/2021

5555
points

What do you think?
1-Everyday and online
2-Yes. News of the transfer and rumours. Performance of recently transferred players in the friendly matches.
3-a) Reds on Rampage---Losing leading position made M.United furious.
b) Super-sub Giroud scores two.---Substitute French player Giroud scored twice.
c) Luk who scored---Belgium player Lukaku scored.
For headline---Last season champion my team “Beshiktash” short version “BJK” nickname is "Black Eagle" and I''ve written a headline as "Black Eager to repeat this season"
For alliteration---My full name is "Hasan".That is what I found -:) "Hasan hastened to figure out this week football phrase"
Player of the week---I agree with you. He is one of good midfielder in the Premier League.
Phrases
• Although being in form and taking the lead of game, showing weak side of you to the rival during game causes losing ground in the competition.
• Every country people have the right to fight back when they are occupied.
Notes
• From my point of view; all the stats of a player depends on her/his feelings,mental health and to be dedicated.Regular family life, performance of training/match, intend to cooperate with team mates, briefly all of them are output of described situation.

hsn
06/08/2021 12:26

Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5555

mobeckham
15/05/2020

6536
points

I think the phrase for this week is ( childish error )

mobeckham
15/05/2020 14:05

Turkey
Manchester United
6536

Some of the puns and alliterations are
Fred the Red
Super Son Scores
King dominates the battle in White Hart Lane
Salah is a gift from Allah
Paul Scholes Scores Goals

mobeckham
15/05/2020 14:04

Reds on Rampage
This headline is an alliteration and it means that Liverpool suffers from bad result or losing points

Super-sub Giroud scores two
This headline is an alliteration as well which means Giroud didn't start the game but he replaced another player and he scored twice so he is a super substitution

Luk who scored
This headline is a pun as they use the first 3 letters from Lukaku's name to mention that he scored again as it sounds like Look who scored

mobeckham
15/05/2020 13:59

Sport news is always at the back of the newspaper in Turkey as well

mobeckham
15/05/2020 13:53

I do read the news online usually on social media
Newspapers became old-fashioned mostly read by old people
Although I like to have some news from old newspapers and I do buy Inside United magazine regularly :)

mobeckham
15/05/2020 13:52

wsanta
08/10/2019

5086
points

In the headline of a sports magazine said "The infant who made a rabona", a pun that means "the child who did a mischief". But everyone started to name Rabona to that way of hitting the ball

wsanta
08/10/2019 21:19

Argentina
Leeds United
5086

The first time a rabona goal was scored was in 1948 by Ricardo Infante (according to FIFA). His last name means child in Spanish and rabona is a word in lunfardo, the Argentina's slang, means when a student goes to school but does not enter and stays playing in the street, while his parents believe he is studying.

wsanta
08/10/2019 21:07

This potcast reminded me an article, that I read, that said how the rabona was born. According to wikipedia a rabona is a method of kicking the football whereby the kicking leg is wrapped around the back of the standing leg–effectively with one's legs crossed.

wsanta
08/10/2019 20:52

assemjuve
15/11/2016

3705
points

the third refers to lukaku who helped Everton to catch the train with the top teams in the premiere league after he scored a goal.

assemjuve
15/11/2016 16:28

Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

The first phrase is alliteration and the second is the same,but the third is a pun.the first one means mean that Liverpool are making a revolution by their brilliant performance this year.the second means that Giroud became excellent after scoring 2 goals as subistute in a short time.

assemjuve
15/11/2016 16:26

No it is not,they are on the first page.

assemjuve
15/11/2016 16:23

No i do not,i think most of people read online.

assemjuve
15/11/2016 16:22

elghoul
08/11/2016

3988
points

1.The only English newspaper I regularly read is "The Guardian" which I can access online.
2.Sport usually takes one or two pages in the end of a newspaper. "Liberté" today headline is about the Algerian President travelling to France for a health enquiry.
3.Reds on Rampage is an alliteration for the Liverpool easy winner.
Super-sub Giroud scores two is an alliteration for two first words and a pun with Giroud as a substitute. Luk who scored refers to two meanings with the word luk as Lukaku and luck.
Football phrase : pupil mess

elghoul
08/11/2016 15:50

Algeria
Manchester City
3988

kwesimanifest
06/11/2016

4779
points

This week's phrase is an elementary error

kwesimanifest
06/11/2016 16:40

Ghana
Manchester United
4779

For the 2nd time in 2 weeks i have my predictions spot on
A score draw

kwesimanifest
06/11/2016 16:35

Alex_from_Ukraine
06/11/2016

6570
points

The phrase of the week is either "a student's error" or " a learner's error".

Alex_from_Ukraine
06/11/2016 10:59

Ukraine
Liverpool
6570

Arsenal Cris
06/11/2016

372
points

Maybe , Tottenham has no lost in this year . Arsenal is a strong football team , the Tottenham has no win . This match will draw .

Arsenal Cris
06/11/2016 07:51

Vietnam
Hull City AFC
372

kwesimanifest
05/11/2016

Yes its same in my country. The sport is at the back of a newspaper

kwesimanifest
05/11/2016 10:12

I don't often read newspapers.
Newspapers are read oonline these days.

kwesimanifest
05/11/2016 10:10

aragorn1986
04/11/2016

3557
points

Luk who scored - also a pun on Lukaku who scored once again and had continued with brilliant performances with Everton!

aragorn1986
04/11/2016 19:30

Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

Super sub - Giroud was recently more sitting on the bench than playing an important role in the team but now it looks like he's coming back in his full shine.

aragorn1986
04/11/2016 19:28

Reds on rampage could mean that United's fans are angry with their team's performance recently.

aragorn1986
04/11/2016 19:26

It's the same. Sport is at the back. Today's main headline is uefa new record. Aduriz scored 5 goals for Bilbao against Genk!

aragorn1986
04/11/2016 19:19

Papers are usually read online these days but in my case, my daily coffee habit goes with reading real newspapers.

aragorn1986
04/11/2016 19:13

shobonenok
03/11/2016

989
points

1. I read several russian newspapers such as "Vedomosti", "The Russian newspaper" and "Russian Business Consulting". Nowadays newspapers are often read online but it actually depends on the age of readers. Those who are older read online newspapers rarely than teens.
2. According to Alex_from_Ukraine "the sport is also at the back of a newspaper". The same is in Russia except those newspapers which are only about sports such as "Soviet Sport" or "Sport-Express". The main headline in the last one is about CSKA's defeat from Monaco.
3. a. Reds on Rampage describes great Arsenal's and Liverpool's wins against their rivals. Neither Arsenal, nor Liverpool have won the League for ages. So, now they are angry and ready to be the first. It's an alliteration.
b. Super-sub Giroud scores two - is an alliteration which means Giroud scored 2 during 7 minutes after well-done substitution of Iwobi
c. Luk who scored – is a pun about Romelu Lukaku who scored 7 times during last 7 Premier League’s matches

And a phrase is "* ********* *****"

shobonenok
03/11/2016 20:42

Russia
Manchester City
989

Liubomyr
03/11/2016

4417
points

I think that the phrase of the week is '* ********* *****'

Liubomyr
03/11/2016 14:18

Ukraine
Watford
4417

Rich
03/11/2016

594
points

Great work, Liubomyr! You're right!

Rich
03/11/2016 19:59

Spain
Liverpool
594

Alex_from_Ukraine
02/11/2016

In Ukraine, the sport is also at the back of a newspaper. Today's main headline is the e-declarations of their riches by government officials and other functionaries. Everybody in the country, which is at war, is shocked by huge sums in them.

Alex_from_Ukraine
02/11/2016 19:32

Number three: "Luk who scored" is a pun on Romelu Lukaku who scored once and set up a goal for Barkley in the match against Hammers.

Alex_from_Ukraine
02/11/2016 19:27

Number two: Super-sub Giroud scores two - this alliteration hints at scoring two goals by Giroud who became a superb SUBSTITUTE for Arsenal on the 69-th minute.

Alex_from_Ukraine
02/11/2016 19:23

Number one: Reds on Rampage might hint at Man United having lost two points and being mad together with their supporters.

Alex_from_Ukraine
02/11/2016 19:16

Rank	Name	Score
1	Colombia	74670
2	Ukraine	33833
3	Spain	29384
4	Serbia	27426
5	Brazil	23388
6	Albania	20578
7	Vietnam	20437
8	Turkey	20093
9	Macedonia	19074
10	Bosnia and Herzegovina	16333

Rank	Name	Score
1	Manchester United	146566
2	Liverpool	111201
3	Chelsea	90102
4	Arsenal	86318
5	Manchester City	58708
6	Tottenham Hotspur	19407
7	Newcastle United	10560
8	West Ham United	7652
9	AFC Bournemouth	4915
10	Everton	4533

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