bicycle kick: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
IntermediateInformal
Quick answer
What does “bicycle kick” mean?
A spectacular acrobatic football (soccer) move where a player kicks the ball backwards over their own head while in mid-air.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A spectacular acrobatic football (soccer) move where a player kicks the ball backwards over their own head while in mid-air.
A term used to describe any similarly acrobatic, mid-air, backward kick motion, occasionally referenced metaphorically for unexpected or dramatic reversals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in both football contexts. In the US, 'bicycle kick' is the standard term; in the UK, 'overhead kick' is more common, though 'bicycle kick' is widely understood.
Connotations
Connotes high skill, athleticism, and spectacular play. No significant difference in connotation between regions.
Frequency
Used with moderate frequency in sports commentary and reporting in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “bicycle kick” in a Sentence
[Player] bicycle-kicked the ball into the net.The goal came from a bicycle kick by [Player].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bicycle kick” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He attempted to bicycle-kick the cross, but missed.
- The striker bicycle-kicked it brilliantly.
American English
- He tried to bicycle-kick the ball into the goal.
- She bicycle-kicked it past the keeper.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Potentially used in sports science or kinesiology studies.
Everyday
Used in discussions about football/soccer.
Technical
Used in football coaching and commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bicycle kick”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bicycle kick”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bicycle kick”
- Pronouncing 'bicycle' as /baɪˈsaɪkl/. Incorrect: 'He did a bicycle kick from the corner.' (Extremely rare and impractical).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are generally synonymous, though 'bicycle kick' specifically evokes the pedalling leg motion.
No, it's almost exclusively performed when the ball is in the air behind or above the player, requiring them to jump and kick backwards.
Its origins are debated, but it is famously associated with South American footballers like Leonidas da Silva and is known in Spanish as 'chilena'.
Yes, informally. For example, 'He bicycle-kicked the ball into the net.'
A spectacular acrobatic football (soccer) move where a player kicks the ball backwards over their own head while in mid-air.
Bicycle kick is usually informal in register.
Bicycle kick: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪsɪkl kɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪsɪkl kɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pull a bicycle kick (to execute one successfully).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a player in mid-air, legs cycling like on a bicycle, to kick a ball backwards.
Conceptual Metaphor
A REVERSAL IS A BACKWARDS KICK (e.g., 'He bicycle-kicked the proposal,' meaning he dramatically overturned it).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'bicycle kick' primarily associated with?