4.14 Sports and Fitness
1️⃣ Sports & Fitness Collocations
Physical fitness — the condition of being physically healthy and strong.
Example (Writing): “Physical fitness is essential for a healthy lifestyle.”
Regular exercise — doing physical activity on a routine basis.
Example (Speaking): “I try to get regular exercise by jogging every morning.”
Competitive sport — sport involving competition and winning.
Example (Writing): “Competitive sports help build discipline and teamwork.”
Team spirit — feeling of pride and loyalty among team members.
Example (Speaking): “Playing football helps improve team spirit.”
Cardiovascular health — the health of the heart and blood vessels.
Example (Writing): “Cardio workouts improve cardiovascular health.”
Professional athlete — someone who plays sports as a career.
Example (Speaking): “My dream is to become a professional athlete.”
Fitness regime / routine — a planned schedule of physical activities.
Example (Writing): “A consistent fitness regime improves both body and mind.”
Sedentary lifestyle — a lifestyle with little or no physical activity.
Example (Writing): “A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main causes of obesity.”
Sports injury — physical harm caused while playing sports.
Example (Speaking): “He had to stop playing due to a serious sports injury.”
2️⃣ Idioms & Phrases Related to Sports & Fitness
Get into shape — become fit and healthy.
Example: “I joined the gym to get into shape for summer.”
Throw in the towel — give up or quit (from boxing).
Example: “He threw in the towel after years of struggling with fitness.”
Jump the gun — start something too early (from running races).
Example: “The team jumped the gun and started celebrating before the final whistle.”
Be a good sport — accept loss or difficulty gracefully.
Example: “Even after losing, she was a good sport and congratulated the winner.”
Go the extra mile — make extra effort.
Example: “Athletes need to go the extra mile in training to succeed.”
On the ball — alert and quick to respond.
Example: “Goalkeepers need to stay on the ball at all times.”
3️⃣ Phrasal Verbs Related to Sports & Fitness
Warm up — prepare the body with light exercise.
Example: “It’s important to warm up before any workout.”
Work out — exercise (especially at a gym).
Example: “I work out five days a week to stay fit.”
Cool down — slow exercises done after intense activity.
Example: “Cooling down helps prevent muscle soreness.”
Bulk up — gain muscle mass.
Example: “He’s bulking up for a bodybuilding competition.”
Take up (a sport) — start doing a new activity.
Example: “I recently took up swimming to stay healthy.”
Drop out (of a sport) — quit or stop participating.
Example: “He dropped out of tennis after his injury.”
4️⃣ Sports & Fitness Vocabulary (Advanced)
| Term | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance | The ability to sustain physical activity. | “Marathon runners need high levels of endurance.” |
| Agility | Ability to move quickly and easily. | “Agility is crucial in sports like basketball and fencing.” |
| Strength training | Exercise focused on building muscle. | “Strength training is essential for bodybuilders.” |
| Athletic performance | How well someone performs in sports. | “Diet has a big impact on athletic performance.” |
| Recreational activity | Physical activity done for fun, not competition. | “Cycling is a popular recreational activity.” |
| Injury prevention | Measures taken to avoid getting hurt. | “Wearing proper gear is key to injury prevention.” |
| Stamina | The energy to continue doing something for a long time. | “Long-distance runners need a lot of stamina.” |
| Flexibility | The ability to move joints easily. | “Yoga helps improve flexibility and reduce stress.” |
5️⃣ Synonyms for “Sports” & “Fitness”
Sports:
- Athletics
- Physical activity
- Competitive games
- Physical competition
- Sporting events
- Organized games
Fitness:
- Physical health
- Conditioning
- Well-being
- Physical readiness
- Shape (informal: “get in shape”)
- Stamina / Strength / Endurance (depending on context)