cheer on the team

Meaning

This expression means to loudly support, encourage, and applaud a sports team (or group of people) during a game, competition, or event. It can be used literally for sports, or metaphorically to show support for friends or colleagues working toward a goal.

Examples

• We all gathered at the local pub to cheer on the team during the championship match.

  We all gathered at the local pub to cheer on the team during the championship match.

• Even though they were losing, the fans continued to cheer on the team until the very last second.

  Even though they were losing, the fans continued to cheer on the team until the very last second.

• My parents came to every single game to cheer on my team from the sidelines.

  My parents came to every single game to cheer on my team from the sidelines.

• Let's go to the stadium early so we can grab good seats and cheer on the team.

  Let's go to the stadium early so we can grab good seats and cheer on the team.

• The entire company showed up at the charity run to cheer on our team of runners.

  The entire company showed up at the charity run to cheer on our team of runners.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Everyone was shouting to cheer up the team during the match.

  ✓ Everyone was shouting to cheer on the team during the match.

  'Cheer up' means to make someone happier when they are sad. 'Cheer on' means to encourage and support someone during a performance or competition.

• ✗ I love cheering at the team when they score.

  ✓ I love cheering on the team when they score.

  'Cheer on' is the specific phrasal verb used for active encouragement. 'Cheer at' is not a standard English collocation.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Thousands of fans wore the school colors to ___.

  💡 Show active, loud support for the players.

  Show answer

  cheer on the team

• We need to be there to ___ during their final match tomorrow.

  💡 Use a pronoun 'them' in the middle of the phrasal verb.

  Show answer

  cheer them on