yellow card

Meaning

In sports like soccer, a yellow card is a physical card shown by the referee to warn a player for a serious foul. If a player gets two yellow cards in the same match, they are sent off the field. It is also sometimes used in daily life as a playful warning for bad behavior.

Examples

• The referee showed a yellow card to the defender for a bad tackle.

  The referee showed a yellow card to the defender for a bad tackle.

• He needs to be careful because he already has a yellow card.

  He needs to be careful because he already has a yellow card.

• Did the player get a yellow card or just a quick warning?

  Did the player get a yellow card or just a quick warning?

• I think that foul deserved a yellow card, not a red one.

  I think that foul deserved a yellow card, not a red one.

• The coach was angry when his star player received a yellow card.

  The coach was angry when his star player received a yellow card.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The player made a yellow card in the first half.

  ✓ The player got a yellow card in the first half.

  You do not 'make' a card. A player 'gets', 'receives', or 'is shown' a yellow card by the referee.

• ✗ The referee gave him a yellow ticket.

  ✓ The referee gave him a yellow card.

  In some languages, the word for 'card' and 'ticket' is the same. In English sports, it is always called a 'card'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The referee ran over and showed him a ___ after the bad tackle.

  💡 It is a physical warning card used in soccer.

  Show answer

  yellow card

• If you get another ___, you will have to leave the game.

  💡 Two of these equal a red card.

  Show answer

  yellow card