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Glite Dictionary
to dribble the soccer ball

to dribble the soccer ball

2.8
To move the ball along the ground using short touches with your feet
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈdrɪbəl ðə ˈsɑkər bɔl/
translation icon : driblar el balón de fútbol
  • Don't dribble the soccer ball too fast!

Examples

  • He expertly dribbled the soccer ball past two defenders before taking a shot on goal.

  • During practice, she worked on learning how to quickly dribble the soccer ball under pressure.

  • It's important to keep your head up while you dribble the soccer ball down the field.

  • He dribbles the soccer ball skillfully.

  • To improve your skills, practice how to dribble the soccer ball without looking down.

  • During the match, he skillfully dribbled the soccer ball past several defenders.

  • She learned to dribble the soccer ball by keeping it close and using quick touches.

Synonyms

to dribble
vsto dribble the soccer ball
27 2.3

To move a ball forward by touching it again and again, like in basketball

uses only light foot touches along the ground rather than hands or bouncing
to drib
vsto dribble the soccer ball
7.0

To move a ball forward with small controlled touches

uses only light touches with the feet to control the ball along the ground

Antonyms

to pass
167 1.0

To throw or kick the ball to a teammate

How Continuous

dribbling
6 2.9
to dribble the soccer ball
2.8
to kick
∞ 1.0
tap
66 1.0

Surface Forms

dribble the soccer ball infinitive
dribbled the soccer ball past
dribbled the soccer ball past participle
dribbling the soccer ball present participle
dribbles the soccer ball third person singular

Morphology

dribble + the + soccer + ball

The meaning is directly compositional: 'dribble' (to move a ball by tapping or bouncing) applied to 'the soccer ball' yields the described action. This is a straightforward verb + object construction common in sports contexts and is immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Dribble the soccer ball comes from the image of a player giving the ball many small, quick touches so it moves slowly and stays close, like water that dribbles in tiny drops. That's why it means 'to control and move a soccer ball along the ground using light touches with the feet'.