park the bus
To attempt to stop the opposition team from scoring a goal by playing extremely defensively and placing as many players as possible behind the ball.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The team decided to park the bus to protect their lead.”
“After scoring an early goal, the coach told his players to park the bus and defend for the rest of the game.”
“Facing a superior opponent, the manager chose to park the bus, frustrating the crowd as his team retreated into a deep, impenetrable defensive formation.”
Coined by José Mourinho.
- 01
bus plunge
A phrase often used in filler story headlines in print newspapers, prior to the adoption of computer-aided typesetting and publishing methods, as it filled out the usual width of a column in the eight-column layout then prevalent in the industry.
- 02
drive the porcelain bus
Synonym of worship the porcelain god (“to vomit into a toilet bowl, especially while drunk or hungover”).
- 03
face like the back end of a bus
A very ugly face.
- 04
light and dark
[Cockney slang]park
- 05
park that thought
Alternative form of hold that thought.
- 06
ride the short bus
To participate in a special education program, such as for those with learning disabilities.
- 07
trailer park trash
Alternative form of trailer trash.
- 08
walk in the park
Something easy or pleasant.
Last updated August 10, 2026