Portugal lost. We were not happy! I hate to see panic and/or doubt on the faces of my players. That's what I saw and I was not pleased. Why can't Portugal gat a coach that inspires them and helps them use their skill?
Oh well, I am still pleased that Spain is continuing. They will meet Paraguay and unless Paraguay has a magician in the locker room, it is likely that Spain will move on to the semi-finals - in my opinion.
Ever wonder what the referees are saying? The CBC commentators have some opinions on what the refs tell the players and/or coaches.
1) I'm using a common sense approach. - Anyone who reacts with a normal response is considered to be using their 'common sense'. Following rules or enforcing them in situations that could have negative impact is not using your common sense. For example: "The label on the bottle states it is a poison but it doesn't state that you can't rub it in your eyes. Should I wash my hands before I rub my eyes?" "What do you think? Use your common sense." In business your could say: "Even though we didn't follow the company standards exactly, we did get the sale because the client said we used a common sense approach."
2) He wants the keeper to "get on with it". - To "get on with it" is to continue with whatever you are doing. You tell someone to "get on with it" when they have stopped temporarily. Telling someone to get on with it means they are stalling (procrastinating) because they want a break or they want to interfere with the flow of the project. This expression can be used emotionally or matter-of-factly. Be careful about your tone when you use this expression. If you say, ""Let's get on with doing the dishes." in a normal voice, then there is no malice intended or inferred. However, if you say, "What is taking so long? Get on with it.", in an aggravated voice then the person you are talking to will take offense. When a referee says "Get on with it." it means the player is holding up the game.
3) "Come here you naughty school boy." - This is an actual quote from one of the commentators. In this situation, the referee was trying to show a yellow card to a player that had made an infraction. The rule is that the player has to show his back to the referee so that his shirt number can be visible to the referee. I hope that the referee didn't actually say this because it is quite offensive to tell this to an adult. "Naughty" means to be "badly behaved" or "disobedient".
4) The referee is "not amused". - To say someone is "not amused" is a very polite way to say they are angry. It is a formal enough expression to use at work and it is used usually when you are talking about someone in authority. You wouldn't say that your younger sister is "not amused" with her homework. You would say that your mother is "not amused" with the price quoted by the repairman.
I was not amused by Portugal's loss. At least, it was only 1-0.
On to the quarter finals!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Matchday #18 -FIFA World Cup 2010 - Orange Burns Your Retinas - and More
At least today's calls were closer to accurate. No missed goals due to 'Sun in the eyes' syndrome. So that's good news. Of course looking directly at the orange shirts of the Netherlands is enough to impair the vision. No problem picking them out on the pitch though.
Perhaps Netherlands can 'turn up the volume' on their shirts and see if they can confuse Brazil. Chile certainly couldn't. It was a bit of a disappointment that they couldn't convert any of their attempts into goals. But that's the way the cookie crumbles.
1) "That's the way the cookie crumbles." - This expression can be used like "tough luck", "hard luck" or "too bad, so sad". I know they all sound a little bit crazy. Essentially, they mean that sometimes no matter what you do, you do not succeed. Hopefully, this is a short-term situation and success finds you later on. For example, if you did not get the promotion at work that you were sure you would get and you tell your friend about it, they might say "That's tough luck." If you make numerous attempts to bake a certain type of cookie but they do not look or taste very good, the most appropriate thing for your friend to say would be "That's the way the cookie crumbles." Of course, this would not be your best friend. In fact, I would recommend you look for a new friend after that bad joke attempt.
2) Last game he was showing cards "left, right and centre". - "Everywhere", or "all over the place" can substitute for this expression. You can use it any time you want to convey the idea of nearly complete coverage. For example: "I couldn't believe that the teacher marked so many papers with an "A". He was handing them out left, right and centre." In business you could say: "The mail delivery person gave everyone she saw an invitation to her party. She passed them out left, right and centre."
3) trying to "make tracks" downfield - To "make tracks" is to move quickly. "Tracks" are the marks left behind when you step on or in something - like snow. This expression is quite casual but you can use it anywhere. Usually, it is used to end a conversation and/or to explain why you are not staying longer. For example: "My daughter is playing volleyball at 4 and I need to make tracks so I can go watch her game." In business it would be more appropriate to say you have to "get going", "hurry along" or "Can we continue this at a later time as I have to be running along?"
4) Brazil and Germany are "neck and neck" at the moment. - "Neck and neck" is an expression taken from horse racing. When the horses are running hard trying to win the race and two horses are running at the same speed, we say they are "neck and neck". This is because if you were to view the two horses from the side, their heads and necks would be equally forward. We use "neck and neck" to describe any competition where competitors (particularly two of them) are equally expected to win. For example: "I heard that both Angel and Agella are trying for the new management position. Which one has the better chance?" "At the moment, neither. Angel has more experience but Agella did her studies in management. They are neck and neck at this point."
Tomorrow is the last day of the Group of 16. Will Portugal make us deliriously happy and beat Spain? Time will tell. Sleep well gentle players so that you can show us a hard fought game tomorrow. Go Portugal!
Perhaps Netherlands can 'turn up the volume' on their shirts and see if they can confuse Brazil. Chile certainly couldn't. It was a bit of a disappointment that they couldn't convert any of their attempts into goals. But that's the way the cookie crumbles.
1) "That's the way the cookie crumbles." - This expression can be used like "tough luck", "hard luck" or "too bad, so sad". I know they all sound a little bit crazy. Essentially, they mean that sometimes no matter what you do, you do not succeed. Hopefully, this is a short-term situation and success finds you later on. For example, if you did not get the promotion at work that you were sure you would get and you tell your friend about it, they might say "That's tough luck." If you make numerous attempts to bake a certain type of cookie but they do not look or taste very good, the most appropriate thing for your friend to say would be "That's the way the cookie crumbles." Of course, this would not be your best friend. In fact, I would recommend you look for a new friend after that bad joke attempt.
2) Last game he was showing cards "left, right and centre". - "Everywhere", or "all over the place" can substitute for this expression. You can use it any time you want to convey the idea of nearly complete coverage. For example: "I couldn't believe that the teacher marked so many papers with an "A". He was handing them out left, right and centre." In business you could say: "The mail delivery person gave everyone she saw an invitation to her party. She passed them out left, right and centre."
3) trying to "make tracks" downfield - To "make tracks" is to move quickly. "Tracks" are the marks left behind when you step on or in something - like snow. This expression is quite casual but you can use it anywhere. Usually, it is used to end a conversation and/or to explain why you are not staying longer. For example: "My daughter is playing volleyball at 4 and I need to make tracks so I can go watch her game." In business it would be more appropriate to say you have to "get going", "hurry along" or "Can we continue this at a later time as I have to be running along?"
4) Brazil and Germany are "neck and neck" at the moment. - "Neck and neck" is an expression taken from horse racing. When the horses are running hard trying to win the race and two horses are running at the same speed, we say they are "neck and neck". This is because if you were to view the two horses from the side, their heads and necks would be equally forward. We use "neck and neck" to describe any competition where competitors (particularly two of them) are equally expected to win. For example: "I heard that both Angel and Agella are trying for the new management position. Which one has the better chance?" "At the moment, neither. Angel has more experience but Agella did her studies in management. They are neck and neck at this point."
Tomorrow is the last day of the Group of 16. Will Portugal make us deliriously happy and beat Spain? Time will tell. Sleep well gentle players so that you can show us a hard fought game tomorrow. Go Portugal!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Matchday #17 -FIFA World Cup 2010 - "Maradona's March Continues"
There were good arguments made today for the introduction of better technology or more linesmen into the game of football. Personally, I don't trust the technology of having a ball that 'beeps' when it goes over the goal line. They tried it in hockey some time ago and found that it didn't work. Technological failures could always be blamed.
What did work was the introduction of specialty linesmen whose only job was to watch the goal line. They were positioned directly over the goal so they would have a "bird's-eye view". This stopped a good deal of the controversy and helped the game flow. I think FIFA should give this idea a try.
Let's see what they decide after England and Mexico yell at them for a few days. In my opinion, there is no excuse to stop playing the game and that is what England did for sure. Mexico, not so much. They tried to play well. Of course the loss of a goal was a blow to the English game, but is that new to them? NO. They should have "manned-up" and continued with their normal game plan.
I know if I was the coach in that locker room at halftime, I would have shown them the footage and "lit a fire under them" that would have set them in the right direction. We know that Capello's influence on the team was to calm the wildness of the team and "dampen" the outbursts that caused England to qualify for extreme-yellow card treatment in the past. He did an excellent job. The players were so calm and relaxed out on the pitch that they looked asleep half the time. Oh well, "out with the old and in with the new" must be the current England chant.
Speaking of "the old"...Maradona"s team really put on a show. One bad call "notwithstanding". Onward ho, Argentina!
1) "bird's-eye view" - If you take this expression literally, it suggests you are flying or at least in the sky so you have a complete perspective of the situation below. We use this expression to describe anyone with clear sight of something. For example: "The boy who climbed onto the roof, had a bird's-eye view of the neighbourhood." In business you could use the expression to describe anything you saw with your own eyes. For example: "Did you hear about the CEO's fight with the Marketing Manager?" "Yes. I was in the conference room when it happened. I had a bird's-eye view."
2) to "man-up" - A sexist expression that is used for women as well. To "man-up" is to gather your strength of body and/or mind so you can perform at your best. This expression is usually used after you have sustained a physical or emotional blow. For example: "After the player twisted his ankle, he chose to man-up and continue playing until the end of the match." An emotional example is: "His cousins were so cruel to him in childhood that he considered not attending a family wedding because they would be there. But, instead, he manned-up and went to the wedding with a smile on his face."
3) to "light a fire under someone" - This means to excite or strongly encourage someone who could benefit from this assistance. For example: "The team was sad after they heard they could not qualify for the finals. But their coach lit a fire under them and their next game was their highest-scoring game ever." In business you could say: "My new intern hasn't been very efficient but I think the prospect of a real job offer after this internship might light a fire under her. I'll see if her performance improves next week."
4) "dampen" - To "dampen" something is literally to wet it. A rain shower can dampen the grass but it can also dampen your spirits. We use dampen literally and figuratively often. Figuratively dampening someone is to decrease their excitement or excitability (quickness to become emotional). "Capello has dampened the wildness of Rooney. He plays a more controlled game and doesn't get overly upset anymore."
5) "out with the old and in with the new" - This expression can be used when anything or anyone is changed for a newer or younger version. If you replace you fax machine with a new model that has more features, like scanning, you can say "out with the old and in with the new". Although not a very polite thing to say, you can use this expression when people are replaced in their jobs or even (really not nice to say) in their marriage.
6) "notwithstanding" - This strange-looking word combination is real. We can use it in the same places we use "regardless of", "in spite of", or "although". You usually use this word to suggest that one thing is not relevant to the final decision or outcome. For example: "Notwithstanding the snow, our mail was delivered on time." In business you could say: "The sales from last month notwithstanding, our company continues to grow." This last example suggests that last month's sales were not very good but they had no lasting effect on the company's growth.
Netherlands or Slovakia? Chile or Brazil? Who will be the victors tomorrow? I have a guess, but I have been proven wrong before. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.
What did work was the introduction of specialty linesmen whose only job was to watch the goal line. They were positioned directly over the goal so they would have a "bird's-eye view". This stopped a good deal of the controversy and helped the game flow. I think FIFA should give this idea a try.
Let's see what they decide after England and Mexico yell at them for a few days. In my opinion, there is no excuse to stop playing the game and that is what England did for sure. Mexico, not so much. They tried to play well. Of course the loss of a goal was a blow to the English game, but is that new to them? NO. They should have "manned-up" and continued with their normal game plan.
I know if I was the coach in that locker room at halftime, I would have shown them the footage and "lit a fire under them" that would have set them in the right direction. We know that Capello's influence on the team was to calm the wildness of the team and "dampen" the outbursts that caused England to qualify for extreme-yellow card treatment in the past. He did an excellent job. The players were so calm and relaxed out on the pitch that they looked asleep half the time. Oh well, "out with the old and in with the new" must be the current England chant.
Speaking of "the old"...Maradona"s team really put on a show. One bad call "notwithstanding". Onward ho, Argentina!
1) "bird's-eye view" - If you take this expression literally, it suggests you are flying or at least in the sky so you have a complete perspective of the situation below. We use this expression to describe anyone with clear sight of something. For example: "The boy who climbed onto the roof, had a bird's-eye view of the neighbourhood." In business you could use the expression to describe anything you saw with your own eyes. For example: "Did you hear about the CEO's fight with the Marketing Manager?" "Yes. I was in the conference room when it happened. I had a bird's-eye view."
2) to "man-up" - A sexist expression that is used for women as well. To "man-up" is to gather your strength of body and/or mind so you can perform at your best. This expression is usually used after you have sustained a physical or emotional blow. For example: "After the player twisted his ankle, he chose to man-up and continue playing until the end of the match." An emotional example is: "His cousins were so cruel to him in childhood that he considered not attending a family wedding because they would be there. But, instead, he manned-up and went to the wedding with a smile on his face."
3) to "light a fire under someone" - This means to excite or strongly encourage someone who could benefit from this assistance. For example: "The team was sad after they heard they could not qualify for the finals. But their coach lit a fire under them and their next game was their highest-scoring game ever." In business you could say: "My new intern hasn't been very efficient but I think the prospect of a real job offer after this internship might light a fire under her. I'll see if her performance improves next week."
4) "dampen" - To "dampen" something is literally to wet it. A rain shower can dampen the grass but it can also dampen your spirits. We use dampen literally and figuratively often. Figuratively dampening someone is to decrease their excitement or excitability (quickness to become emotional). "Capello has dampened the wildness of Rooney. He plays a more controlled game and doesn't get overly upset anymore."
5) "out with the old and in with the new" - This expression can be used when anything or anyone is changed for a newer or younger version. If you replace you fax machine with a new model that has more features, like scanning, you can say "out with the old and in with the new". Although not a very polite thing to say, you can use this expression when people are replaced in their jobs or even (really not nice to say) in their marriage.
6) "notwithstanding" - This strange-looking word combination is real. We can use it in the same places we use "regardless of", "in spite of", or "although". You usually use this word to suggest that one thing is not relevant to the final decision or outcome. For example: "Notwithstanding the snow, our mail was delivered on time." In business you could say: "The sales from last month notwithstanding, our company continues to grow." This last example suggests that last month's sales were not very good but they had no lasting effect on the company's growth.
Netherlands or Slovakia? Chile or Brazil? Who will be the victors tomorrow? I have a guess, but I have been proven wrong before. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Matchday #16 - World Cup 2010 - Terminology from Other Sports Used in Football
Did everyone enjoy the first day of the knockout rounds? We certainly did.
Uruguay will meet Ghana in the quarter finals. With all the yellow cards in today's matches, the teams may not have their best and brightest able to play in the next game. Particularly Ghana will probably struggle. But their game was especially riveting today. I hope everybody who is allowed to play will rest and prepare for the next big game. We have a true fondness for Forlan as we lived in Spain for a time and were able to watch him play on Villareal and Atletico Madrid. But, I still want the Black Stars to try their best and make a proper show for Africa.
As I listen to commentators, it strikes me that they use alot of language that is more common in other sports. Perhaps because football is a unifying type of sport, it uses such a variety of language. For example:
1) from Basketball - "dribbling" the ball downfield - To "dribble" the ball in football is to move it down or up the field using a series of small touches (or short passes to yourself). It is akin to (like) dribbling the ball in basketball where you are bouncing the ball off the court to your hand as you move over the court. It is a legal way to move the ball while keeping control of it.
2) from Hockey - He tried to "slap" the ball into the goal. - "Slap" used here can be considered the short version of hockey's "slapshot". The "slapshot" in hockey is when the player with the puck takes a hard, fast shot (attempt on goal) at the net by hitting the puck with the full blade of the stick. The sound that the hockey stick's blade makes when it contacts the puck sounds like a slap (an open-handed hit often across the face). When he "tried to slap it in", the football player took a hard, fast attempt on goal by hitting the ball with the inside flat side of his foot. In this case, it did not work.
3) from Baseball - They haven't really "stepped up to the plate" yet. - "Stepping up to the plate" is used in baseball and literally means moving to your place at Home Plate so you can take your turn at bat. Once you have "stepped up to the plate" you are ready to attempt to hit the ball. We use this expression anywhere that you have to show your readiness to accomplish something. In the case of football, the commentator was referring to his opinion that the American team hadn't made a proper effort to win at that point in the game.
We can use this phrase anywhere to describe someone as not "giving their all", "putting their best foot forward" or making a strong effort when attempting anything. For example: "I was very disappointed when my team leader gave a poor sales pitch to the client. It was bad from beginning to end. He never really stepped up to bat." Another example that equates closer to not being given the opportunity to show readiness or ability is: "I knew I was ready to take over the new division at Head office but they never let me step up to bat."
4) from Rock Climbing - The U.S. is "looking for a toehold" in this game. - A "toehold" or a "handhold" in rock climbing is a place to put your foot or hand so that you can support your weight and move up or down the rock. While a "handhold" is something you can often see, depending on your position on the rock, a "toehold" you can rarely see. You have to feel for a "toehold" so it is considered harder to find but it is usually more important because you can often support more of your weight here.
In the case of this football game, the commentator was trying to describe his opinion that the U.S. team did not seem to have control of the game yet. You can also use the phrase "to get a footing" the same way. This phrase talks about having control or getting control of any situation. For example: "We have been trying for months to get a toehold in the market." In this last example the expression explains that our company has been trying to find some stable place or support for our business in this market. Another way to express this is, "We have been trying to get a footing in the market." It is another way to express a desire for or attempt at control.
Visit our website (www.yourenglishconnection.com) for more information on personal assistance for your projects written in English or presented to English speakers.
Tomorrow we get to watch Argentina vs. Mexico and England vs. Germany. In case you were not sure, vs. is a shortened version of the word versus which is equal to against or confronting. Who will be the next to move on? We'll find out tomorrow.
Uruguay will meet Ghana in the quarter finals. With all the yellow cards in today's matches, the teams may not have their best and brightest able to play in the next game. Particularly Ghana will probably struggle. But their game was especially riveting today. I hope everybody who is allowed to play will rest and prepare for the next big game. We have a true fondness for Forlan as we lived in Spain for a time and were able to watch him play on Villareal and Atletico Madrid. But, I still want the Black Stars to try their best and make a proper show for Africa.
As I listen to commentators, it strikes me that they use alot of language that is more common in other sports. Perhaps because football is a unifying type of sport, it uses such a variety of language. For example:
1) from Basketball - "dribbling" the ball downfield - To "dribble" the ball in football is to move it down or up the field using a series of small touches (or short passes to yourself). It is akin to (like) dribbling the ball in basketball where you are bouncing the ball off the court to your hand as you move over the court. It is a legal way to move the ball while keeping control of it.
2) from Hockey - He tried to "slap" the ball into the goal. - "Slap" used here can be considered the short version of hockey's "slapshot". The "slapshot" in hockey is when the player with the puck takes a hard, fast shot (attempt on goal) at the net by hitting the puck with the full blade of the stick. The sound that the hockey stick's blade makes when it contacts the puck sounds like a slap (an open-handed hit often across the face). When he "tried to slap it in", the football player took a hard, fast attempt on goal by hitting the ball with the inside flat side of his foot. In this case, it did not work.
3) from Baseball - They haven't really "stepped up to the plate" yet. - "Stepping up to the plate" is used in baseball and literally means moving to your place at Home Plate so you can take your turn at bat. Once you have "stepped up to the plate" you are ready to attempt to hit the ball. We use this expression anywhere that you have to show your readiness to accomplish something. In the case of football, the commentator was referring to his opinion that the American team hadn't made a proper effort to win at that point in the game.
We can use this phrase anywhere to describe someone as not "giving their all", "putting their best foot forward" or making a strong effort when attempting anything. For example: "I was very disappointed when my team leader gave a poor sales pitch to the client. It was bad from beginning to end. He never really stepped up to bat." Another example that equates closer to not being given the opportunity to show readiness or ability is: "I knew I was ready to take over the new division at Head office but they never let me step up to bat."
4) from Rock Climbing - The U.S. is "looking for a toehold" in this game. - A "toehold" or a "handhold" in rock climbing is a place to put your foot or hand so that you can support your weight and move up or down the rock. While a "handhold" is something you can often see, depending on your position on the rock, a "toehold" you can rarely see. You have to feel for a "toehold" so it is considered harder to find but it is usually more important because you can often support more of your weight here.
In the case of this football game, the commentator was trying to describe his opinion that the U.S. team did not seem to have control of the game yet. You can also use the phrase "to get a footing" the same way. This phrase talks about having control or getting control of any situation. For example: "We have been trying for months to get a toehold in the market." In this last example the expression explains that our company has been trying to find some stable place or support for our business in this market. Another way to express this is, "We have been trying to get a footing in the market." It is another way to express a desire for or attempt at control.
Visit our website (www.yourenglishconnection.com) for more information on personal assistance for your projects written in English or presented to English speakers.
Tomorrow we get to watch Argentina vs. Mexico and England vs. Germany. In case you were not sure, vs. is a shortened version of the word versus which is equal to against or confronting. Who will be the next to move on? We'll find out tomorrow.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Matchday #15 - World Cup 2010 - Nice Things Commentators Say
Today was the last day of the group stage. I'm not sure about you but I was pleased with the final results. The last match-ups are finalized as Brazil meeting Chile (sure to be a dazzling game) and Spain meeting Portugal (I can't wait).
Although it is easy to focus on the negative words and phrases of everyday English, today we will discuss some 'nice words' that have been uttered by our football announcers during the games.
1) He has really "given his all". - To "give your all" is to try your hardest to accomplish something. Actual success is not measured but the effort put into attempted success is. For example: "You may not have won the game, but I know you gave your all. No one could have tried any harder than you." You can use this phrase anytime you want to describe someone's strong effort to win. "My mother gave it her all in convincing the policeman but in the end she was given the parking ticket." You can also use this phrase when success has occurred. "We tried for months to get the contract with that overseas company and finally we succeeded. Giving it our all really paid off."
2) They are "flying high" tonight. - "Flying high" is being very happy. We can say "You look up in the clouds today." and we mean that you look extremely happy. The football players who won the game and qualified for the next round were flying high after the game.
Unfortunately, there can be a negative connotation with this phrase because the term "high" also refers to being on drugs or having had a quantity of alcohol. You should be aware of this when you use the expression because even though you mean it innocently, some listeners may laugh thinking you mean the 'drug' version of the expression. You can use the expression at work: "We were flying high after we landed that new client. Everyone was overjoyed."
3) This game is "a thrill a minute". - A simple expression meant to emphasize the amount of entertainment something has given - something exciting. In this case, the announcer was describing a football match that had very even ball possession and many shots on target. We weren't sure until the end of the game who the winner would be. Other things that could be considered "a thrill a minute" could include; a roller coaster, a vacation or a scary movie. In football, we often use an expression meaning the opposite like "it was a real snoozer" suggesting that the game was boring. "Snoozer" is not an actual word but it derives from the word "snooze" which means "sleep".
4) to excite or vuvuzelerate their team - OK just a small joke one announcer made. He was describing the fans of a team that was struggling on the pitch. The fans began making an enormous amount of noise and in this World Cup that cannot be done well without blowing those special horns - the vuvuzelas. So this announcer made up a word "vuvuzelerate" to describe the fans' attempts at inspiring their team. The creation of words, in particular the creation of verbs from nouns, is an extremely common practice in English. We do it all the time. Although the word may not be official, we guess at the meaning from our knowledge of the original word. For example, we all know what a chair is and that the word is a noun. But I have heard the command "Chair me." many times. The extrapolated meaning here is that you want someone to give you a chair. Sorry, but it does happen all the time and is a large part of common English slang. Try it. You might enjoy it.
On to the Round of 16!
Although it is easy to focus on the negative words and phrases of everyday English, today we will discuss some 'nice words' that have been uttered by our football announcers during the games.
1) He has really "given his all". - To "give your all" is to try your hardest to accomplish something. Actual success is not measured but the effort put into attempted success is. For example: "You may not have won the game, but I know you gave your all. No one could have tried any harder than you." You can use this phrase anytime you want to describe someone's strong effort to win. "My mother gave it her all in convincing the policeman but in the end she was given the parking ticket." You can also use this phrase when success has occurred. "We tried for months to get the contract with that overseas company and finally we succeeded. Giving it our all really paid off."
2) They are "flying high" tonight. - "Flying high" is being very happy. We can say "You look up in the clouds today." and we mean that you look extremely happy. The football players who won the game and qualified for the next round were flying high after the game.
Unfortunately, there can be a negative connotation with this phrase because the term "high" also refers to being on drugs or having had a quantity of alcohol. You should be aware of this when you use the expression because even though you mean it innocently, some listeners may laugh thinking you mean the 'drug' version of the expression. You can use the expression at work: "We were flying high after we landed that new client. Everyone was overjoyed."
3) This game is "a thrill a minute". - A simple expression meant to emphasize the amount of entertainment something has given - something exciting. In this case, the announcer was describing a football match that had very even ball possession and many shots on target. We weren't sure until the end of the game who the winner would be. Other things that could be considered "a thrill a minute" could include; a roller coaster, a vacation or a scary movie. In football, we often use an expression meaning the opposite like "it was a real snoozer" suggesting that the game was boring. "Snoozer" is not an actual word but it derives from the word "snooze" which means "sleep".
4) to excite or vuvuzelerate their team - OK just a small joke one announcer made. He was describing the fans of a team that was struggling on the pitch. The fans began making an enormous amount of noise and in this World Cup that cannot be done well without blowing those special horns - the vuvuzelas. So this announcer made up a word "vuvuzelerate" to describe the fans' attempts at inspiring their team. The creation of words, in particular the creation of verbs from nouns, is an extremely common practice in English. We do it all the time. Although the word may not be official, we guess at the meaning from our knowledge of the original word. For example, we all know what a chair is and that the word is a noun. But I have heard the command "Chair me." many times. The extrapolated meaning here is that you want someone to give you a chair. Sorry, but it does happen all the time and is a large part of common English slang. Try it. You might enjoy it.
On to the Round of 16!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Matchday #14 - World Cup 2010 - "From World Cup Heroes to World Cup Zeroes."
Groups E and F have been finalized. We say goodbye to Cameroon, Denmark, New Zealand and Italy.
Some of these are not a shock but one was. My viewing partner and I were on opposite sides again and let us just say that there was a "little tension" in the room during the game. After the game finished, he got up and walked from the room. This was not a happy man. Oh well, more room for Portugal to stretch its wings. At least we agree there.
The CBC commentator had two great quotes today:
"Slovakian football has never had it so good." and "From World Cup Heroes to World Cup Zeroes."
I have nothing to add.
1) Italian hearts were in mouths. - To "have your heart in your mouth" is the same as "being on the edge of your seat" or "being on tender hooks". This means that anxiety was at a high level. You can use any of these expressions whenever you want to express a feeling of high anxiety. For example: "I had my heart in my mouth until they announced that employees would get bonuses this year." or "My mother was on the edge of her seat for the entire awards show."
2) "running into brick walls" - In the case of this football game, the "brick walls" were the defensive players of Slovakia. The Italian players were having a difficult time getting through to the goal (until near the end of the game when things started to go better). In business you can "hit a brick wall" when you try to sell a product to someone who is not interested. You can "run into a brick wall" when you ask the boss for a raise and the answer is "No." not "We'll talk about it in a month." or "Let's look at your performance record." Essentially "running into" or "hitting" a "brick wall" is getting to an impassable object or person. You cannot find a way through, around or over this object and you cannot find a way to change the opinion of the person. You have no recourse but to keep trying or give up.
3) the challenge was "nowhere near" the ball - "Nowhere near" equates to "not even close to" or "far from". We use all these expressions whenever someone has made a poor choice or has missed opportunity due to choice or ability. If I tried to hit a mosquito that was sitting on your arm and missed because the mosquito flew away, you could say "Your hit was not even close." or "That was nowhere near the target." In business you could say: "Our company's offer to buy that building was nowhere near the final purchase price."
4) This is a rather "dodgy" Italian defense. - "Dodgy" is used like "suspect" or "doubtful". It is not a formal word but is common slang in Britain more than North America. You could say that the cafeteria food in the hospital looks "dodgy". You could also say that the new patio your father-in-law built looks "dodgy". You would not say that your boss's wife looks "dodgy" unless you were not very interested in keeping your job.
"Rather" is a common addition to English expressions and in this context it equates to "a little bit" or "somewhat". "My hair is rather long." does not mean that it is very long but it is a little bit long. It is definitely a word used casually but you could use it in a business setting. For example: "The quote for repairing the copy machine was rather high so I fixed it myself."
5) "calamitous" - "Calamitous" is "disastrous", "devastating" or "catastrophic". Definitely a strong word. Perhaps a little too strong for some people, but for the real fans of football, it is always a calamity when your team loses. Particularly so when the team that beats them is nowhere near the same ranking. Oh well, that's life. Unpredictable.
Tomorrow is our big day. We will get to watch Portugal play and we'll find out whom they will meet in the knockout round of 16. Good luck to everyone else, but my heart remains steadfast.
Some of these are not a shock but one was. My viewing partner and I were on opposite sides again and let us just say that there was a "little tension" in the room during the game. After the game finished, he got up and walked from the room. This was not a happy man. Oh well, more room for Portugal to stretch its wings. At least we agree there.
The CBC commentator had two great quotes today:
"Slovakian football has never had it so good." and "From World Cup Heroes to World Cup Zeroes."
I have nothing to add.
1) Italian hearts were in mouths. - To "have your heart in your mouth" is the same as "being on the edge of your seat" or "being on tender hooks". This means that anxiety was at a high level. You can use any of these expressions whenever you want to express a feeling of high anxiety. For example: "I had my heart in my mouth until they announced that employees would get bonuses this year." or "My mother was on the edge of her seat for the entire awards show."
2) "running into brick walls" - In the case of this football game, the "brick walls" were the defensive players of Slovakia. The Italian players were having a difficult time getting through to the goal (until near the end of the game when things started to go better). In business you can "hit a brick wall" when you try to sell a product to someone who is not interested. You can "run into a brick wall" when you ask the boss for a raise and the answer is "No." not "We'll talk about it in a month." or "Let's look at your performance record." Essentially "running into" or "hitting" a "brick wall" is getting to an impassable object or person. You cannot find a way through, around or over this object and you cannot find a way to change the opinion of the person. You have no recourse but to keep trying or give up.
3) the challenge was "nowhere near" the ball - "Nowhere near" equates to "not even close to" or "far from". We use all these expressions whenever someone has made a poor choice or has missed opportunity due to choice or ability. If I tried to hit a mosquito that was sitting on your arm and missed because the mosquito flew away, you could say "Your hit was not even close." or "That was nowhere near the target." In business you could say: "Our company's offer to buy that building was nowhere near the final purchase price."
4) This is a rather "dodgy" Italian defense. - "Dodgy" is used like "suspect" or "doubtful". It is not a formal word but is common slang in Britain more than North America. You could say that the cafeteria food in the hospital looks "dodgy". You could also say that the new patio your father-in-law built looks "dodgy". You would not say that your boss's wife looks "dodgy" unless you were not very interested in keeping your job.
"Rather" is a common addition to English expressions and in this context it equates to "a little bit" or "somewhat". "My hair is rather long." does not mean that it is very long but it is a little bit long. It is definitely a word used casually but you could use it in a business setting. For example: "The quote for repairing the copy machine was rather high so I fixed it myself."
5) "calamitous" - "Calamitous" is "disastrous", "devastating" or "catastrophic". Definitely a strong word. Perhaps a little too strong for some people, but for the real fans of football, it is always a calamity when your team loses. Particularly so when the team that beats them is nowhere near the same ranking. Oh well, that's life. Unpredictable.
Tomorrow is our big day. We will get to watch Portugal play and we'll find out whom they will meet in the knockout round of 16. Good luck to everyone else, but my heart remains steadfast.
Matchday #13 - World Cup 2010 - Football words used in Business English
Lucky Matchday #13 - for some. So, the United States and England are through to the next round along with Germany and Ghana. Australia was a great surprise today. 2-0 was an amazing score. Not for Serbia but definitely for the down-under crowd.
Today we have a grouping of words used in football that are also used in business English.
1) "pitch" - In football, the pitch is the playing field.
In business, we talk about a "sales pitch" or "to pitch something to" the boss. These are similar. In baseball, a "pitch" is when the ball is thrown to the batter so it can be hit. This is a similar analogy to business usage. To give a "sales pitch" is to tell someone or a group of people about your product in the hopes of having them buy the product. For example: "The sales pitch that my brother-in-law gave us was so convincing, we bought his car the same day". To "pitch something to" the boss is essentially the same thing but what you are pitching may not be a product for sale but instead an idea you have about your work or workplace. For example: "I pitched my idea about overtime to my boss and she loved the idea. Our department will be using my idea to write new rules for the entire company."
2) "take a shot" - Football players "take a shot" when they "attempt" to make a goal. They can "take a shot" that is "on target" or that is "a long shot". A "long shot" is an attempt on goal that is taken from a difficult distance or angle. It has less chance to be successful but is still worth a try, at least in the player's mind.
When we "take a shot" at something in business, the idea is the same as football. Essentially it is an "attempt" or "try" for something. Perhaps there is a new job opening in your department and you want to "try" to get this new position. You may "take a shot" at this new position by handing in your resume and/or talking to the Human Resources department. We can also use this expression to discuss a "long shot" in business or elsewhere. For example: "We knew that the other company was considering moving their head office to Tokyo, but we took a shot at selling them our cleaning service anyway." Anything that you think is worth attempting, whether the odds are good or bad, is worth "taking a shot" at.
3) "shoot" - To "shoot" in football is , not surprisingly, the same as "taking a shot". It is an attempt to make a goal.
In business, and everywhere else, this expression is used to encourage someone to speak to you. If someone comes into your office and tells you they have something to talk about but they don't launch into their information right away, they may be waiting for encouragement to speak. You can say to this person simply, "Shoot." and they will know you are ready to listen to them. "Shoot" in English is used the same way as the expression "go ahead" to encourage someone to speak or take the next step in something.
4) "goal" - You know that a "goal" in football is a completed and successful attempt at getting the ball into the opponent's net. We also use "the goal" to describe the posts and net marking the area where a "goal" is made. So "the goal" or "the goal area" is the focus of any attempts at scoring.
A "goal" in business or life is your focus for success. It is your "aim" or "desired result". For example: "My goal in writing these blogs is to help ESL learners to better understand everyday expressions used in English that may not be found in their textbooks or taught in their classes." The "goal" may or may not be successfully attained, like in football, but it is your intention.
5) to be "fit" - A player who is "fit" or "has good fitness" is one who is capable of doing their job physically. It simply means that they are well-trained and healthy enough to complete their task of playing the football match. Fitness can be a factor when, for example, an unusual circumstance like playing at constantly changing elevations affects players' abilities to compete.
In business, "to be fit" or to "have a good fit" is to be "appropriate". Employees are expected to "fit" in the company. We also use the phrasal verb to "fit in". Their skills and personal habits have to combine with the skills and expected behaviours of workers in the department in question. The term "fit" is used frequently in the hiring and firing aspects of a business. For example: "We had to fire Paula because her skill level wasn't as high as we needed in the sales department. She didn't make a good fit."
On to Matchday #14. Groups E and F. Since this World Cup has had more than its share of surprises, we are expecting an entertaining if not unpredictable day of football. Enjoy.
Today we have a grouping of words used in football that are also used in business English.
1) "pitch" - In football, the pitch is the playing field.
In business, we talk about a "sales pitch" or "to pitch something to" the boss. These are similar. In baseball, a "pitch" is when the ball is thrown to the batter so it can be hit. This is a similar analogy to business usage. To give a "sales pitch" is to tell someone or a group of people about your product in the hopes of having them buy the product. For example: "The sales pitch that my brother-in-law gave us was so convincing, we bought his car the same day". To "pitch something to" the boss is essentially the same thing but what you are pitching may not be a product for sale but instead an idea you have about your work or workplace. For example: "I pitched my idea about overtime to my boss and she loved the idea. Our department will be using my idea to write new rules for the entire company."
2) "take a shot" - Football players "take a shot" when they "attempt" to make a goal. They can "take a shot" that is "on target" or that is "a long shot". A "long shot" is an attempt on goal that is taken from a difficult distance or angle. It has less chance to be successful but is still worth a try, at least in the player's mind.
When we "take a shot" at something in business, the idea is the same as football. Essentially it is an "attempt" or "try" for something. Perhaps there is a new job opening in your department and you want to "try" to get this new position. You may "take a shot" at this new position by handing in your resume and/or talking to the Human Resources department. We can also use this expression to discuss a "long shot" in business or elsewhere. For example: "We knew that the other company was considering moving their head office to Tokyo, but we took a shot at selling them our cleaning service anyway." Anything that you think is worth attempting, whether the odds are good or bad, is worth "taking a shot" at.
3) "shoot" - To "shoot" in football is , not surprisingly, the same as "taking a shot". It is an attempt to make a goal.
In business, and everywhere else, this expression is used to encourage someone to speak to you. If someone comes into your office and tells you they have something to talk about but they don't launch into their information right away, they may be waiting for encouragement to speak. You can say to this person simply, "Shoot." and they will know you are ready to listen to them. "Shoot" in English is used the same way as the expression "go ahead" to encourage someone to speak or take the next step in something.
4) "goal" - You know that a "goal" in football is a completed and successful attempt at getting the ball into the opponent's net. We also use "the goal" to describe the posts and net marking the area where a "goal" is made. So "the goal" or "the goal area" is the focus of any attempts at scoring.
A "goal" in business or life is your focus for success. It is your "aim" or "desired result". For example: "My goal in writing these blogs is to help ESL learners to better understand everyday expressions used in English that may not be found in their textbooks or taught in their classes." The "goal" may or may not be successfully attained, like in football, but it is your intention.
5) to be "fit" - A player who is "fit" or "has good fitness" is one who is capable of doing their job physically. It simply means that they are well-trained and healthy enough to complete their task of playing the football match. Fitness can be a factor when, for example, an unusual circumstance like playing at constantly changing elevations affects players' abilities to compete.
In business, "to be fit" or to "have a good fit" is to be "appropriate". Employees are expected to "fit" in the company. We also use the phrasal verb to "fit in". Their skills and personal habits have to combine with the skills and expected behaviours of workers in the department in question. The term "fit" is used frequently in the hiring and firing aspects of a business. For example: "We had to fire Paula because her skill level wasn't as high as we needed in the sales department. She didn't make a good fit."
On to Matchday #14. Groups E and F. Since this World Cup has had more than its share of surprises, we are expecting an entertaining if not unpredictable day of football. Enjoy.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Matchday #12 - World Cup 2010 - Things Said About Coaches by CBC Announcers
Group A and B are finalized. So in the knockout round that starts on Saturday, we'll see Uruguay meet South Korea and Argentina meet Mexico. Any predictions?
The people who should have a good idea about the results of the upcoming games are the coaches. We watch them stand, pace, shout and wave their arms every game. They are a mixed bunch of individuals with different focus points and ways to display their feelings. We all do these things under pressure but few of us are under the scrutiny that the coaches are on those South African sidelines.
Here is a list of terms used by football commentators describing these world-class coaches and their actions:
1) "livid" and "apoplectic" - Both these terms mean overcome with anger. The anger level is so high that it is difficult or impossible to hide. If your child lied to you about breaking the lamp, you might be angry but if your mother broke the lamp and then blamed your child, you might get livid. I, for example, was livid when the live World Cup game I was watching was interrupted at the 72nd minute by the television station's weather warning test symbol. It went on for over three minutes and in the end it was only a test. Really?! They couldn't have run the test during halftime or right after the live game? I am still very angry about that event but in the moment I was apoplectic.
2) He may "feel the need to shake things up a bit". - To "feel the need" is to believe something is necessary and is a casual way of describing this feeling. You can "feel the need" for an ice cream cone just as much as a company can "feel the need" to raise prices to compensate for their increasing advertising budget. You can use this anywhere but remember it is casual and not formal.
To "shake things up" is to change things. Usually it means you want to deviate from a plan or a routine. If your daily schedule includes stopping for coffee everyday before work, maybe today to "shake things up a bit" you could go to the gym or meet a friend for breakfast. This is a common phrase you can use in business too. You might want to hire a new sales manager to shake things up a bit in a department where sales are fine but not increasing. You want this new manager to change the way things are done and maybe even who does what job. Shaking things up isn't always good but it is usually used to change a stagnant situation or relationship. So the coach may "shake things up" by substituting a player into a game that would force the current players to move the ball differently to accommodate this new player's style and abilities. Essentially, change is good.
3) feeling rather "vexed" about that last decision - To be "vexed" is to be "worried" or "upset". Someone can be vexed (you don't feel vexed, you are vexed) and something can be vexing. A problem at work can be vexing. You can be vexed by your new boss's overtime policy. Anything "annoying" is vexing too. You can use the term anywhere and it is considered a little formal, especially in North America.
4) "pensive" - "Pensive" means "thoughtful" or "reflective" and can be used anywhere, business included. You can say to your boss, "You seem pensive today? Are you thinking about that new project we start on Monday?". You can also ask a friend if they "have something on their mind". This is the less formal version of pensive. Maybe you notice that your teenager is not responding to questions from his little sister (not a real surprise) and this is not his normal behaviour. You could ask if he "has something on his mind" that he might want to talk about and maybe you will get an answer. It is worth a try.
5) he is "pacing like a panther" on the sidelines - To "pace" (verb) is to walk back and forth in the same area usually due to anxiety. The simile of "like a panther" is accurate because most caged animals pace in their cages (walk back and forth at the front of the cage). They do it from boredom and some animal experts say "loss of mental faculties". Most coaches pace on the sidelines when there team is doing poorly or when a player is hurt and they are unsure of the severity of the injury. Pacing by the coach is not a signal that things are going well for your team.
You do hear the word "pace" used commonly during games. When it is used as a noun we are usually talking about the speed of walking or running. In a football match we talk about a player getting a pass at pace or about a player getting upfield at pace. Essentially it can be replaced by "fast" or "quickly".
Let's see who qualifies for the next round tomorrow. Can England remember who they are and the quality of their players in time to move forward? I believe so. Do you?
The people who should have a good idea about the results of the upcoming games are the coaches. We watch them stand, pace, shout and wave their arms every game. They are a mixed bunch of individuals with different focus points and ways to display their feelings. We all do these things under pressure but few of us are under the scrutiny that the coaches are on those South African sidelines.
Here is a list of terms used by football commentators describing these world-class coaches and their actions:
1) "livid" and "apoplectic" - Both these terms mean overcome with anger. The anger level is so high that it is difficult or impossible to hide. If your child lied to you about breaking the lamp, you might be angry but if your mother broke the lamp and then blamed your child, you might get livid. I, for example, was livid when the live World Cup game I was watching was interrupted at the 72nd minute by the television station's weather warning test symbol. It went on for over three minutes and in the end it was only a test. Really?! They couldn't have run the test during halftime or right after the live game? I am still very angry about that event but in the moment I was apoplectic.
2) He may "feel the need to shake things up a bit". - To "feel the need" is to believe something is necessary and is a casual way of describing this feeling. You can "feel the need" for an ice cream cone just as much as a company can "feel the need" to raise prices to compensate for their increasing advertising budget. You can use this anywhere but remember it is casual and not formal.
To "shake things up" is to change things. Usually it means you want to deviate from a plan or a routine. If your daily schedule includes stopping for coffee everyday before work, maybe today to "shake things up a bit" you could go to the gym or meet a friend for breakfast. This is a common phrase you can use in business too. You might want to hire a new sales manager to shake things up a bit in a department where sales are fine but not increasing. You want this new manager to change the way things are done and maybe even who does what job. Shaking things up isn't always good but it is usually used to change a stagnant situation or relationship. So the coach may "shake things up" by substituting a player into a game that would force the current players to move the ball differently to accommodate this new player's style and abilities. Essentially, change is good.
3) feeling rather "vexed" about that last decision - To be "vexed" is to be "worried" or "upset". Someone can be vexed (you don't feel vexed, you are vexed) and something can be vexing. A problem at work can be vexing. You can be vexed by your new boss's overtime policy. Anything "annoying" is vexing too. You can use the term anywhere and it is considered a little formal, especially in North America.
4) "pensive" - "Pensive" means "thoughtful" or "reflective" and can be used anywhere, business included. You can say to your boss, "You seem pensive today? Are you thinking about that new project we start on Monday?". You can also ask a friend if they "have something on their mind". This is the less formal version of pensive. Maybe you notice that your teenager is not responding to questions from his little sister (not a real surprise) and this is not his normal behaviour. You could ask if he "has something on his mind" that he might want to talk about and maybe you will get an answer. It is worth a try.
5) he is "pacing like a panther" on the sidelines - To "pace" (verb) is to walk back and forth in the same area usually due to anxiety. The simile of "like a panther" is accurate because most caged animals pace in their cages (walk back and forth at the front of the cage). They do it from boredom and some animal experts say "loss of mental faculties". Most coaches pace on the sidelines when there team is doing poorly or when a player is hurt and they are unsure of the severity of the injury. Pacing by the coach is not a signal that things are going well for your team.
You do hear the word "pace" used commonly during games. When it is used as a noun we are usually talking about the speed of walking or running. In a football match we talk about a player getting a pass at pace or about a player getting upfield at pace. Essentially it can be replaced by "fast" or "quickly".
Let's see who qualifies for the next round tomorrow. Can England remember who they are and the quality of their players in time to move forward? I believe so. Do you?
Monday, June 21, 2010
Matchday #11 - World Cup 2010 - 6 Things You Don't Want CBC Announcers to Say About Your Team
FINALLY!!! We got to watch a game that flowed the way we expected. Portugal "creamed" People's Republic of Korea (North Korea to most of us). What else can you say but 7 - 0? We have not been quiet about the fact that we are Portugal fans. What will happen with the Brazil vs. Portugal game? We can't wait.
Today we gathered a bunch of phrases that announcers and commentators have used through the first 11 matchdays to explain difficult situations that some teams have found themselves in.
1)"turn the screw" - This expression is used when one team (or person) applies pressure on their opponent. If one team has the ball and is working a play with strong passes toward the goal, they are "turning the screw" on the defense of the other team. This can be used in a business negotiation to describe forcing someone to make a decision before they are ready. You might say you are "turning the screw" on the marketing manager to get the job finished this week.
The origin of this expression is very unpleasant. It refers to a device that was used to torture and therefore control people many years ago. A device was fitted over the thumb or some other body part and then a screw was turned so that a plate or spike would slowly be forced against and perhaps through that thumb or body part.
2) "torn to shreds" - non-literal use: When anything, including the defense of a football team, is forced to into chaos and/or change plans it can be considered to be "torn to shreds". It essentially means that whatever the original plan or design was, it now cannot be followed because some other person or team forced a dramatic change. For example: "My plan to throw a surprise party for my niece was torn to shreds when my mother called her to ask what she would like as a present."
literal use: When something is physically broken or ripped into pieces it can be considered "torn to shreds". For example: "I left my book on the table when I left the room, but when I returned ten minutes later there were pieces of it all over the room. It was torn to shreds. I discovered that my sister's new puppy was to blame."
3) a bit of a "mishmash" - The word "mishmash" can be negative or neutral and is a synonym for "mess", "disorganization", "jumble" or mixture. In the case of one of two teams' offensive strategy, this would be a negative term. For example: "The team is not working together and nobody seems to know where the ball is. It is a real mishmash out there."
To use the term neutrally you could say that "at the end of the day, the sales counter at the mall had so many things mixed together I couldn't find what I was looking for. It was a mishmash of products".
4) nil - Nil is zero. Portugal beat PRK 7 to nil. Sad but true. You only use nil in a competition situation. You would never say you have nil cash in your wallet or that there is nil milk in the fridge.
5) "by the skin of their teeth" - This expression means "by a very narrow margin". You (or they in this case) did succeed in what you were trying to achieve but only by the smallest possible amount. This expression is common and can be used in all kinds of circumstances. Some teams have avoided a red card only by the skin of their teeth. Your son may have passed an exam by the skin of his teeth. Your firm could have won a lawsuit by the skin of their teeth.
6) They got "creamed". - To be "creamed" in a competition, like this FIFA World Cup, is to be beaten badly. Creamed corn is corn niblets that have been crushed to make a wet, loose mixture that is not easily recognizable as corn. So to have been "creamed" by another team in a competition is to have been completely and thoroughly beaten. Your team would have been absolutely defeated.
Sorry if number 6 happened to your team. I hope it doesn't happen to mine. But who knows? This World Cup is definitely full of surprises.
Today we gathered a bunch of phrases that announcers and commentators have used through the first 11 matchdays to explain difficult situations that some teams have found themselves in.
1)"turn the screw" - This expression is used when one team (or person) applies pressure on their opponent. If one team has the ball and is working a play with strong passes toward the goal, they are "turning the screw" on the defense of the other team. This can be used in a business negotiation to describe forcing someone to make a decision before they are ready. You might say you are "turning the screw" on the marketing manager to get the job finished this week.
The origin of this expression is very unpleasant. It refers to a device that was used to torture and therefore control people many years ago. A device was fitted over the thumb or some other body part and then a screw was turned so that a plate or spike would slowly be forced against and perhaps through that thumb or body part.
2) "torn to shreds" - non-literal use: When anything, including the defense of a football team, is forced to into chaos and/or change plans it can be considered to be "torn to shreds". It essentially means that whatever the original plan or design was, it now cannot be followed because some other person or team forced a dramatic change. For example: "My plan to throw a surprise party for my niece was torn to shreds when my mother called her to ask what she would like as a present."
literal use: When something is physically broken or ripped into pieces it can be considered "torn to shreds". For example: "I left my book on the table when I left the room, but when I returned ten minutes later there were pieces of it all over the room. It was torn to shreds. I discovered that my sister's new puppy was to blame."
3) a bit of a "mishmash" - The word "mishmash" can be negative or neutral and is a synonym for "mess", "disorganization", "jumble" or mixture. In the case of one of two teams' offensive strategy, this would be a negative term. For example: "The team is not working together and nobody seems to know where the ball is. It is a real mishmash out there."
To use the term neutrally you could say that "at the end of the day, the sales counter at the mall had so many things mixed together I couldn't find what I was looking for. It was a mishmash of products".
4) nil - Nil is zero. Portugal beat PRK 7 to nil. Sad but true. You only use nil in a competition situation. You would never say you have nil cash in your wallet or that there is nil milk in the fridge.
5) "by the skin of their teeth" - This expression means "by a very narrow margin". You (or they in this case) did succeed in what you were trying to achieve but only by the smallest possible amount. This expression is common and can be used in all kinds of circumstances. Some teams have avoided a red card only by the skin of their teeth. Your son may have passed an exam by the skin of his teeth. Your firm could have won a lawsuit by the skin of their teeth.
6) They got "creamed". - To be "creamed" in a competition, like this FIFA World Cup, is to be beaten badly. Creamed corn is corn niblets that have been crushed to make a wet, loose mixture that is not easily recognizable as corn. So to have been "creamed" by another team in a competition is to have been completely and thoroughly beaten. Your team would have been absolutely defeated.
Sorry if number 6 happened to your team. I hope it doesn't happen to mine. But who knows? This World Cup is definitely full of surprises.
Matchday #10 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
(Oops. Forgot to publish this one yesterday.)
What a lovely day of football - for some. We really enjoyed a couple of the games anyway.
There are two of us who get up religiously at 5:15am so we can watch the games live. Often, we are on opposite sides of the game regarding who we support. Today, one of us (not me) was supporting Italy. Not that I expected New Zealand to beat Italy. I just wanted them to make a good showing. And they did! They had a fantastic first goal and Italy were on their back foot (not "in charge" of the situation). It was great for me. Not for Italy supporters though. And then the only Italian goal was on a penalty. Not that a penalty goal isn't a goal but we expected more from Italy. Everyone did.
Expectations in this Cup are not being realized quite yet. Just talk to the French team. Actually, I wouldn't suggest it as they are in a bit of a cranky (not happy) mood. Or so we hear.
Today's expressions are taken from World Cup announcers and reporters during and between games because we can't ignore some of the words used to describe France's very public problems.
1) "vociferous, eye-catching fans" - "Vociferous" describes someone who makes alot of noise with their voice. People who talk abundantly and/or loudly are considered "vociferous". Fans that yell and sing during a game are vociferous.
"Eye-catching" refers to anyone or anything that does something or has an appearance that makes you look at them. They "stand-out" from the crowd. They are someone you must notice or look at. For example, someone wearing a tuxedo at the local coffee shop would be "eye-catching" because they are wearing something unexpected and different from others in the area. It would be difficult to ignore or not notice this eye-catching person.
2) "a team out of its depth" - To be "out of your depth" is the same as saying "out of your league". This means that you are playing, working or attempting something that is beyond your current level or ability. If you are new at sales, then trying to secure a big contract on your own would mean you are "out of your depth". You won't necessarily fail but you are not expected to succeed.
In the dating world, it is common to tell someone (usually a friend) that the person they are dating is "out of their league". Perhaps your friend is OK-looking but he is currently dating a professional model. They may have many things in common but they don't look equally attractive. So you would tell your friend that the girl he is dating is "out of his league".
Now let us delve into some of the French problems of today.
3) a real "dust-up" - The French team players were quite public with their displeasure at the sending home of one of their teammates - Anelka. The argument that they had in public with the coach and trainer was a "dust-up". This expression is taken from fights that are common in baseball between umpires (referees) and players or team managers. Because the baseball diamond is only dirt (sand and soil depending on the diamond), the yelling during these arguments often ends with one person literally kicking dirt onto the shoes of the other person. This is why we can call an argument a "dust-up" or even refer to is as "kicking up dust".
4) "shambles" - This is how one commentator described the whole public French team problem. A "shambles" is equal to a "mess", "chaos" or a "disaster". You can use any of these when you want to explain to someone that the situation needs help. The most polite and business-friendly way to state this is to say the situation is "disorganized". There was no reason to be overly polite in describing the French situation so "absolute chaos", a "total disaster" or a "shambles" are more appropriate.
Just so you know this..."shambles" is always used in the plural format (with the "s"). If you say "shamble", you are actually using the word as a verb that means to shuffle or drag your feet when you move. Some elderly people and teenagers "shamble" when they are in the mall.
What a lovely day of football - for some. We really enjoyed a couple of the games anyway.
There are two of us who get up religiously at 5:15am so we can watch the games live. Often, we are on opposite sides of the game regarding who we support. Today, one of us (not me) was supporting Italy. Not that I expected New Zealand to beat Italy. I just wanted them to make a good showing. And they did! They had a fantastic first goal and Italy were on their back foot (not "in charge" of the situation). It was great for me. Not for Italy supporters though. And then the only Italian goal was on a penalty. Not that a penalty goal isn't a goal but we expected more from Italy. Everyone did.
Expectations in this Cup are not being realized quite yet. Just talk to the French team. Actually, I wouldn't suggest it as they are in a bit of a cranky (not happy) mood. Or so we hear.
Today's expressions are taken from World Cup announcers and reporters during and between games because we can't ignore some of the words used to describe France's very public problems.
1) "vociferous, eye-catching fans" - "Vociferous" describes someone who makes alot of noise with their voice. People who talk abundantly and/or loudly are considered "vociferous". Fans that yell and sing during a game are vociferous.
"Eye-catching" refers to anyone or anything that does something or has an appearance that makes you look at them. They "stand-out" from the crowd. They are someone you must notice or look at. For example, someone wearing a tuxedo at the local coffee shop would be "eye-catching" because they are wearing something unexpected and different from others in the area. It would be difficult to ignore or not notice this eye-catching person.
2) "a team out of its depth" - To be "out of your depth" is the same as saying "out of your league". This means that you are playing, working or attempting something that is beyond your current level or ability. If you are new at sales, then trying to secure a big contract on your own would mean you are "out of your depth". You won't necessarily fail but you are not expected to succeed.
In the dating world, it is common to tell someone (usually a friend) that the person they are dating is "out of their league". Perhaps your friend is OK-looking but he is currently dating a professional model. They may have many things in common but they don't look equally attractive. So you would tell your friend that the girl he is dating is "out of his league".
Now let us delve into some of the French problems of today.
3) a real "dust-up" - The French team players were quite public with their displeasure at the sending home of one of their teammates - Anelka. The argument that they had in public with the coach and trainer was a "dust-up". This expression is taken from fights that are common in baseball between umpires (referees) and players or team managers. Because the baseball diamond is only dirt (sand and soil depending on the diamond), the yelling during these arguments often ends with one person literally kicking dirt onto the shoes of the other person. This is why we can call an argument a "dust-up" or even refer to is as "kicking up dust".
4) "shambles" - This is how one commentator described the whole public French team problem. A "shambles" is equal to a "mess", "chaos" or a "disaster". You can use any of these when you want to explain to someone that the situation needs help. The most polite and business-friendly way to state this is to say the situation is "disorganized". There was no reason to be overly polite in describing the French situation so "absolute chaos", a "total disaster" or a "shambles" are more appropriate.
Just so you know this..."shambles" is always used in the plural format (with the "s"). If you say "shamble", you are actually using the word as a verb that means to shuffle or drag your feet when you move. Some elderly people and teenagers "shamble" when they are in the mall.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Matchday #9 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
Well, that was an entertaining day of football!
Mostly pleasant surprises overall. Except for Australia with that red card, but even they impressed by rallying well and not 'falling to pieces' like some other teams that went down to ten men. Great job on the tie.
We were expecting Cameroon to at least get another goal to draw with Denmark, but somehow they didn't find a way. We're sorry to see them go. But then, not everyone can continue on in the World Cup. We have made another step to finding the winners.
Who will be next to leave and who will be next to qualify for the next round?
Today, we found some expressions that can all be used at the workplace. Every word was stated by CBC football announcers during the Netherlands vs. Japan game.
1) "That's more like it." - This expression equates to "I'm impressed." or "Good improvement." and can be used everywhere including in business. You use these types of words as praise to someone who has completed a task that they could not before or someone who has made a stronger effort and found that their success is due to their hard work. In this case, the announcer was congratulating a player for kicking the ball with better precision towards the goal. You can use this expression when talking about your computer after the IT (information technology) team member has finished 'fixing' your machine. Now instead of beeping and showing an error message, you are able to continue through to the next screen so you say, "That's more like it." when referring to this positive result.
2) "makeshift defender" - "Improvised" or "temporary" are words that define "makeshift". It is a common term used in every type of setting. When the boss is away and a decision needs to be made in his/her absence, then the department head of sales may become the "makeshift" boss. Often this term is used when you don't have a correct tool to complete a job so you find some way to finish the job using a replacement tool. For example, you might find that the screen in the meeting room has been damaged and is not useable only at the moment in the meeting that you need to make your presentation. Do you cancel the meeting in the middle? No. You might lose the sale or promotion. So you rush to find a whiteboard on wheels that will serve as your screen for this meeting. The whiteboard is your "makeshift" screen.
3) They could have "put this game to bed". - To "put something to bed" or "to put something to rest" is to finish it. Maybe you are a salesperson that has been trying to get a new contract with another company. You might say to your contact person, "Let's sign these forms so we can put this paperwork to bed.". If you are the head of a department you might say to your team, "What can we do to put this project to rest?" to generate a plan to get the project finished. Usually you are talking about something that has taken alot of effort and/or time to try to complete. You wouldn't talk about "putting a project to bed" the same day you started it.
A similar sounding expression to "put something to rest" is to "give it a rest" but this one is commonly used to ask someone to stop talking about about a subject. These are not interchangeable. You might say to your teenager that has been complaining all afternoon about having to go on a family outing to "give it a rest already" so they will stop complaining. You would never ask your boss if he or she would "give it a rest" when talking about the appearance of your desk for the fifth time. This is definitely rude and implies you don't want to tolerate more of this type of discussion. Not something you would tell someone who has a position above you.
4) Netherlands haven't "slipped up" like other teams. - To "slip up" is to make a mistake. Not that I have ever made a mistake myself, but I have worked with some people who have. This is a very common phrasal verb you can use for any kind of mistake made by anyone. I still would not suggest saying it to the boss because you don't usually tell the boss that he/she made a mistake or "slipped up" during that meeting with our biggest client. Unless you want the boss to be angry with you.
A similar expression is "slip of the tongue". This is used to describe a mistake that has been made when speaking. Sometimes you use a word you are not supposed to with a specific type of person because it is offensive to them. For example, you are speaking with your boss and you say "like when you were my age" when describing your position at the company. To help stabilize what is now an unhappy relationship with your boss you very quickly say, "Sorry, that was a slip of the tongue. I meant to say like when you were at my stage in the company." Because "age" and "stage" rhyme you can plausibly suggest you made a small mistake is word choice and therefore change what was offensive to something that sounds more flattering.
We are ready to enjoy Matchday #10. Are you?
Mostly pleasant surprises overall. Except for Australia with that red card, but even they impressed by rallying well and not 'falling to pieces' like some other teams that went down to ten men. Great job on the tie.
We were expecting Cameroon to at least get another goal to draw with Denmark, but somehow they didn't find a way. We're sorry to see them go. But then, not everyone can continue on in the World Cup. We have made another step to finding the winners.
Who will be next to leave and who will be next to qualify for the next round?
Today, we found some expressions that can all be used at the workplace. Every word was stated by CBC football announcers during the Netherlands vs. Japan game.
1) "That's more like it." - This expression equates to "I'm impressed." or "Good improvement." and can be used everywhere including in business. You use these types of words as praise to someone who has completed a task that they could not before or someone who has made a stronger effort and found that their success is due to their hard work. In this case, the announcer was congratulating a player for kicking the ball with better precision towards the goal. You can use this expression when talking about your computer after the IT (information technology) team member has finished 'fixing' your machine. Now instead of beeping and showing an error message, you are able to continue through to the next screen so you say, "That's more like it." when referring to this positive result.
2) "makeshift defender" - "Improvised" or "temporary" are words that define "makeshift". It is a common term used in every type of setting. When the boss is away and a decision needs to be made in his/her absence, then the department head of sales may become the "makeshift" boss. Often this term is used when you don't have a correct tool to complete a job so you find some way to finish the job using a replacement tool. For example, you might find that the screen in the meeting room has been damaged and is not useable only at the moment in the meeting that you need to make your presentation. Do you cancel the meeting in the middle? No. You might lose the sale or promotion. So you rush to find a whiteboard on wheels that will serve as your screen for this meeting. The whiteboard is your "makeshift" screen.
3) They could have "put this game to bed". - To "put something to bed" or "to put something to rest" is to finish it. Maybe you are a salesperson that has been trying to get a new contract with another company. You might say to your contact person, "Let's sign these forms so we can put this paperwork to bed.". If you are the head of a department you might say to your team, "What can we do to put this project to rest?" to generate a plan to get the project finished. Usually you are talking about something that has taken alot of effort and/or time to try to complete. You wouldn't talk about "putting a project to bed" the same day you started it.
A similar sounding expression to "put something to rest" is to "give it a rest" but this one is commonly used to ask someone to stop talking about about a subject. These are not interchangeable. You might say to your teenager that has been complaining all afternoon about having to go on a family outing to "give it a rest already" so they will stop complaining. You would never ask your boss if he or she would "give it a rest" when talking about the appearance of your desk for the fifth time. This is definitely rude and implies you don't want to tolerate more of this type of discussion. Not something you would tell someone who has a position above you.
4) Netherlands haven't "slipped up" like other teams. - To "slip up" is to make a mistake. Not that I have ever made a mistake myself, but I have worked with some people who have. This is a very common phrasal verb you can use for any kind of mistake made by anyone. I still would not suggest saying it to the boss because you don't usually tell the boss that he/she made a mistake or "slipped up" during that meeting with our biggest client. Unless you want the boss to be angry with you.
A similar expression is "slip of the tongue". This is used to describe a mistake that has been made when speaking. Sometimes you use a word you are not supposed to with a specific type of person because it is offensive to them. For example, you are speaking with your boss and you say "like when you were my age" when describing your position at the company. To help stabilize what is now an unhappy relationship with your boss you very quickly say, "Sorry, that was a slip of the tongue. I meant to say like when you were at my stage in the company." Because "age" and "stage" rhyme you can plausibly suggest you made a small mistake is word choice and therefore change what was offensive to something that sounds more flattering.
We are ready to enjoy Matchday #10. Are you?
Friday, June 18, 2010
Matchday #8 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
Who would have guessed at today's scores? Not me!
Hello Germany, even with ten men we didn't expect you to lose. Serbia keeps surprising us. Good for them! And England? As one announcer clearly stated "Wakey, wakey...". Unbelievable. I have little else to say.
Today, I was out during the games and so I had to be on 'radio silence' so I wouldn't accidentally hear the final scores before I could watch the games. So, yes, that was me in the car with my hands over my ears singing "La, la, la, la." so I wouldn't hear the radio announcer blurt out the results. I take my football very seriously folks.
Football Announcer words:
1) "Wakey, wakey." - To wake or to wake up is what is being referred to. You might go softly into someone's room in the morning and say, "Wakey, wakey." as a gentle way to tell someone it's time to wake up. In this case, the announcer was suggesting that the team was playing so poorly that they looked sleepy. It's not a polite statement, but it isn't very harsh either. You could say to someone at work, "You forgot to answer your email again. Wakey, wakey." but only if you have a prior relationship. You would never say this to your boss because it could be taken as a criticism and not just a gentle reminder.
2) Nil, nil. - "Nil" means zero and we use it most commonly in competitions. "The game is nil, nil at the half." You would not use this expression to tell someone you don't have something. You wouldn't say, "I have nil cash in my wallet.", you would say, "I have no cash in my wallet."
3) He "launched" the ball forward. - To "launch" something means to "start", "set off", or "throw". In this case, the announcer is talking about a ball that is kicked very far or long. We use "launch" when we talk about a rocket starting to fly, a new product being introduced to the public, or throwing / kicking something very far.
4) The referee has been slightly "harsh" with his decisions today. - "Harsh" is equal to "rough". Another way to say this is "The referee was not kind with his decisions during the game.". The suggestion is not that the referee wasn't fair, only unforgiving. We can use "harsh" to describe; a boss who won't allow personal calls at work even when your wife is about to have a baby, a very hard or difficult season ("It was a harsh winter."), or even when someone says something strong about you ("Hello, one leg." "That was a very harsh thing to say to someone who just broke their leg.").
One day, my sister and I were hurrying to get on a train. We got there in time to sit down and watch a teenaged boy (about 14) running up to the train door just as it was closing. He was very upset and we prepared ourselves for the curse words (swears or bad words) we expected him to yell out. He reached the closed door, stamped his foot and said "Harsh!" Nothing more was said. We were very surprised and impressed that he chose not to curse. That day I added "harsh" to my list of words to use when I am upset.
Let's hope tomorrow's football is better than today's was.
Hello Germany, even with ten men we didn't expect you to lose. Serbia keeps surprising us. Good for them! And England? As one announcer clearly stated "Wakey, wakey...". Unbelievable. I have little else to say.
Today, I was out during the games and so I had to be on 'radio silence' so I wouldn't accidentally hear the final scores before I could watch the games. So, yes, that was me in the car with my hands over my ears singing "La, la, la, la." so I wouldn't hear the radio announcer blurt out the results. I take my football very seriously folks.
Football Announcer words:
1) "Wakey, wakey." - To wake or to wake up is what is being referred to. You might go softly into someone's room in the morning and say, "Wakey, wakey." as a gentle way to tell someone it's time to wake up. In this case, the announcer was suggesting that the team was playing so poorly that they looked sleepy. It's not a polite statement, but it isn't very harsh either. You could say to someone at work, "You forgot to answer your email again. Wakey, wakey." but only if you have a prior relationship. You would never say this to your boss because it could be taken as a criticism and not just a gentle reminder.
2) Nil, nil. - "Nil" means zero and we use it most commonly in competitions. "The game is nil, nil at the half." You would not use this expression to tell someone you don't have something. You wouldn't say, "I have nil cash in my wallet.", you would say, "I have no cash in my wallet."
3) He "launched" the ball forward. - To "launch" something means to "start", "set off", or "throw". In this case, the announcer is talking about a ball that is kicked very far or long. We use "launch" when we talk about a rocket starting to fly, a new product being introduced to the public, or throwing / kicking something very far.
4) The referee has been slightly "harsh" with his decisions today. - "Harsh" is equal to "rough". Another way to say this is "The referee was not kind with his decisions during the game.". The suggestion is not that the referee wasn't fair, only unforgiving. We can use "harsh" to describe; a boss who won't allow personal calls at work even when your wife is about to have a baby, a very hard or difficult season ("It was a harsh winter."), or even when someone says something strong about you ("Hello, one leg." "That was a very harsh thing to say to someone who just broke their leg.").
One day, my sister and I were hurrying to get on a train. We got there in time to sit down and watch a teenaged boy (about 14) running up to the train door just as it was closing. He was very upset and we prepared ourselves for the curse words (swears or bad words) we expected him to yell out. He reached the closed door, stamped his foot and said "Harsh!" Nothing more was said. We were very surprised and impressed that he chose not to curse. That day I added "harsh" to my list of words to use when I am upset.
Let's hope tomorrow's football is better than today's was.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Matchday #7 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
Wow! What a fantastic day of football viewing. Argentina really shone today. And what happened to France? The way that Mexico played though, they deserved to win. That was a really fun game to watch.
But now let's talk about the game that was historic in part due to a pivotal red card. Greece vs. Nigeria. Apparently this was the first time in their history at the World Cup that Greece ever scored a goal. Fantastic for them but not so fantastic for Nigeria who got penalized for an infraction and got a red card. That sent the Nigerian team down to ten men and seemingly into a downward spiral towards defeat. What happened was a Nigerian player got upset after the play had finished and struck out at a Greek player. The Nigerian played also kicked the Greek player high up on the leg and this was the reason for the red card. The player left the playing field and after that Nigeria could not get anything working. It was awful. The red card was deserved but it was strange to see how quickly the rest of the team fell apart after this event.
The CBC announcer had many things to say about this event and so all the English words for today's blog all relate to the Nigerian red card incident.
1) The kick of the Greek player was "pure folly". - "Folly" is a gentle word for "stupidity" or "silliness" (silly). It is not commonly used in North America. We would use "dumb" or "stupid" more often. "Stupid" is a less polite term. You could say: "It is pure folly to go outside in the rain without shoes." or "It is dumb to drive after having taken cold medication."
2) "What on Earth possessed him to do that?" - "What on Earth" is used to express exasperation or surprise. If you came out to where you had parked your car and found an elephant in your parking space, you could say "What on Earth?" or simply "What?"
The use of the word "possessed" here suggests that there is no good excuse for what the player did so maybe an evil spirit or some other malevolent force "possessed" or "took control" of this person. This is a common expression. You could say: "What possessed her to color her hair orange?" or " What possessed them to sell their house in this market?" Essentially, you are stating that what the person did makes no logical sense to you.
3) "That was a ludicrous studs-up challenge." - "Ludicrous" is equal to "ridiculous" or even "stupid" or "crazy". You could say: "It's ludicrous to sell your car to your dog." or "BP's 'fill it with garbage' response to their enormous hole in their sunken oil tanker was ludicrous."
Here "challenge" is a word used to describe one player's attempt to get the ball away from a player of the opposite side. This "challenge" received a red card because it was "studs-up" or the cleats on the bottom of the boot (studs) were visible to the other player. In this instance they weren't just visible but they inflicted damage.
4) "Madness, pure madness." - Here "madness" is "craziness". In Britain to be "mad" means to be "crazy" but in the United States "mad" means "angry". So be careful who you are talking to or be sure to check if the meaning is not clear from the context of the sentence. For example: "He is mad." can mean either "crazy" or "angry" depending on the rest of the discussion and who is speaking. In Canada, you can use the word either way ("crazy" or "angry") so be sure to clarify meaning before you get into trouble.
Let's hope there aren't any "mad" or "ludicrous" plays made on Matchday #8.
But now let's talk about the game that was historic in part due to a pivotal red card. Greece vs. Nigeria. Apparently this was the first time in their history at the World Cup that Greece ever scored a goal. Fantastic for them but not so fantastic for Nigeria who got penalized for an infraction and got a red card. That sent the Nigerian team down to ten men and seemingly into a downward spiral towards defeat. What happened was a Nigerian player got upset after the play had finished and struck out at a Greek player. The Nigerian played also kicked the Greek player high up on the leg and this was the reason for the red card. The player left the playing field and after that Nigeria could not get anything working. It was awful. The red card was deserved but it was strange to see how quickly the rest of the team fell apart after this event.
The CBC announcer had many things to say about this event and so all the English words for today's blog all relate to the Nigerian red card incident.
1) The kick of the Greek player was "pure folly". - "Folly" is a gentle word for "stupidity" or "silliness" (silly). It is not commonly used in North America. We would use "dumb" or "stupid" more often. "Stupid" is a less polite term. You could say: "It is pure folly to go outside in the rain without shoes." or "It is dumb to drive after having taken cold medication."
2) "What on Earth possessed him to do that?" - "What on Earth" is used to express exasperation or surprise. If you came out to where you had parked your car and found an elephant in your parking space, you could say "What on Earth?" or simply "What?"
The use of the word "possessed" here suggests that there is no good excuse for what the player did so maybe an evil spirit or some other malevolent force "possessed" or "took control" of this person. This is a common expression. You could say: "What possessed her to color her hair orange?" or " What possessed them to sell their house in this market?" Essentially, you are stating that what the person did makes no logical sense to you.
3) "That was a ludicrous studs-up challenge." - "Ludicrous" is equal to "ridiculous" or even "stupid" or "crazy". You could say: "It's ludicrous to sell your car to your dog." or "BP's 'fill it with garbage' response to their enormous hole in their sunken oil tanker was ludicrous."
Here "challenge" is a word used to describe one player's attempt to get the ball away from a player of the opposite side. This "challenge" received a red card because it was "studs-up" or the cleats on the bottom of the boot (studs) were visible to the other player. In this instance they weren't just visible but they inflicted damage.
4) "Madness, pure madness." - Here "madness" is "craziness". In Britain to be "mad" means to be "crazy" but in the United States "mad" means "angry". So be careful who you are talking to or be sure to check if the meaning is not clear from the context of the sentence. For example: "He is mad." can mean either "crazy" or "angry" depending on the rest of the discussion and who is speaking. In Canada, you can use the word either way ("crazy" or "angry") so be sure to clarify meaning before you get into trouble.
Let's hope there aren't any "mad" or "ludicrous" plays made on Matchday #8.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Matchday #6 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
If only I would use my predictive powers for good things like winning the 50 million dollars this Friday. Sorry Spain, I did mention that there should be some surprises today but I didn't really think you would lose. And South Africa, that red card I did not see in my vision for surprise and entertainment. But who wasn't impressed by Chile today? They are real contenders.
What will happen next matchday? Who knows? Hopefully Greece will be well rested and make a show of things. We are waiting eagerly for the France vs. Mexico game too. It should be exciting!
For today's selection of words used by English announcers describing football plays:
1) a "feisty encounter" - "Feisty" is used like the word "spirited". It means full of energy and a little risky. Like sometimes happens in a football match - with luck. It is common to use when describing a person or animal's behaviour in general or during a specific time / event. You could say: "My grandmother is a feisty lady. She loves to go out dancing and talk with all the young men." Generally, this is a positive adjective but it can be used to caution someone about their behaviour too. As in: "Don't get too feisty with that puppy or you may get bitten."
2) He's moving a little "gingerly". - Here "gingerly" is used as an adverb to explain that the player is showing care or caution in his movements like he may have an injury. You would touch your arm "gingerly" after you were stung by a bee. You would be careful with it because it was painful and you were unsure of the extent of the damage. "After having her baby, she sat very gingerly on the sofa."
3) "ducking for cover" - In this instance, the announcer was describing the movements of a player on one team who was trying to get out of the path of a player on the other team. The one player had his boot high and the other player was trying to move away from the high boot so as to avoid injury. He bent his knees and made himself small by bending towards the ground. This is "to duck". If you are very tall and the height of the door is less than your height, you have to "duck" under the door frame to get through the space.
"Ducking for cover" is to get your body low so as to find a protected space. "Cover" is the protected space you want to find in case there is a fight or, heaven forbid, someone shooting a weapon. It is a common phrase used in police-action movies.
4) "largely one-way traffic" - "One-way traffic" is referring to the direction all the plays seem to be moving. It suggests that most of the "action" or activity is happening at one end of the pitch (playing field for football). Only one team seems to be constantly trying for a goal. In this case the announcer was describing Spain vs. Switzerland and Spain had possession of the ball most of the game.
"Largely" is equal to "mostly". You can use "largely" in the same way: "I am largely a fan of Cameroon, but I like Cote d'Ivoire too." or "This store sells largely women's clothing but there is a men's department on the fifth floor."
5) "So far this Cup, many stars have failed to shine. The Rooneys, Ronaldos and Riberys." - The "stars" are the most celebrated players as this announcer listed. Most peole know that the Hollywood actors are often called "stars". A "shining star" is one we can see. Essentially this star is doing what we expect it to. In this case, these "stars" haven't yet done the job we (the viewers) were expecting. Of course, they each have only played one game so we have time yet to see the stars shine. Maybe on Matchday #6 we will see at least one of these stars "blind us with some brilliant play" and "shine like we all want to see".
To "shine" is also used to describe anyone or their actions that are obviously better than others. As in: "My sister really shines when she is teaching a class. All her students love going to her classes." or "I hope to shine at my interview tomorrow."
What will happen next matchday? Who knows? Hopefully Greece will be well rested and make a show of things. We are waiting eagerly for the France vs. Mexico game too. It should be exciting!
For today's selection of words used by English announcers describing football plays:
1) a "feisty encounter" - "Feisty" is used like the word "spirited". It means full of energy and a little risky. Like sometimes happens in a football match - with luck. It is common to use when describing a person or animal's behaviour in general or during a specific time / event. You could say: "My grandmother is a feisty lady. She loves to go out dancing and talk with all the young men." Generally, this is a positive adjective but it can be used to caution someone about their behaviour too. As in: "Don't get too feisty with that puppy or you may get bitten."
2) He's moving a little "gingerly". - Here "gingerly" is used as an adverb to explain that the player is showing care or caution in his movements like he may have an injury. You would touch your arm "gingerly" after you were stung by a bee. You would be careful with it because it was painful and you were unsure of the extent of the damage. "After having her baby, she sat very gingerly on the sofa."
3) "ducking for cover" - In this instance, the announcer was describing the movements of a player on one team who was trying to get out of the path of a player on the other team. The one player had his boot high and the other player was trying to move away from the high boot so as to avoid injury. He bent his knees and made himself small by bending towards the ground. This is "to duck". If you are very tall and the height of the door is less than your height, you have to "duck" under the door frame to get through the space.
"Ducking for cover" is to get your body low so as to find a protected space. "Cover" is the protected space you want to find in case there is a fight or, heaven forbid, someone shooting a weapon. It is a common phrase used in police-action movies.
4) "largely one-way traffic" - "One-way traffic" is referring to the direction all the plays seem to be moving. It suggests that most of the "action" or activity is happening at one end of the pitch (playing field for football). Only one team seems to be constantly trying for a goal. In this case the announcer was describing Spain vs. Switzerland and Spain had possession of the ball most of the game.
"Largely" is equal to "mostly". You can use "largely" in the same way: "I am largely a fan of Cameroon, but I like Cote d'Ivoire too." or "This store sells largely women's clothing but there is a men's department on the fifth floor."
5) "So far this Cup, many stars have failed to shine. The Rooneys, Ronaldos and Riberys." - The "stars" are the most celebrated players as this announcer listed. Most peole know that the Hollywood actors are often called "stars". A "shining star" is one we can see. Essentially this star is doing what we expect it to. In this case, these "stars" haven't yet done the job we (the viewers) were expecting. Of course, they each have only played one game so we have time yet to see the stars shine. Maybe on Matchday #6 we will see at least one of these stars "blind us with some brilliant play" and "shine like we all want to see".
To "shine" is also used to describe anyone or their actions that are obviously better than others. As in: "My sister really shines when she is teaching a class. All her students love going to her classes." or "I hope to shine at my interview tomorrow."
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Matchday #5 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
Group of Death Day! Did everyone watch? We get up everyday at 5am and watch the games live (because we can) so I am a little more tired than usual. Ah, the hardships that football fans must endure.
We are big Portugal supporters so we weren't overly pleased with todays results. And if today is the template for the rest of the tournament, then Portugal will really have their work cut out for them. Because we lived in Spain, we know the team very well and do expect them to do wonderful things this Cup. But that won't remove the Portuguese flag from our car.
Today's selection of words used during matches by commentators include:
1) "some tall chaps" on the New Zealand team - "Chap" (and "fellow") is pretty much strictly used in Britain although you can get away with it in Canada (sometimes). The word used more commonly in North America is "guy" (or "tio" in Mexico) and it is a general word meaning "man". "Chap" or "guy" is a word used more often to describe someone, in a very general way, with whom you have little personal contact. It is very strange if used directly. You would say, "Do you know that chap that works at the bank? He's a pretty nice guy." You would sound strange saying, "How are you doing today
guy?" (unless his name is Guy). It would be much better to say "How are you doing today?" without any more personalization if you do not know the person well or if you have just met - like the bank teller or the UPS delivery man.
2) a "top-class finish" - For something to be "top-class" it has to be of very high quality. In this instance the announcer was describing a shot on goal by a player. The announcer thought that the play was good, but the finish (last moves of the play) was "top-class". You can also use "top-notch". You can say that "The meal we had last night was top-notch." or "She is a real top-class lady. I would love to have her work with me on a project."
3) "He's had his shins cracked a couple of times." - The shin is the front portion of the lower leg (below the knee) that is mostly skin stretched over bone. Football players use shin guards to protect this area during a match. To say he's had his shins "cracked" is to say that he has been hit or kicked in the shins and the touches were not gentle. When something actually "cracks" it usually means it has broken; like a glass that you dropped that gets a line in the glass but no pieces fall - this is a cracked glass. Crack is used many ways (as well as a common slang term for a certain drug): You can "crack a smile" - begin smiling, "crack the security code" - break the code, and "crack up" - start laughing. English is not easy to master so don't worry if you make a mistake or two on the words you choose. Keep trying.
4) "heavyweight" - The "heavyweight" is the "heavy favourite" to win because they have a strong record of winning games. They are the "stronger"or more experienced team. "Heavyweight" is a boxing term meant to describe the boxers that are literally in the weight class considered "heavy". These boxers, partly because of their weight, can hit harder and therefore make for a more interesting (in some fight fans' opinions) fight to watch. The opposite of "heavyweight" is "lightweight". You can use the terms in business. "Our company only deals with heavyweights." means that your company only works with companies that are known to be very successful and experienced.
5) "underdog" - The "underdog" is the team expected to lose either because of their own weak record or because they are playing against a much more experienced or stronger team. "Underdog" is generally only used to describe someone in a competition (sport or game commonly) and is very negative if used outside of this context. For example: "I often support the underdog in a match if I don't have a favourite team."
Let's see what Matchday #6 will provide in surprises and entertainment. Enjoy!
We are big Portugal supporters so we weren't overly pleased with todays results. And if today is the template for the rest of the tournament, then Portugal will really have their work cut out for them. Because we lived in Spain, we know the team very well and do expect them to do wonderful things this Cup. But that won't remove the Portuguese flag from our car.
Today's selection of words used during matches by commentators include:
1) "some tall chaps" on the New Zealand team - "Chap" (and "fellow") is pretty much strictly used in Britain although you can get away with it in Canada (sometimes). The word used more commonly in North America is "guy" (or "tio" in Mexico) and it is a general word meaning "man". "Chap" or "guy" is a word used more often to describe someone, in a very general way, with whom you have little personal contact. It is very strange if used directly. You would say, "Do you know that chap that works at the bank? He's a pretty nice guy." You would sound strange saying, "How are you doing today
guy?" (unless his name is Guy). It would be much better to say "How are you doing today?" without any more personalization if you do not know the person well or if you have just met - like the bank teller or the UPS delivery man.
2) a "top-class finish" - For something to be "top-class" it has to be of very high quality. In this instance the announcer was describing a shot on goal by a player. The announcer thought that the play was good, but the finish (last moves of the play) was "top-class". You can also use "top-notch". You can say that "The meal we had last night was top-notch." or "She is a real top-class lady. I would love to have her work with me on a project."
3) "He's had his shins cracked a couple of times." - The shin is the front portion of the lower leg (below the knee) that is mostly skin stretched over bone. Football players use shin guards to protect this area during a match. To say he's had his shins "cracked" is to say that he has been hit or kicked in the shins and the touches were not gentle. When something actually "cracks" it usually means it has broken; like a glass that you dropped that gets a line in the glass but no pieces fall - this is a cracked glass. Crack is used many ways (as well as a common slang term for a certain drug): You can "crack a smile" - begin smiling, "crack the security code" - break the code, and "crack up" - start laughing. English is not easy to master so don't worry if you make a mistake or two on the words you choose. Keep trying.
4) "heavyweight" - The "heavyweight" is the "heavy favourite" to win because they have a strong record of winning games. They are the "stronger"or more experienced team. "Heavyweight" is a boxing term meant to describe the boxers that are literally in the weight class considered "heavy". These boxers, partly because of their weight, can hit harder and therefore make for a more interesting (in some fight fans' opinions) fight to watch. The opposite of "heavyweight" is "lightweight". You can use the terms in business. "Our company only deals with heavyweights." means that your company only works with companies that are known to be very successful and experienced.
5) "underdog" - The "underdog" is the team expected to lose either because of their own weak record or because they are playing against a much more experienced or stronger team. "Underdog" is generally only used to describe someone in a competition (sport or game commonly) and is very negative if used outside of this context. For example: "I often support the underdog in a match if I don't have a favourite team."
Let's see what Matchday #6 will provide in surprises and entertainment. Enjoy!
Matchday #4 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
Well, what a lovely day of football it was. I enjoyed the last game of the day, the most. Notice I didn't write "we" as I usually do. That would be because I was with an Italy fan who was quite disappointed with the final result. Not me. I thought that Paraguay showed beautifully today and the superpower that is Italy got a wake-up call today. It's probably my loyalty to Zidane talking but I enjoyed the surprise ending today.
Anytime anyone wants to send in suggestions to this blog (words they have heard and are not quite sure of the meanings or usage), you are most welcome. So, today's words are:
1) "He made a bit of a meal of it." - To "make a meal" of something means to give it more importance than it deserves. In this case, the announcer was describing how a player was complaining about an injury that, in reality, was very minor. We use this expression and similar ones all the time. You could tell your friend who just beat you at a card game "not to make a meal of their win". You essentially want them to stop celebrating so much. Another expression that is very similar but can be used in an opposite meaning is "making a mountain out of a molehill". You can use this expression when someone is exaggerating something negatively or positively (less common). For example: "It is only a broken cup. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill." or "It is a great idea for a new product. Can we make a mountain out of this molehill?"
2) "setting tongues wagging" - This means to start people talking about a subject. The players being discussed were wearing their hair differently than others. The suggestion was that many fans might talk about the players not just because of their football abilities but because of their fashion. You can use this phrase anytime someone does something to get extra attention. "Why are you making truck noises in the store?" "I'm trying to set tongues wagging."
3) "That was a snappy challenge." - "Snappy" here is used like "energetic". The announcer could also have said a "smart"or "crisp" challenge. We can use "smart" and "snappy" to suggest something that is attractive as well. "He sure is a snappy dresser." This means his clothing is stylish. You can substitute "smart" directly and say "He sure is a smart dresser.". However "snappy" cannot comfortably replace "smart" if "smart is being used to replace "intelligent".
4) They "shot themselves in the foot with that red card". - Hopefully, this is fairly self-evident. It means that the player got a red card by doing something obvious and not professional so it was entirely his fault and not possible to be denied. In this case, it was a very obvious hand ball. So the team's "wound" or "injury" by going down to ten men was entirely their responsibility for having a player do something so obvious and not by mistake. We do use this expression anytime someone does something damaging to their career like "She really shot herself in the foot when she started dating her boss's son. Now they have broken up and her boss is transferring her to the least desirable office." Although actually shooting oneself in the foot can be an accident, it is always the suggestion that it was completely preventable. Some soldiers were accused of shooting themselves in the foot on purpose so that they could be sent home from the war early. This accident was not a true accident.
We are really looking forward to the Portugal game with Ivory Coast. Go Portugal!
Anytime anyone wants to send in suggestions to this blog (words they have heard and are not quite sure of the meanings or usage), you are most welcome. So, today's words are:
1) "He made a bit of a meal of it." - To "make a meal" of something means to give it more importance than it deserves. In this case, the announcer was describing how a player was complaining about an injury that, in reality, was very minor. We use this expression and similar ones all the time. You could tell your friend who just beat you at a card game "not to make a meal of their win". You essentially want them to stop celebrating so much. Another expression that is very similar but can be used in an opposite meaning is "making a mountain out of a molehill". You can use this expression when someone is exaggerating something negatively or positively (less common). For example: "It is only a broken cup. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill." or "It is a great idea for a new product. Can we make a mountain out of this molehill?"
2) "setting tongues wagging" - This means to start people talking about a subject. The players being discussed were wearing their hair differently than others. The suggestion was that many fans might talk about the players not just because of their football abilities but because of their fashion. You can use this phrase anytime someone does something to get extra attention. "Why are you making truck noises in the store?" "I'm trying to set tongues wagging."
3) "That was a snappy challenge." - "Snappy" here is used like "energetic". The announcer could also have said a "smart"or "crisp" challenge. We can use "smart" and "snappy" to suggest something that is attractive as well. "He sure is a snappy dresser." This means his clothing is stylish. You can substitute "smart" directly and say "He sure is a smart dresser.". However "snappy" cannot comfortably replace "smart" if "smart is being used to replace "intelligent".
4) They "shot themselves in the foot with that red card". - Hopefully, this is fairly self-evident. It means that the player got a red card by doing something obvious and not professional so it was entirely his fault and not possible to be denied. In this case, it was a very obvious hand ball. So the team's "wound" or "injury" by going down to ten men was entirely their responsibility for having a player do something so obvious and not by mistake. We do use this expression anytime someone does something damaging to their career like "She really shot herself in the foot when she started dating her boss's son. Now they have broken up and her boss is transferring her to the least desirable office." Although actually shooting oneself in the foot can be an accident, it is always the suggestion that it was completely preventable. Some soldiers were accused of shooting themselves in the foot on purpose so that they could be sent home from the war early. This accident was not a true accident.
We are really looking forward to the Portugal game with Ivory Coast. Go Portugal!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Matchday #3 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
Go Black Stars! We were so happy that Ghana won but thought it should have been on another chance and not the penalty. Oh well, we take the wins as they come. Too bad for Algeria though.
Our Selection of English words today include:
1) "The teams are deadlocked." - You could also use the term "stalemated" to explain that the teams are evenly matched. One is not showing more skill than the other and the score of the game reflects that. In business we often say "things are deadlocked" or "things are at a stalemate" when both sides of a negotiation are at the same level and there seems to be no opportunity to move the negotiation forward.
2) There was a "little squabble" in the box. - This is a very gentle version of "fight" and usually means a verbal disagreement rather than a physical one. It is fairly common to use the word "discussion" for this purpose as well. So, "Did you have another fight with your butcher?" "No. It was more of a strong discussion."
3) They are playing "helter skelter" football. - "Helter skelter" suggests extreme disorganization. So the players would not be working well as a team and the plays would not seem planned. Not fun to watch. This term is not common in Canada or the United States. It does have a connection to the mass murder done through Charles Manson as this is the title of a book and a movie describing the details of the murders. In no way is this a positive term but if you wanted to describe someone's organization abilities at work you could say, " You just seem to toss things on your desk helter skelter. Did you want any help organizing things?"
4) They are playing "all out" now. - This means that the players are "not holding back" any effort in their play. Playing "all out" means you are holding nothing in reserve and are using all your energy and skill. This is a tricky term and should be used carefully because the definition depends on what it is paired with. For example, "I am all out" can mean "I am without money, energy OR whatever it is you were asking to borrow." Doing something all out; like playing, swimming, etc. is how the announcer was using the term.
5) They need to "dig deep". - Now we are suggesting that the players are tired or lacking in skill and they have to put in a very strong effort to succeed. "Dig deep" is commonly used in sports and business and sometimes personally. You can "dig deep" to find the will to win. You can "dig deep" into your wallet to find the money that you owe me. In business you might have to "dig deep" at the end of the day so that your presentation sounds as professional as it did at 9am.
Our Selection of English words today include:
1) "The teams are deadlocked." - You could also use the term "stalemated" to explain that the teams are evenly matched. One is not showing more skill than the other and the score of the game reflects that. In business we often say "things are deadlocked" or "things are at a stalemate" when both sides of a negotiation are at the same level and there seems to be no opportunity to move the negotiation forward.
2) There was a "little squabble" in the box. - This is a very gentle version of "fight" and usually means a verbal disagreement rather than a physical one. It is fairly common to use the word "discussion" for this purpose as well. So, "Did you have another fight with your butcher?" "No. It was more of a strong discussion."
3) They are playing "helter skelter" football. - "Helter skelter" suggests extreme disorganization. So the players would not be working well as a team and the plays would not seem planned. Not fun to watch. This term is not common in Canada or the United States. It does have a connection to the mass murder done through Charles Manson as this is the title of a book and a movie describing the details of the murders. In no way is this a positive term but if you wanted to describe someone's organization abilities at work you could say, " You just seem to toss things on your desk helter skelter. Did you want any help organizing things?"
4) They are playing "all out" now. - This means that the players are "not holding back" any effort in their play. Playing "all out" means you are holding nothing in reserve and are using all your energy and skill. This is a tricky term and should be used carefully because the definition depends on what it is paired with. For example, "I am all out" can mean "I am without money, energy OR whatever it is you were asking to borrow." Doing something all out; like playing, swimming, etc. is how the announcer was using the term.
5) They need to "dig deep". - Now we are suggesting that the players are tired or lacking in skill and they have to put in a very strong effort to succeed. "Dig deep" is commonly used in sports and business and sometimes personally. You can "dig deep" to find the will to win. You can "dig deep" into your wallet to find the money that you owe me. In business you might have to "dig deep" at the end of the day so that your presentation sounds as professional as it did at 9am.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Matchday #2 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
Today certainly had much better football to watch, except for the first game. What happened to Greece? Euro 2004 wasn't that long ago was it? And excuse me Mr. English Butterfingers but could you please hurl your fairly small body on the ball next time? Please. Well we all make mistakes don't we?
To help you make a few less mistakes, here are today's selection of words or phrases we chose to explain as heard from our CBC football announcers. We were asked to give some more examples and to add information about the appropriate use of the words. Hopefully, this is improved.
1) "Frankly..." - This word means "honestly" but with a little bit of boldness added. For example, You want to always be honest with your children but you would not often be frank with them. Being frank suggests that you will tell the truth with no soft words or real consideration for the listener's feelings. So you would use this word with friends but not as commonly at the office. If you were asked to lend some money to your boss you might say, "Honestly, I don't have any cash available right now." But if your friend asked to borrow some money you might say, "Frankly, I'm still waiting for you to pay me the money you borrowed last month. So my answer is no."
2) "the man is unmarked" - In the case of football, we mean that the player we are discussing doesn't have a member on the other team following or "covering" him. If a man is unmarked near the goal, he would be the obvious choice to pass the ball in for an attempt at goal. We do use the word marked in general English but the meaning is slightly different. If we talk about a "marked woman", we may be referring to a sexual indiscretion. This is because a long time ago, women who had an affair or were in any way considered to be engaging in unladylike behaviour with anyone, she would be literally have to wear a sign on her clothes, on her face, or she would have her hair cut (badly). Now assuming a less sexist situation, a "marked man or woman" at the office may be the one expected to be fired next. Or in some way, everyone has learned of some problem the marked person was involved in or responsible for and this person is expected to receive some punishment.
3) "the shot was painfully wide" - Painful here is used to describe the feeling of the viewer. The shot would have been "very" wide of the goal and this isn't a happy situation. The most common place where we use painful (that I can think of) is in the expression "painfully shy". This would be used to describe someone whose cheeks don't just get red when someone speaks to them. This would describe someone unable to speak to another person and look them in the eye. They certainly wouldn't be able to speak in public. This is most commonly used as a negative description of some teenagers at a certain point in puberty.
4) "The referee is giving a bit of a talking to the player." - "A bit of a talking to" is a nice way to describe someone getting yelled at. It is much gentler to say this than to sue the term "shout". For example, I would rather hear that your daughter will get "a proper talking to" or "a bit of a talking to" instead of "I will shout at her until the neighbours complain but she will understand."
5) "He gave the ball away cheaply." - Usually, "cheap" is the harsher version of the word "inexpensive". When something is "inexpensive", the price is low but the quality is not in question. However, when something is called "cheap", it often means that the quality as well as the price is low. In this case, the player kicked the ball poorly and so the other team got the benefit of the ball without having to pay in hard work. Always be careful using the word "cheap" unless you intend to state that the quality of something is low. Cheap can also be used to refer to a person, usually a girl or woman who dresses suggestively. The added suggestion is that any man taking her out on a date wouldn't have to pay too much in money or compliments to enjoy her company in a physical way. So, careful with your use in this case.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Matchday #1 - World Cup 2010 - CBC Announcers' words/phrases
We really enjoyed the first two games today and hope you did too. Our guess is Uruguay and France will have a good chance at moving through to the next round. We'll see.
Following are 5 words or phrases we chose to explain as heard from our CBC football announcers. Years of teaching English as a second language proved to us that no matter the number of lessons, you will regularly find words that just aren't found in your English texts and classes. For example:
1) "The referee is taking no nonsense." - This means that the referee is not tolerating or accepting inappropriate behaviour (like false injury claims) or verbal abuse from the players. An everyday use may be "My mother accepted no nonsense when we went to visit my grandparents."
2) "a bit of a tussle" - A tussle is a struggle or fight for something. Usually a tussle is describing a physical competition for something. In the case of the football game, the tussle is usually over the ball. The word tussle is a gentler word than fight. I, personally, would much rather be in a tussle than a fight.
3) "spot on" - This equates to "absolutely correct" or "perfect". The announcer said that the pass from the midfielder to the striker was spot on. Perfect.
4) "They found themselves at sixes and sevens." - A distinctly British saying not usually used in North America that equates to "being disorganized". In this case the ball was sent through towards goal but the forward players did not seem to know where the ball was and who should be going to get it. The play failed because of this disorganization.
5)"in a very decent position" - Decent has a few meanings like; honest, trustworthy, correct, nice, and acceptable. In everyday English there is a difference between calling someone "nice" (positive) or calling someone "acceptable" (usually negative). In this instance, the announcer was suggesting that he thought the team would do well further in the tournament if the score stayed where it was. So the weaker team (in the opinion of the announcer) was in a better or stronger position than the announcer expected after the tied score at the end of the game. They found themselves in a decent position at the end of the game (rather than in an awkward or difficult position if they had lost the game).
We are going to gather words from every matchday and explain a few every post. If you heard some words you would like explained (nothing in poor taste or profane please), please suggest them in your comment or email us at yourenglishconnection@gmail.com
Enjoy Matchday #2!
Following are 5 words or phrases we chose to explain as heard from our CBC football announcers. Years of teaching English as a second language proved to us that no matter the number of lessons, you will regularly find words that just aren't found in your English texts and classes. For example:
1) "The referee is taking no nonsense." - This means that the referee is not tolerating or accepting inappropriate behaviour (like false injury claims) or verbal abuse from the players. An everyday use may be "My mother accepted no nonsense when we went to visit my grandparents."
2) "a bit of a tussle" - A tussle is a struggle or fight for something. Usually a tussle is describing a physical competition for something. In the case of the football game, the tussle is usually over the ball. The word tussle is a gentler word than fight. I, personally, would much rather be in a tussle than a fight.
3) "spot on" - This equates to "absolutely correct" or "perfect". The announcer said that the pass from the midfielder to the striker was spot on. Perfect.
4) "They found themselves at sixes and sevens." - A distinctly British saying not usually used in North America that equates to "being disorganized". In this case the ball was sent through towards goal but the forward players did not seem to know where the ball was and who should be going to get it. The play failed because of this disorganization.
5)"in a very decent position" - Decent has a few meanings like; honest, trustworthy, correct, nice, and acceptable. In everyday English there is a difference between calling someone "nice" (positive) or calling someone "acceptable" (usually negative). In this instance, the announcer was suggesting that he thought the team would do well further in the tournament if the score stayed where it was. So the weaker team (in the opinion of the announcer) was in a better or stronger position than the announcer expected after the tied score at the end of the game. They found themselves in a decent position at the end of the game (rather than in an awkward or difficult position if they had lost the game).
We are going to gather words from every matchday and explain a few every post. If you heard some words you would like explained (nothing in poor taste or profane please), please suggest them in your comment or email us at yourenglishconnection@gmail.com
Enjoy Matchday #2!
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