The Lexicon of Love, part 2
Herewith, by popular demand, some further football expressions and other miscellaneous items from the “beautiful” game:
“Good engine”, denotes an exceptionally fit and energetic player, capable of “putting in a good shift”.
“Flying machine”, self-explanatory.
“Made himself large”, as in “the goalkeeper made himself…”.
“The toys came out of the pram”, refers to a fit of petulance. “Handbags at dawn” has a similar meaning.
“Kept the ball for fun”, a way of describing an exceptionally skilful player.
“Reactionary goal”, incorrect usage of terminology, should probably be “reactional”.
“Their season was decimated”, equally infelicitous.
“He needs to man up” or “big up”, i.e. he needs to acquire a more impressive physique. “A powder puff [i.e. ineffectual/effeminate] challenge” might engender such observations.
“Large unit”, self-explanatory.
“Nutmeg”, when the ball is deliberately passed between a player’s legs.
“Fergie time”, the amount of extra time in a game that is allegedly awarded to Manchester United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
“Poznan wave” a bizarre crowd celebration recently adopted by Manchester City fans. The supporters link arms and jump up and down with their backs to the pitch.
“Do I not like that”, stock phrase employed by former England coach Graham Taylor, ditto “Get Wrighty ready”.
“Yes, he’s still dead”, Paul Gascoigne, on the late George Best.
“Park the bus”, adopt a highly defensive formation.
“Positivity”, rebarbative phrase that translates as being positive.
“You make your own luck”, a spurious theory uncritically endorsed by many football commentators.
“Kamikaze defending”, self-explanatory.
“Have a pop”, either have a shot on goal or assault another player.
“Already on the beach”, phrase used towards the end of the season when a player’s mind may be on other matters. “Didn’t turn up” or “hasn’t started” have a similar connotation.
“The wheels came off”, i.e. the game plan went awry.
“Route one”, a hopeful long ball punted up the pitch. The term “kick and rush” is sometimes used in the same context.
Some memorable nicknames, “the Goat” (Sean or Shaun Goater), hence also “feed the goat”, “Psycho” (Stewart Pearce), “the Wardrobe” (Pape “Papa” Boupa Diop), “the Verminator” (Thomas Vermaelen).
More in due course from this mother lode of fatuous phraseology.
LJ
