Gris-gris
February 13, 2006
The player does a trick with the ball.
Trick is a word that can be translated in several different ways according to the context in which it is used, but none of the options I found in my dictionary fitted with the text, which describes a group of football players getting ready before a game. Here, the trick in question wasn’t described, which made it impossible to know exactly what he was doing.
This is where an intimate knowledge of a specific field is invaluable; years of watching football games mean that the vocabulary commentators use has seeped into my mind, and I was able to come up with the only option I could actually think of: gris-gris. It’s just as general and vague as "trick". I have no idea how it’s come to mean a trick in football, as originally, it designates an amulet used in Africa. Can anyone think of a better translation?
Posted by céline, in Words, on February 13, 2006I'm not sure I get what you mean. Are you suggesting the player did something with/to the ball to bring him good luck? Or is it just a trick such as a "petit pont"?
Posted by effisk on February 16, 2006 1:39 PMWell exactly, that's a big problem with translation: sometimes, the context doesn't tell you what exactly is going on, so you have to guess. My guess was that he did a little trick, like stepping over the ball for example, or a back heel, that kind of thing.
Posted by céline on February 16, 2006 1:58 PMErr.... gris-gris is definitely not the wrong you ought to use here. It is an amulet, like those given by voodoo sorcerers. A more appropriate word might be
1) Figure (for ski, driving or parachuting)
2) Passe (especially suited for tricks pulled in combat, reffering to "Passe d'arme")
3) Mouvement (for sports)
4) Coup spécial (chess, cards, etc.)
Hope this helps you a bit.
Posted by Louis on February 20, 2006 10:54 AMLouis, I beg to differ: "gris-gris" is used in this context (football) in French. Have a look at http://www.sport24.com/sport24_article_actualite_sportive_football__equipe_de_france__france___allemagne__retour_ca_sent_deja_le_mondial_5140.html. ("Dans un match assez fermé, Michael Ballack a de nouveau tiré son épingle du jeu. Avec un minimum de déchet dans ses passes, une vision juste dans son jeu épuré de gris-gris inefficaces, le capitaine de la Mannschaft a régalé les 60 000 spectateurs du Stade de France.")
Posted by céline on February 20, 2006 11:12 AMI was tempted to give the same reply as Louis at first but a quick search on Google confirms the use of "gris-gris" in this context. However it seems that the word has a slight pejorative meaning in some occurences ("Je lui reproche d’abuser des gris-gris" - as in "useless tricks"). "gris-gris" seems to define tricks to fool the opponent and/or to show off one's skills.
"Instead of doing a simple trick (that could do the trick), he did a more elaborate trick - a "gris-gris" - to show his superiority over his opponent."
Posted by effisk on February 21, 2006 10:51 AMGood summary effisk, and I agree - gris-gris can indeed be more flamboyant and show-offy than efficient. Cristiano Ronaldo and his crazy step-overs come to mind.
Posted by céline on February 21, 2006 11:24 AMI reckon "the player does a trick with the ball" in this context could be translated "le joueur donne un effet a la balle -ou au ballon-" suggesting "a spin". What do you think?
Posted by bv on March 10, 2006 5:24 AMbv, not a bad idea, but a "spin" or "effet" isn't enough by itself, it has to be done within the context of a kick, or a pass, or something else, so I'm not sure this would work in this context. On the French side, someone proposed "faire une feinte avec le ballon", which I really like.
Posted by céline on March 12, 2006 10:23 AMPrevious: February 10, 2006
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