English to French translation

Grand pont

January 26, 2006

I managed a "grand pont" (big bridge) on an opponent last night at football. I know "petit pont" (little bridge) is "nutmeg" (when you kick the ball between your opponent’s legs), but what about "grand pont"? The only resource on football vocabulary I know of is this glossary of olympics sports, and it gives the following explanation rather than an equivalent: "overplaying an opponent on the one side while overrunning him on the other". In other words, you kick the ball to her right (or left) and run around her on her left (or right), before collecting the ball and running off with it. Any football fans out there willing to enlighten me?

Comments

The famous and oft shown one was the great Brazilian Pele in the 1970 World Cup where he went round the opposition goalkeeper. Unfortunately it didn't result in a goal. I assume unlike your outcome last night?

I was on the wing, darted down, crossed the ball in and my striker fluffed it. Remind me to tell you this weekend about the goal I scored once without touching the ball. Pele, eat your heart out.

From what I see in football.guardian.co.uk my impression is that 'nutmeg' means both petit and grand pont. If it can help, the Italian 'tunnel' refers to both kinds of ponts.

TV commentary talks about a nutmeg as the "petit pont" only. ("Nutmeg" is apparently rhyming slang for leg).

It is fairly rare bit of football skill and might not have, or need, an equivalent in English.

I have heard "oh!" (such a rare bit of skill always preceded by an exclamation) "he's gone right round the outside of him" from TV commentators before now.

andy

As viewers of the excellent BALDERDASH AND PIFFLE (BBC2 MONDAYS @ 9p.m.) will know, the origin of the term 'nutmeg' is uncertain.

Hi Céline

'Nutmeg' is indeed the translation of 'Petit pont'. 'Grand pont' does not have a nice snappy equivalent in English - a football commentator would normally say 'Céline goes round Zidane' or 'Céline skins Zidane'(quite slangy, this one, but I prefer it).

"Céline goes round Zidane" - how fantastic does that sound?!
("Céline goes round Zidane and dribbles past Roberto Carlos and Sergio Ramos before sending a missile into Casillas' top right corner in the last minute of the Champions' League final" sounds even better)

I know that "grand pont" In Brazil, is called "drible da vaca", literally "la feinte de la vache". I just love that expression.

Previous
Pop-up window
January 24, 2006

Next
Guest blogger: Why I'm going to give translation up
January 27, 2006