Spanish Sporting Slang
Once you get into the world of Sport there is even more Spanish slang to get to grips with, just check out this quote on last night’s game between Real Madrid and Écija (from 20minutos.es):
* El Écija dio un baño al Madrid en la primera parte.
* El gol de Beckham abrió la lata en la segunda mitad.
Un marciano que hubiera aterrizado en el Bernabéu habría preguntado por la identidad de ése equipo de amarillo que estaba bailando a los de blanco y al que habían birlado un penalti. El aficionado de al lado respondería que el Écija.
So, los de blanco and Madrid both refer to the football team Real Madrid, but what do the terms in bold above really mean? Answers in the comments below please!
Posted in: Spanish slang | Comments: 6
Comments:
Comment from ben
Thanks Cascorro! No I understand abrir la lata properly!
Comment from Cascorro
Let me put it in this way…
Abrir la lata (literally open the can) when applied to a football match, means that one team is being very defensive, with all players in their own penalty area…and till the other team scores a goal, they don’t try to be more offensive. They are more preoccupied with not receiving a goal, than to score some…
Comment from ben
In my first comment I meant to say ‘now I understand it properly’, not ‘no I understand it’, but now I understand it even better, so thanks for the extra explanation!
Comment from iBON
Birlar means to steal or to take away.
Comment from Ben
Thanks iBon!
Comment from Cascorro
I don`t know if you’re gonna understand me (my english) but ill try to make it clear:
Dar un baño: It means Écija F.C was playing much better than Real Madrid
Abrió la lata: when Real Madrid scored the first goal, it made Écija go for the draw, relaxing the defense…so, the difficult part was to score the first one, once this was done, (se abrió la lata), the rest would come easily …
bailar a alguien (en un juego/deporte): same as dar un baño, be totally superior in the game
birló un penalty: referee didn’t judge a clear penalty against R.Madrid