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Football and the full Monty (Python)

Posted by The Fallen on January 08, 2002

In Reply to: Football posted by Alex on January 07, 2002

: : : : Why has the meaning of Word Association got the word Football on the end of it?

: : : : The game is called 'Word Association' isn't it, I have never heard football being connected to it.

: : : : The explanation tells us:

: : : : Association football is the proper name of soccer (and the origin of the word incidentally), although anyone outside the USA will tell you that the proper name of soccer is football.

: : : : Why would anyone English need this explained to them? If it's there for the benefit of US citizens who might choose to read a website intended for UK citizens, that is there problem derived from the fact that they choose to live in a cocoon called the USA, and ignore what happens outside of it.

: : : The phrase was coined by Monty Python--a BRITISH comedy troupe, I believe.
: : : We ex-Colonist cocooners had nothing to do with the creation of YOUR phrase.

: : Clive. Cocoon as parochial, metamorphic or sheltered? I left out insular. Already taken.

: Actually, even in england 'football' can be used to describe a multitude of sports. Most people would assume you were referring to Association Football but there are alternatives -

: Rugby Union is also called Rugby Football and Rugby Football Union, and commentators commonly use the term 'excellent footballer' to describe a skilful rugby player, e.g. Jason Robinson.

: I don't think we can get too narked at the yanks using it for their rugby-with-pads-on game if we use it for our American-Football-without-pads game.

...though the usage of "soccer" is becoming more and more prevalent in the UK, presumably to avoid confusion. Mind you, I am slightly bemused as to why the USA uses the word "football" to describe a sport which seems to be mainly about throwing and running, (unless we're talking about the Detroit Lions, who should punt on first down, just to save time and embarrassment).

Anyway, the full Monty Python nonsense phrase, which for reasons that are beyond me I seem to have committed to memory is:- "Word association football match stick insect powder puff pastry chef d'équipe sake". I trust that this nugget of knowledge will add precisely nothing of value to anyone at all.

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