Petrify

Question

The team A is a much better side than the team B.

However, the team B beat the team A in the finals.

I am surprised by the defeat of the team A.

In the above context, I would like to write the following:

1)I am pertrified by the defeat of the team A.

My question is whether the first sentence is fine. You might not use the word petrify in a
similar context.

Your comments pleae.

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello Andrei

The definite article is usually omitted when naming teams, so
you would rewrite your sentences like this:

'Team A is a much better side than team B.'

'However, team B beat team A in the finals.'

(Or 'final', depending on the sport.)

'Petrified' is probably too strong for your context. It would normally
mean 'frightened to the extent of being unable to move'. The emotion
here seems more likely to be mild surprise or perturbation, e.g.

'I was astonished by team A's defeat.'
'I was taken aback by team A's defeat.'
'I was amazed by team A's defeat.'

If you were an English football supporter, on the other hand, you might say:

'I was gob-smacked by team A's defeat.'

And if you were very upset (though not necessarily surprised), you could say:

'I was gutted by team A's defeat.'
'I was sick as a parrot at team A's defeat.'

But these last 3 idioms are all very informal. Like English football supporters, they're
probably best avoided.

MrP

Andrei · Answer

I would agree withe Pedantic when saying petrified is too strong. The reason I asked is Nassar
Hussain used the word petrify in a recent BBC interview when asking about Zimbabwe tours.

He should have used the word surprise, amaze, aback, etc.

So people don't say the England national football team.
It is something like 'England team'.

So the Manchester United football team is wrong.

It should be Manchester United football team. Not the Arsenal team. It is Arsenal team.

MrPedantic · Answer

I'm sorry, Andrei, I misunderstood. I should have been more specific.

You omit the definite article when using the team's name
on its own, e.g.

'Arsenal is a much better team than Manchester Utd.'
'Thierry Henri is Arsenal's top scorer this season.'
'Arsenal thrashed Liverpool 6-0 on Saturday.'

but include the definite article if you're using the team's name in an
attributive way (e.g. with 'team'):

'The Manchester United team flew out last night.'
'David Beckham doesn't deserve his place in the England team.'
'The Liverpool team trudged off the pitch despondently after their
6-0 thrashing by Arsenal.'

As for Hussain, I didn't hear the interview, so am not sure why he used
the word 'petrified' - if he was talking about the effect of an opposing team,
it may simply have been hyperbole.

MrP

Andrei · Answer

Thanks Pedantic.

Nearly three weeks ago, BBC interviewed Nassar Hussein. I think the programme was called 'Hard Talk' or something similar. I watched it around 23.00 pm. Very late in the evening. Because I am not home during the day. For the best of my knowledge, you wouldn't see the BBC World Service
programme which I see in the Europe. You have a different BBC version, haven't you?

Some players have already expressed their unwillingness to travel to Zimbabwe. I am sure you have learnt through media about the names of those players. I think one person is up-and-coming spin bowler, Harmisson.

However,In this connection, Nassar Hussein repeatedly used the word 'petrify' instead of 'surprise'.

Then, I thought, in the UK or rather a native Englishman would naturally use the word 'petrify' instead of 'surprise'.

I have learnt to use the word 'petrify' if it is some stunning event.

MrPedantic · Answer

No, I don't have that BBC service, unfortunately! If he had been talking
about security fears, it would have been more usual (though still quite
strong).

UK natives often use 'petrified' in humorous exaggeration, or if
they're describing someone else's reaction to something:

'She gave me a lift home in her new car last night. I was petrified.'
'He's petrified of spiders.'
'I had to give a presentation to the directors yesterday. It was
petrifying.'

MrP

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