Played at football

Question

We played my brother's school at football and beat them hollow.

Please explain to me the meaning of this sentence.

Though I know "beat someone hollow" means "to defeat someone by large margins".

Particularly I'm confused with "at football". Usually we have something at "some place" but here after "at" it comes the game name "football".

Perhaps the sentence could have been understood by me if it were "We played football at my brother's school and beat them(an opposition team) hollow."

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

We played my brother's school at football and beat them hollow.

Please explain to me the meaning of this sentence.

Though I know "beat someone hollow" means "to defeat someone by large margins".

Particularly I'm confused with "at football". Usually we have something at "some place" but here after "at" it comes the game name "football".

'At a sport/game' is a standard and common way of referring to a competition.

eg Tom beat Mary at darts.

Perhaps the sentence could have been understood by me if it were "We played football at my brother's school and beat them(an opposition team) hollow."

This does not have the same meaning. In the original version, the opponent was clearly your brother's school. Your version just makes clear that your brother's school was the location of the game. But your brother's school may not have been the opposition.

Clive

User_gary · Answer

Thank you Clive for all your useful replies.
So I think the sentence is "We played against my brother's school at football". Is it correct?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

So I think the sentence is "We played against my brother's school at football". Is it correct?

It's not wrong, but this is more common.

"We played football against/with my brother's school".

Clive

Played at football

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