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Pemmican Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
"to medal"
Yesterday I was zapping across the TV channels and came to CNN where they were showing some Olympic statistics -> They said that Argentinia hasn't "medalled" yet.
It was the first time I ever heard (and saw) "medal" to be used as a verb, also all my dictionaries tell me it can only be used as a noun. Is this verbal usage of medal a newer one or was it just made-up for this particular situation?
Thanks for your info!
It was the first time I ever heard (and saw) "medal" to be used as a verb, also all my dictionaries tell me it can only be used as a noun. Is this verbal usage of medal a newer one or was it just made-up for this particular situation?
Thanks for your info!
Top answer
pemmican, I am confident that it ('medalled') is made up. Probably just some sports announcer using his unique vernacular. My guess, and it is only a guess, that "to medal" is to win a gold medal.
- pemmican, I am confident that it ('medalled') is made up.
- Probably just some sports announcer using his unique vernacular.
- My guess, and it is only a guess, that "to medal" is to win a gold medal.
- Argentina won its first gold medal at Athens on Saturday in football.
- Or they might have been referring to Argentina's upset victory over the US Basketball team.
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6 Answers
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pemmican,
I am confident that it ('medalled') is made up. Probably just some sports announcer using his unique vernacular.
My guess, and it is only a guess, that "to medal" is to win a gold medal.
Argentina won its first gold medal at Athens on Saturday in football. Or they might have been referring to Argentina's upset victory over the US Basketball team. And a
I am confident that it ('medalled') is made up. Probably just some sports announcer using his unique vernacular.
My guess, and it is only a guess, that "to medal" is to win a gold medal.
Argentina won its first gold medal at Athens on Saturday in football. Or they might have been referring to Argentina's upset victory over the US Basketball team. And a
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Hi Mountainhiker,
thanks for your reply - I'm totally sure that it does mean "to win a(ny) medal" of course, no doubt about that!
thanks for your reply - I'm totally sure that it does mean "to win a(ny) medal" of course, no doubt about that!
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pemmican,
I think "gold" might be important here.
If you go the Olympic Medal Standings and drill down on Argentina, you will see that it currently has 4 medals.
Its bronze medal in tennis was won on the 21st. So if yesterday (27th) the Argentina Olympic Team had yet to "medal" then I think the announcer was referring to the gold medal.
Again, just guess
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Now I don't want to meddle - I mean 'medal' - in your discussion, but maybe Argentina was just showing its mettle - I mean 'medal' - by showing what metal - I mean 'medal' - it's made of.
Too bad it wasn't a bicycle race. We could have worked "pedaling" into it, maybe even "petal".
Too bad it wasn't a bicycle race. We could have worked "pedaling" into it, maybe even "petal".
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Thanks, Mountainhiker!
Regardless if it refers only to 'gold' medals, or not, I was especially interested in the word itself - it's usage as a verb which I thought was strange. I was backed-up by a couple of friends who told me that "to medal" is definately a made-up word which they haven't heard before either.
This is interesting though and I'll keep an eye on this word; may
Regardless if it refers only to 'gold' medals, or not, I was especially interested in the word itself - it's usage as a verb which I thought was strange. I was backed-up by a couple of friends who told me that "to medal" is definately a made-up word which they haven't heard before either.
This is interesting though and I'll keep an eye on this word; may
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