Talking Point: What Do Football Pundits Mean By ‘A Gilt-Edge Chance’?

Talking Point: The Gilt-Edge Chance.

 

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The pass bisects the defence and the striker is through on goal… only to sky the ball over the bar.

What is the correct term for the spurned opportunity?

A) A simple chance
B) An easy chance
C) A gilt-edged chance

The answer, of course, is C.

But why?

Well, gilt-edged is reminiscent of ‘golden’. It also sounds like ‘guilt’ – a possible reaction on the part of the perpetrator of the glaring error.

The last thing on most people’s minds –assuming they have heard of them at all – are the gilt-edged securities originally issued by the Bank of England, and subsequently around the world, typically indicating low-risk, low-yield investments.

One could debate the possible relevance of this as a metaphor for easy goal-scoring opportunities, but it would not be a very interesting exercise.

VERDICT: Time to cash in the bonds

SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT: What a sitter.

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