co5 bo1 gaam1坐波監坐波监
Jyutpingco5 bo1 gaam1
Yalechóh bō gāam
Definition
To be suspended from playing in ball games, usually due to a penalty or yellow card.
colloquialsports
How it's used
Originating from the slang term 波監, which combines the English word ball with the Cantonese word for prison, this expression vividly describes the forced inactivity of a player. It is used exclusively in the context of sports, particularly football, where a player is suspended due to disciplinary action. The term carries a slightly humorous or informal tone, treating the bench or the sidelines as a temporary jail cell.
Examples
He got a red card this match and has to sit out the next games.
Related words
Common phrases
to serve a suspension
Common mistake
Do not use this term for any situation outside of sports disciplinary suspensions. It is not used for general absences, injuries, or being benched by a coach for tactical reasons.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
