[Lexicog] Juggernaut (was: The English (was Naming the Beautiful Game ..)

[Fritz Goerling]

Thanks for the explanation of "juggernaut", John,

 

Are you teasing me? I said the British tabloid "The Sun" (not the German

"Bild") uses headlines like the "The German juggernaut." The word
"juggernaut"

does not even exist in German.

How about a final "Germany against England", in which I personally do not
believe?

But that would be enormous fun from the sports point of view, and from
studying the headlines of our respective tabloids in advance.

Hi Fritz,

Yes I am also pleased England will avoid Germany in the next round. But if 
they both keep winning then they will have to face each other at some stage.

:-(

According to my Oxford dictionary of English etymology "juggernaut" is a 
title of Krishna, avatar of Vishnu or an idol of this carried in an enormous

car, under which (it was once said) devotees threw themselves. So the 
implication of a headline in a German newspaper such as "The German 
juggernaut" would be that the opposition are supposed to sacrifice 
themselves for German glory ?? :-)

I wonder how many English speakers know where the word "juggernaut" comes 
from?

John Roberts

 

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