During the Euro 2012 tournament the languagecaster team will be looking at some of the words and phrases that emerge from the competition. Today we explain the phrase ‘to be in tatters‘. You can understand more about the word or phrase by listening to the mp3 and reading the transcript below. You can also find many more examples by going to our football cliches here and our huge football glossary here.
Listen here: To be in tatters.mp3
Today’s Euro 2012 football phrase is ‘to be in tatters‘ which means that something has been ripped up, torn or badly broken; in other words something is now in chaos or in ruins. England’s preparation for the upcoming Euro 2012 tournament is in tatters after yet another player has been ruled out with injury – this time Chelsea’s Gary Cahill after he was injured in the friendly against Belgium. His absence from the squad means that England’s plans are in tatters before they even play their first game in the tournament. To be in tatters.
