What is a dressing down?
We know what it means; a telling off. But why does it mean what it means?
Dressing, that’s very simple to understand. Verb: put on one’s clothes. In a culinary context it can also refer to a liquid that you might add to a salad to enhance the dish’s flavours and give it some moisture.
Down, we know that means too. Adverb, towards or in a lower place or position, especially to or on the ground or another surface. But together? The words don’t seem to marry well to create a compound verb, yet we all know exactly what it means. It’s funny how the human brain works, isn’t it?
It’s also fascinating to note the difference between the meanings of ‘dressing up’ and ‘dressing down’ despite their linguistic similarities.
Anyway, Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City beat Manchester United 3-1 today with yet another convincing performance that suggested nobody will come close to catching them this season. They outclassed their local rivals in every department and goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan confirmed that the champions took all three points home.
In the final seconds of the game, Raheem Sterling ran the clock down with the ball at his feet in the corner of the pitch. Just to rub salt in United’s wounds, Sterling indulged in a bit of showboating, nonchalantly performing step-overs that served no purpose other than to take the piss out of United’s players. Fair play to him.
But Pep Guardiola wasn’t completely satisfied. As the City boss entered the pitch, he appeared to give Sterling a dressing down, presumably because the player didn’t try to score another goal.
Proud of you, boys! 💙#MCIMUN #mancity pic.twitter.com/pN3WmIC88F
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 11, 2018
It looks unreasonable, and it is, but it’s this level of determination to reach perfection and squeeze every ounce of talent out of his players that sets Guardiola apart from his peers.
