Turn on the style? 发扬个人风格

Reader question:

Please explain “turn on the style”, as in this: Sometimes you have to turn on the style to motivate others to change.

My comments:

It means you have to do your stylish best in order to inspire others to change. In other words, setting a good example.

We assume “you” (the person in our example) have a lot to offer in terms of style or being stylish. We assume you are very good and are able to do what you do with style, finesse, flair and aplomb.

Indeed, some people are able to perform feats that look astonishing to the rest of us and they do it in style, with flair and aplomb. Diego Maradona zigzagging his way past five English defenders to score in the World Cup is, for instance, a good example.

Diego scoring against England in the World Cup?

That was in 1986, a long time ago to be sure.

But if you have ever watched that play on television, you’ll understand what it means to turn on the style as Diego certainly did on that occasion.

Anyways, to turn on the style is to do your stylish best and do it easily.

As easily as, say, turning on the tap water or turning on the light in a dark room or turning on Fox News to watch Donald Trump turning on the style talking big.

I’m being sarcastic, but you get the point.

And here, without sarcasm, are examples of footballers – the expression, British in origin, is most often used to describe soccer players – and other people turning on the style:

1. Judd Trump is a unique talent in the history of snooker, believes John Higgins after his crushing 18-9 defeat in the World Championship final. The 29-year-old produced the highest standard of snooker ever seen in a world final, rolling in seven centuries en route to the dominant victory, to break a number of records. Higgins was right in the game early on and led 5-4 at one stage before Trump really turned on the style, reeling off eight frames on the spin to end the second session 12-4 ahead. While the Scot showed his trademark grit and determination to battle hard and pick up five more frames, Trump’s unstoppable brilliance was far too much for him as he powered over the finish line. Higgins was asked if he could think of anyone in the history of the sport that could compare to Trump and he was at a loss. ‘I can’t,’ said the Wizard of Wishaw. ‘I don’t think there’s been anyone, with how much cue power he’s got; there’s not been anybody quite like him.’

- John Higigns says there’s never been a player like Judd Trump after Snooker World Championship demolition, Metro.co.uk, May 6, 2019.

2. Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola had every right to believe his side had been robbed of two points against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, but despite the VAR-influenced ordeal, he later admitted that he’s still able to enjoy soccer as a spectator.

“I like when I sit at home and watch a game,” said the Catalan.

“I enjoy what other teams do. I am a spectator too.”

Guardiola will have enjoyed watching only some of his own team’s play in its first home game of the 2019/20 season.

He was pleased with the performance, describing it as one of the best he’s seen from his players during his time at the club, but it’s difficult to believe that he enjoyed the experience as a whole.

Luck was not on City’s side during this 2-2 draw with Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs and this led to a difficult afternoon for the staff, players, and paying spectators at the Etihad who cheered until the end. A number of decisions went against them, testing the patience of even the most placid City fans.

The referee and the VAR failed to spot a blatant foul by Eric Lamela on City’s new midfielder, Rodri, but the video technology was on its toes in added time in the second half to rob Gabriel Jesus of a late winner.

The replay showed that the ball glanced off Aymeric Laporte’s arm on its way through to the Brazilian striker, and new laws suggest that even an accidental handball is an offence if it leads to a chance on goal.

It was reminiscent of the meeting between the two sides in Manchester in last season’s Champions League quarter-final second leg, when Raheem Sterling’s last minute winner was disallowed by VAR for offside, but on that occasion, when the laws were slightly different, a Fernado Llorente goal for Spurs was allowed to stand despite the ball brushing his arm.

Guardiola has said in the past that he is in favour of VAR, but it has not done him any favours so far.

There were positives, which came not from the result, but from the overall performance, and the most encouraging sign was Kevin De Bruyne’s display in midfield.

The Belgian assisted both City goals, and could have had more had Ilkay Gundogan, Nicolas Otamendi, and Gabriel Jesus finished the chances he created for them.

“I would say it’s not a big surprise,” said Guardiola of De Bruyne’s performance.

“We know him, he is able to do that. He did it in previous seasons.

“Last season, unfortunately, he had a lot of injury problems, but we survived without him thanks to the squad we have. I’m happy in the way he played [today].”

De Bruyne supported the attack alongside Sergio Agüero in a 4-2-4, but regardless of the formation Guardiola’s teams have a certain style, and they certainly turned on the style at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

- Pep Guardiola Admits He Enjoys Watching Rivals But VAR Tests His Patience, Forbes.com, August 19, 2019.

3. Roger Federer is into the 15th Swiss Indoors final of his career after a 6-4 6-4 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Federer, who had the benefit of two days rest, started the match in attack mode from the outset, carving out five break point chances before finally getting the breakthrough when Tsitsipas netted a backhand to lead 3-2.

The Swiss was majestic in his service games and sealed the first set 6-4 before breaking Tsitsipas again in the opening game of the second set.

The 38-year-old then turned on the style as he outplayed Tsitsipas and after saving a break point when serving for the match, he finished the match with a drive forehand winner to record his 50th win of the season and his 23rd straight win at Basel.

Federer will play Australian Alex de Minaur in Sunday’s final as he looks for a tenth title in Basel.

- Roger Federer reaches 15th Swiss Indoors final after outclassing Stefanos Tsitsipas, Express.co.uk, October 27, 2019.

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About the author:

Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.

（作者：张欣 编辑：丹妮）