In 15 Seconds
- To concede a goal in a match.
- Used mostly in sports journalism and commentary.
- Implies the team is feeling the impact of the score.
Meaning
It means to concede or 'let in' a goal during a sports match. It describes that heavy moment when the opposing team scores and your team has to acknowledge the blow.
Key Examples
3 of 6Watching a football match with friends
Mince, on vient d'accuser un but bête !
Darn, we just conceded a stupid goal!
A sports journalist writing a report
La défense a fini par accuser un but après une heure de jeu.
The defense finally conceded a goal after an hour of play.
Texting a friend about a live score
0-1... On accuse un but sur penalty.
0-1... We conceded a goal on a penalty kick.
Cultural Background
The newspaper 'L'Équipe' is the gold standard for sports French. They frequently use 'accuser un but' to avoid repeating 'encaisser'. In Quebec, sports terminology is often influenced by English. You might hear 'accorder un but' (to give a goal) more often than 'accuser'. Fans in Marseille or Paris are known for being very vocal. While they understand 'accuser un but', they will almost always use 'se prendre un but' in the stadium. Radio France Internationale (RFI) uses this phrase in their 'Le journal en français facile' to help learners understand sports news with standard vocabulary.
Sound like a pro
Use 'accuser un but' when writing about sports to instantly elevate your register from 'fan' to 'analyst'.
Don't use for points
Never say 'accuser un point' in tennis or basketball. It's strictly for 'buts' (goals).
In 15 Seconds
- To concede a goal in a match.
- Used mostly in sports journalism and commentary.
- Implies the team is feeling the impact of the score.
What It Means
In the world of French sports, accuser un but is a sophisticated way to say a team has conceded a goal. While the literal translation sounds like you are pointing a finger at the ball, the verb accuser here actually means 'to acknowledge' or 'to show the impact of.' It is less about the physical act of the ball hitting the net and more about the psychological and scoreboard impact on the team. When a team accuse un but, they are feeling the weight of that score. It is a favorite phrase for journalists who want to add a bit of drama to their match reports.
How To Use It
You use this phrase just like any other transitive verb. The subject is always the team or the goalkeeper who let the goal in. For example, you might say, L'équipe de France a accusé un but dès la première minute. This tells your listener that not only did they concede, but it was a significant moment in the game. Remember that but is masculine, so it is always un but. Even though it sounds formal, you can use it in casual conversation if you want to sound like a professional sports commentator.
When To Use It
This phrase is perfect when you are watching a football (soccer) match with friends or reading the sports section of a newspaper like L'Équipe. It fits beautifully in a summary of a game. If you are texting a friend about a match you are both following, using on accuse un but adds a touch of gravity to the situation. It is also very common in radio broadcasts where the announcer needs to convey the 'shock' of a goal being scored against the home team.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this phrase if you are the one who scored! That would be marquer un but. Also, avoid using it in non-sporting contexts unless you are being very metaphorical. For instance, you wouldn't say you accuse un but if you failed a test; that would just confuse people. In very casual, high-energy settings, most people will just use the verb encaisser (to take/to pocket), which is the more common, everyday way to say 'concede a goal.'
Cultural Background
France has a deep, sometimes painful relationship with football. Phrases like accuser un but reflect the dramatic way the French media covers the sport. The verb accuser is often linked to the idiom accuser le coup, which means to show signs of weakness after a blow. This connection highlights how the French view a goal against their team—not just as a point lost, but as a physical and emotional hit to the collective spirit. It’s a very 'theatrical' way to talk about sports.
Common Variations
The most common alternative you will hear is encaisser un but. If you want to sound more technical or official, you might hear concéder un but. In slang, especially among younger fans, you might hear se prendre un but (to take a goal to oneself). If the goal was particularly embarrassing, a commentator might say the team a subi un but, implying they were victims of it.
Usage Notes
Mainly used in sports contexts. Ensure you use the masculine 'un but' and not 'une but'. It is more common in writing or formal commentary than in very casual street slang.
Sound like a pro
Use 'accuser un but' when writing about sports to instantly elevate your register from 'fan' to 'analyst'.
Don't use for points
Never say 'accuser un point' in tennis or basketball. It's strictly for 'buts' (goals).
The 'L'Équipe' effect
If you read the French sports daily 'L'Équipe', you will see this phrase at least three times per page.
Examples
6Mince, on vient d'accuser un but bête !
Darn, we just conceded a stupid goal!
Expresses frustration at a preventable goal.
La défense a fini par accuser un but après une heure de jeu.
The defense finally conceded a goal after an hour of play.
Standard journalistic usage for a match summary.
0-1... On accuse un but sur penalty.
0-1... We conceded a goal on a penalty kick.
Quick update on a game status.
Il ne faut pas baisser les bras après avoir accusé un but.
You mustn't give up after conceding a goal.
Encouraging resilience after a setback.
Mon régime a accusé un but : j'ai mangé tout le fromage.
My diet took a hit: I ate all the cheese.
Using sports terminology metaphorically for a personal 'loss'.
Le gardien semble accuser le coup après ce but.
The goalkeeper seems to be feeling the blow after that goal.
A variation using 'accuser le coup' to describe the goalie's reaction.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'accuser'.
Hier soir, notre équipe a ________ un but à la dernière minute.
We need the past participle for the passé composé with 'avoir'.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly in a journalistic context?
Select the best option:
The defense (the ones suffering the goal) is the correct subject.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Pourquoi l'entraîneur est-il si triste ? B: Parce que son équipe vient d'________.
In a sports context, conceding a goal makes the coach sad.
Match the phrase to the correct register.
Match 'accuser un but' with its register:
It is the standard for sports media.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesHier soir, notre équipe a ________ un but à la dernière minute.
We need the past participle for the passé composé with 'avoir'.
Select the best option:
The defense (the ones suffering the goal) is the correct subject.
A: Pourquoi l'entraîneur est-il si triste ? B: Parce que son équipe vient d'________.
In a sports context, conceding a goal makes the coach sad.
Match 'accuser un but' with its register:
It is the standard for sports media.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, they mean the same thing, but 'accuser' is more formal and journalistic.
No, in rugby you 'concède un essai' (concede a try). 'But' is for goals.
No, in this context it means 'to show' or 'to record'.
Yes, in the context of sports, most French people pronounce the 't' (/byt/).
Yes, the goalkeeper or the whole team can be the subject.
Rarely. It's better for writing or formal discussion.
The opposite is 'marquer un but' (to score a goal).
Yes, that is also a common formal collocation meaning to suffer a defeat.
Because 'accuser' implies the goal is now 'marked' on your record.
Yes, though Quebec often prefers 'accorder'.
Related Phrases
accuser le coup
similarTo show signs of being shaken by a blow or bad news.
encaisser un but
synonymTo concede a goal.
marquer un but
contrastTo score a goal.
accuser réception
builds onTo acknowledge receipt of something.
