to nutmeg / tunnel
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to nutmeg
In sports, especially in football/soccer, to deliberately play the ball through an opponent's legs.
Der Stürmer konnte den Verteidiger elegant tunneln und lief allein auf das Tor zu.
The striker was able to nutmeg the defender elegantly and ran toward the goal alone.
The verb 'tunneln' is derived directly from the noun 'der Tunnel' (the tunnel). So the action describes creating a tunnel—either literally through a mountain or figuratively through a person's legs.
Es ist ein riesiges Projekt, diesen Felsen zu tunneln.
It is a huge project to tunnel through this rock.
You can tell whether the sports meaning or the construction meaning is intended from the accusative object. 'Jemanden tunneln' (to nutmeg someone) refers to a person in sports. 'Etwas tunneln' (to tunnel through something) refers to an obstacle such as a mountain.
Im Training hat er seinen Mitspieler getunnelt.
In training, he nutmegged his teammate.
The use of 'tunneln' for playing the ball through an opponent's legs is typical sports jargon, especially in football/soccer. This meaning is not used outside sports.
Die Fans jubelten, als der Stürmer den Verteidiger tunnelte.
The fans cheered when the striker nutmegged the defender.
to drill / probe
'bohren' and 'tunneln' can both have to do with working through solid material using tools or machines. 'bohren' usually means making a hole, for example in wood, concrete, or a wall. 'tunneln' means building a tunnel through an obstacle, for example through a mountain or under a river. The words can be confused because material is removed in both cases. The difference is the size and purpose: drilling creates a hole; tunneling creates a route or passage.
Für die neue Bahnstrecke tunneln die Arbeiter durch den Berg.
For the new railway line, the workers are tunneling through the mountain.
Vor dem Regal musste Paul zwei Löcher in die Wand bohren.
Before putting up the shelf, Paul had to drill two holes in the wall.