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.
to tunnel
To build a tunnel through an obstacle such as a mountain or under a body of water.
Die Ingenieure planen, den Berg zu tunneln, um eine direkte Zugverbindung zu schaffen.
The engineers are planning to tunnel through the mountain to create a direct train connection.
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 pierce
Durchbohren emphasizes that a pointed object or tool passes all the way through an object, creating a hole. Tunneln, by contrast, refers to building a longer passage through an obstacle. Durchbohren fits a single hole, while tunneln fits a developed passage.
Die Arbeiter tunneln durch den Berg, damit die neue Bahnstrecke dort hindurchführen kann.
The workers are tunneling through the mountain so that the new railway line can pass through it.
Die Mechanikerin musste die Metallplatte vollständig durchbohren.
The mechanic had to pierce the metal plate all the way through.
