‘Stonewaller’

CLICHE CORNER

USED with irritating frequency, commentators, managers and players will declare ‘that was a stonewaller’ whenever there is a penalty claim. It never seems to be used for fouls or other incidents, only definite penalties. Presumably the mythical stone wall referred to represents solidity, but The Chambers Dictionary does little to cast any light on why it is used in this context, defining the word as follows... “to hold up progress (in parliament) by obstructing discussion, (in cricket) by playing extremely defensively”. Another cliche reduced to bricks and rubble?