1 definition by fall of ilium
Tan (verb): the act of messing up in a big way; failure; the name of a supposed curse spawned by the pommel horse routine of gymnast Kevin Tan during the team competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, whose failure was so massive it has allegedly begun to plague other athletes.
"Tan Curse": Believed to have been caused by Kevin Tan's epic fail, so epic in fact that it is thought to have settled like a cloud over Beijing. Some people remain unaffected, and it's suspected that this is due to rubbing themselves against Michael Phelps in order to remove the fail they've been stained with.
"Tan Curse": Believed to have been caused by Kevin Tan's epic fail, so epic in fact that it is thought to have settled like a cloud over Beijing. Some people remain unaffected, and it's suspected that this is due to rubbing themselves against Michael Phelps in order to remove the fail they've been stained with.
Using "Tan" in a sentence: "OMG! Did you see that girl fall off the uneven bars? She tanned real bad."
People who have Tan in their name, and therefore are doomed to fail: Kevin Tan (the originator), Liam Tancock (finished last with "Tanada")
Synonyms: Besides "epic failure", it's argued that "Alicia" could be synonymous, named after the female gymnast who messed up pretty badly the next night. However, this is debatable since (1) her failure was not as epic and (2) in going with the "curse" theory, Tan's massive failure was such that it probably affected her performance, making it his fault, which is why she was briefly dubbed as "Alicia Tan" and "She-Tan." Also, Katie Hoff is the swimming world's "She-Tan" Other examples of those affected by the Tan curse are: Tyson Gay (Tanson Gay), Eamon Sullivan (Eamon Sullitan), Pang Jiaying (Tang Jiaying) Ara Abrahamian (Ara Abrahamitan) Fabian Hambüchen (Fabitan Hambüchen) Alain Bernard (Alain Bertand)
Milorad Cavic's coach, Brazil (Tanzil)
Antonyms: Win, Success, Phelps, May-Treanor/Walsh
"Tanada" is also a nickname for Canada, who, for much of the games, was one of the few developed nations without a single medal to their name. There is some debate as to whether or not this is appropriate as they were failing before Kevin Tan's major screw up. Some even go so far as to suggest it that Canada's failure is more massive than Kevin Tan's, since no man can fail harder than an entire country, and that perhaps, the curse is really the fault of Canada, and not one Kevin Tan. This is unlikely for two reasons: (1) Canada's fail is self-containing (2) Canada's fail is temporary, as it's accepted that they will own the planet at the Winter Olympics.
People who have Tan in their name, and therefore are doomed to fail: Kevin Tan (the originator), Liam Tancock (finished last with "Tanada")
Synonyms: Besides "epic failure", it's argued that "Alicia" could be synonymous, named after the female gymnast who messed up pretty badly the next night. However, this is debatable since (1) her failure was not as epic and (2) in going with the "curse" theory, Tan's massive failure was such that it probably affected her performance, making it his fault, which is why she was briefly dubbed as "Alicia Tan" and "She-Tan." Also, Katie Hoff is the swimming world's "She-Tan" Other examples of those affected by the Tan curse are: Tyson Gay (Tanson Gay), Eamon Sullivan (Eamon Sullitan), Pang Jiaying (Tang Jiaying) Ara Abrahamian (Ara Abrahamitan) Fabian Hambüchen (Fabitan Hambüchen) Alain Bernard (Alain Bertand)
Milorad Cavic's coach, Brazil (Tanzil)
Antonyms: Win, Success, Phelps, May-Treanor/Walsh
"Tanada" is also a nickname for Canada, who, for much of the games, was one of the few developed nations without a single medal to their name. There is some debate as to whether or not this is appropriate as they were failing before Kevin Tan's major screw up. Some even go so far as to suggest it that Canada's failure is more massive than Kevin Tan's, since no man can fail harder than an entire country, and that perhaps, the curse is really the fault of Canada, and not one Kevin Tan. This is unlikely for two reasons: (1) Canada's fail is self-containing (2) Canada's fail is temporary, as it's accepted that they will own the planet at the Winter Olympics.
by fall of ilium August 18, 2008