fluff lines

Japan Times Onlineからです。ブンデスリーガ第６節が３０日に行われ、乾貴士が所属するフランクフルトはホームで２−１とフライブルクに勝利しました。ただ乾選手はうまく自分のパフォーマンスは発揮できなかったようです。
Inui fluffs lines in front of Zaccheroni

FRANKFURT — Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Takashi Inui once again proved to be a handful for opponents on Sunday but blew an opportunity to score in his fourth consecutive match in the newly promoted Bundesliga club's 2-1 victory at home over Freiburg.

With Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni in the stands, Inui got behind Freiburg's defense for a one-on-one in the first half with keeper Oliver Baumann. But after running nearly half the field and latching on to a through ball, Inui shot straight at the goalkeeper. The failure proved costly in the 50th minute, when the visitors opened their account with a goal by Max Kruse.

"If you don't score in that situation, you let the team down," said Inui whose exploits had led to a special feature in a local newspaper and a visit from Zaccheroni.

"I thought I'd just ignore all that and just play my game, but I couldn't get it out of my mind."

Inui did find the net, but from an offside position, and the goal was disallowed.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sw20121002a1.html

今回取り上げる英語表現はfluff linesです。fluffは名詞で「毛玉、綿毛」という意味がありますが、動詞では「〜をとちる」という意味(『ジーニアス英和辞典』第4版、大修館書店)があります。lineはここでは「台詞」なのでfluff linesで「台詞をとちる」という意味になります。ここではサッカーを一つの劇に例えているようなので、「へまをする」といった意味で使われています。(EnDough)