look at home

[shootingstar]

There is the following entry in the Oxford Dictionary of English:

berth > noun
. . .
3 informal (often in a sporting context) a position in an organization or event: he looked at home in an unfamiliar right-back berth (example)

What is the meaning of look at home there? I guess it could mean he dealt effectively or coped with the unfamiliar right-back berth, right?

 

[Skrej]

See this entry.

 

[shootingstar]

The entry:
be/feel/look at home
1
to be/feel/look relaxed and comfortable in a particular place or situation
Daniel looks very at home with the children.
They did everything they could to make me feel at home.

This entry doesn't provide much information about what's meant there (in the example of the OP)., I'm afraid,.

The example is He looked at home in an unfamiliar right-back berth. I can't think of any player, e.g. in a soccer match, that looks relaxed and comfortable in his berth, actually. There must be another or more sophisticated meaning as to the sporting context in my opinion.

 

[5jj]

No, it's fine as it is. He looks relaxed and comfortable playing in this position.

 

[shootingstar]

No, it's fine as it is. He looks relaxed and comfortable playing in this position.

Then, please tell me how a soccer player acts or behaves during a soccer match if he looks relaxed and comfortable.

 

[5jj]

... if he looks relaxed and comfortable in his position.

The player looks confident and alert, showing no sign of stress.

 

[jutfrank]

It mostly means that he's comfortable in the sense that he knows how to play the position.

 

[Barque]

I can't think of any player, e.g. in a soccer match, that looks relaxed and comfortable in his berth, actually. There must be another or more sophisticated meaning as to the sporting context in my opinion.

You can put in a lot of physical effort and still be comfortable. "Comfortable" here refers to being able to manage something easily.

You probably know that players generally play in a particular position on the field. They get used to playing in that position. If, one day, they're asked to play in a different position, they may take some time to adjust. However this player didn't take time to adjust to the new position or new role. He played there as if he was used to it, though he wasn't. He was comfortable, meaning that he was able to manage easily though it was a new position. He looked at home.

This is the normal meaning, not a "sophisticated" sports-related one, and it fits the context.

 

[shootingstar]

. . . meaning that he was able to manage easily though it was a new position. He looked at home.

Yes, thank you very much. I understand now. I'm a bit slow on the uptake actually.

@5jj /#6:
Annotation: In sporting contexts you can informally use berth instead of position (BrE). Please have a look at the OP.
I don't mean any harm, though.

 

[Barque]

I for one have never heard 'berth' used that way, though it was understandable.

In sporting contexts I've only heard 'berth' used to mean 'vacancy', such as while selecting a team.

 

[shootingstar]

I for one have never heard 'berth' used that way, though it was understandable

Please have a look at this link:

Man Utd 'eye £25m move for Dumfries to fill troublesome right-back berth'| All Football

Manchester United have set their sights on Holland defender Denzel Dumfries in the search for a right-back, according to The Sun.

m.allfootballapp.com

 

[5jj]

Barque said that they had never heard 'berth used in that way, not that it was not so used.

 

[Tdol]

Barques said that they had never heard 'berth used in that way, not that it was not so used.

I'm not sure I have come across it, though I don't watch much sport.