Category Archives: French

Sept mots de plus

Posted on 18 December 2011 by Tournesol

Seven more words: What do you mean haven’t I got anything better to offer? I am in a rush, if you must know. Christmas cards don’t write themselves. In fact, next year, I shall try to switch over to email … Continue reading →

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Pourquoi trinque-t-on ?

Posted on 18 December 2011 by Tournesol

Why do we clink glasses (trinquer) when proposing a toast?  La coutume de trinquer vient du Moyen Âge. À cette époque, les empoisonnements par la boisson étaient courants. Par précaution, les gens qui vidaient leur verre ensemble s’échangeaient un peu … Continue reading →

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‘Beware the Horizon’ by Simon Parke

Posted on 16 December 2011 by Tournesol

Is being a seeker one of the least spiritual things we can do? Quite possibly. One of the problems with seeking is that we may well find what we seek, but become blind to everything else. We see what we … Continue reading →

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Radio Times

Posted on 13 December 2011 by Tournesol

Am I becoming a shopaholic (une accro du shopping)? Having been unable to resist buying the Christmas issue of the Radio Times, I have now taken out a subscription (first eight issues £1 – rush them to my door). I can … Continue reading →

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French accents

Posted on 9 December 2011 by Tournesol

For a beginner in a new language, accents can perhaps look a bit daunting. In fact, apart from ç (c cedilla – see below) the three main accents (here shown with e, as being the most used): è = e … Continue reading →

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‘Sans les lignes’ par Simon Parke

Posted on 9 December 2011 by Tournesol

Il n’y a plus de lignes au milieu de la route ; aucune indication peinte en jaune et blanc ; aucune enseigne au néon indiquant le nombre de kilomètres qui restent à suivre ; aucune flèche qui montre le chemin … Continue reading →

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Avoir du pot

Posted on 8 December 2011 by Tournesol

And on a more cheerful note than the last entry: ‘Avoir du pot’ (there are too many translations of ‘pot’ to attempt a literal translation) means to be lucky. ‘La poudre de Perlimpinpin’ is a magic remedy or fairy dust. ‘Piquer un … Continue reading →

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Faire un croche-pied

Posted on 8 December 2011 by Tournesol

Faire ‘un croche-pied’ otherwise known as ‘un croc-en-jambe’ is to pull a fast one on somebody or to trip somebody up. And two similar words that are easy to confuse: Couler : to flow, to sink/couver : to smoulder, to … Continue reading →

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Maurice

Posted on 4 December 2011 by Tournesol

Quand il venait à Paris, Maurice avait un programme et un seul. Voir le plus de films possible, et, cette fois, on a eu droit à l’accompagner. Il a posé ses conditions : il choisissait le film et la salle. Et … Continue reading →

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Cinq mots (5)

Posted on 4 December 2011 by Tournesol

Five more French words: Maussade(s) : sullen, glum, morose (person), gloomy (sky), bleak (conjecture), sluggish (market). Un menton : a chin. Un menton en galoche : a jutting (strong) chin; un menton fuyant : a receding (weak) chin. Un mécène … Continue reading →

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