Category Archives: French

Du dit au fait…

Posted on 8 February 2012 by Tournesol

Two more French expressions for you: Du dit au fait, il y a un grand trait : Literally: From speech to action is a long gap: Fine words butter no parsnips. Trop parler nuit, trop gratter cuit : Literally: Too … Continue reading →

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‘Shelf Life’ by Simon Parke

Posted on 2 February 2012 by Tournesol

Edna and Margaret: my favourite customers: mes clientes favorites :      Hurry takes us out of the present, and makes monsters of us all. But, thankfully, Edna amd Margaret are never in a hurry. They are two sisters in their … Continue reading →

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Les vieilles poules…

Posted on 31 January 2012 by Tournesol

Deux phrases un peu grossières et une qui est ennuyeuse aujourd’hui : Two rather rude phrases and one that is annoying today: Mêle-toi de tes oignons : Literally: Look after your own onions: Mind your own business. Les vieilles poules … Continue reading →

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Saisir la balle au bond

Posted on 30 January 2012 by Tournesol

Saisir la balle au bond : Literal meaning: To seize the ball on the bounce: Strike while the iron is hot. La chance sourit aux audacieux : Literal meaning: Fortune smiles at the bold: Fortune favours the bold. Virgil: Aeneid: … Continue reading →

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Quand les brebis enragent…

Posted on 30 January 2012 by Tournesol

Another French expression: Quand les brebis enragent elles sont pire que les loups : Literal meaning: When the ewes are angry they are worse than the wolves: Every worm will turn William Congreve: Hell hath no fury like a woman … Continue reading →

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‘Le gardien de la flamme’ par Simon Parke

Posted on 27 January 2012 by Tournesol

Dans le temps ancien, le gardien de la flamme était un personage important dans un village. Il protégeait la precieuse flamme qui réchauffait et éclairait la fragile vie de ses habitants. Il était en devoir toute l’année durant. Affrontant les … Continue reading →

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Entre le marteau and l’enclume

Posted on 26 January 2012 by Tournesol

Entre le marteau et l’enclume : Literally: Between the hammer and the anvil: English translation: Between a rock and a hard place. Also: Ted Kohler and Harold Arlen: Between the devil and the deep blue sea. Taken from: ‘Don’t toss … Continue reading →

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Des mesures draconiennes

Posted on 23 January 2012 by Tournesol

French expression: ‘Des mesures draconiennes’ Il s’agit là de prises de mesures excessivement rigoureuses : this is a case of taking excessively rigorous measures. “Les mesures n’étaient pas draconiennes et l’on semblait avoir beaucoup sacrifié au désir de ne pas … Continue reading →

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La soupe…

Posted on 23 January 2012 by Tournesol

Il y a quelque semaines (a few weeks ago) mon ami et moi (my friend and I) decided to go on a diet of cabbage and garlic soup (la soupe avec le chou et l’ail). “Mmm, merci, la soupe etait bonne : thank … Continue reading →

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Personne !

Posted on 21 January 2012 by Tournesol

I love to argue about this one because I always turn out to be right! ‘Personne !’ means nobody but ‘une personne’ is a person. This is ‘une personne’ whether the person in question is a man or a woman. … Continue reading →

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