Category Archives: Writers

Les mouches – The flies

Posted on 9 February 2012 by Tournesol

If you want to know more about flies, here are two more French phrases: Il prend une massue pour tuer une mouche : Literal translation: He takes a club to kill a fly: To use a sledgehammer to crack a … Continue reading →

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En flagrant délit

Posted on 8 February 2012 by Tournesol

Au violon : Le violon désigne la prison en général, ou, plus précisément, une cellule du poste de police, avec grille, où sont enfermées provisoirement les personnes prises en flagrant délit : ‘Le violon’ designates prison in general or, more … Continue reading →

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Tomber comme un cheveu…

Posted on 8 February 2012 by Tournesol

If you want to say ‘A blot on the landscape’ in French, you should say: ‘ Tomber comme un cheveu sur la soupe’. Literally this translates as: ‘To fall like a hair in the soup’. And for  ‘To carry coals to Newcastle’, … Continue reading →

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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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Une Pipelette : A chatterbox

Posted on 31 January 2012 by Tournesol

Concierge et bavarde impénitente, elle est l’auteure de commérages à répétition : A conciege and unrepentant prattler, she is the instigator of gossip to be repeated. “En dépit de la classique pancarte accrochée à la pomme de la rampe, la … 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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‘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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