Monthly Archives: August 2011

Have just realised that ‘comment’ is almost a False Friend: from French: ‘how’ and from English: ‘a comment’ is ‘une remarque’. However, it is also translated as ‘un commentaire’ so I can’t quite get away with this one… Please note: in French … Continue reading →

Don’t be alarmed if you read the phrase ‘endormi(e) dans son couffin’ as the latter is not a coffin but a Moses’ (straw baby’s) basket.

You can’t please all of the people all of the time (although I do try…). Some people (you know who you are!) complained about my inclusion of Lists in ‘False Friends’ (others claimed to like them – thank you). The … Continue reading →

Hands up all those who knew ‘un souci’ was a marigold as well as a worry. And congratulate yourself if you knew ‘une virgule’ was a decimal point as well as a comma…

Henry de Montherlant (1895-1972) or ‘Henry Marie Joseph Frédéric Expedite Millon de Montherlant’ to give him his full given name:  “Happiness writes in white ink on white paper” Note: Although we in the UK tend to think of ‘Marie’ as … Continue reading →