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Monthly Archives: April 2012
Avaler son parapluie
Two more French phrases: Il a avalé son parapluie : Literally: He has swallowed his umbrella: He is uptight (stiff and starchy). S’entendre comme des larrons en foire : Literally: To understand one another like thieves in the market: To … Continue reading
Un grand indécis
Être comme l’âne de Buridan : Un grand indécis est comme l’âne de Buridan, il ne sait jamais quelle voie choisir entre toutes : Anyone who cannot make up their mind is like the donkey of Buridan, they are incapable of choosing which … Continue reading
Quand on parle du loup…
Two more French expressions: Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue : Literally: When one speaks of the wolf, one sees his tail: Talk of the devil (and he’s sure to appear). Plus ça change, plus c’est … Continue reading
Posted in French, Vocabulary, Writers
Tagged Arnander, Claudel-Gilly, French Expressions
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‘Grass stains’ by Simon Parke
This week Simon suffers a joke: ‘Yeah, so how do you feel about grass stains on your knees, Si?’ asked Stav (the self-appointed gagmeister). ‘Sorry?’ I am genuinely thrown. ‘Grass stains on your knees. Is it a big issue for … Continue reading
Vrai travail, faux travail
There are fierce debates raging in the French elections at the moment, over immigration and ‘vrai travail, faux travail’ : real work, false work. People are asking ‘what is false work?’. I shall have to keep listening to europe1.fr (LW 185) … Continue reading
Pas de souci
Pas de souci – No worries (‘un souci’ is a worry and a marigold) En effet, le ‘pas de souci’ se répand depuis quelques années Je reprends systématiquement les étudiants qui entrent dans mon bureau avec un ‘Monsieur, j’ai un … Continue reading
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Mice and smiles
The difference between a mouse and a smile: ‘Une souris’ is a mouse (only one in spite of the final s). The computer mouse as well as an animal mouse. ‘Un sourire’ is a smile. ‘Sourire’ is also to smile. … Continue reading
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Le délit…
Examples of ‘False Friends’: Le délit des sales figures : NOT ‘the delight of sales figures’ but: The crime of (having) dirty faces. Fat avec emphase : Not ‘fat with emphasis’ but: Smug and pompous.
‘La blague’ par Simon Parke
L’étiquette de la blague : Simon considers the etiquette of being told a joke twice! I wonder what the joke will be today. It was the one about the disabled prostitute yesterday, and he may simply have forgotten he’s told … Continue reading
Un café serré
Three phrases that are not quite what they seem: Un café serré : Literally: a tightly-gripped coffee: A strong coffee. Ne te casse pas la tête : Literally: don’t break the/your head: Don’t waste your time. Tu as peut-être frappé … Continue reading