[Blackladder]

See if you can get this one:

'Un ange est passé'

meaning

'There was en embarassed silence'

neat

[dmu]

Originally Posted by Blackladder See if you can get this one: 'Un ange est passé' meaning 'There was en embarassed silence' neat

Not always an embarassed silence, just a pause in a conversation...

[Blackladder]

Wow, thanks DMU, saved a potential bloomer there...
Blackie

[dmu]

You hear "Autant pour moi" frequently, an admission (without apology) of having made a mistake or being wrong, and I've never really bothered to look for the English equivalent.... until my OH's French grandson asked me and I was stumped for anything more than "ah, my mistake". I've been out of England too long to know a more contemporary expression.
Can anyone help?

[Peabrain]

Originally Posted by dmu You hear "Autant pour moi" frequently, an admission (without apology) of having made a mistake or being wrong, and I've never really bothered to look for the English equivalent.... until my OH's French grandson asked me and I was stumped for anything more than "ah, my mistake". I've been out of England too long to know a more contemporary expression. Can anyone help?

Hi,
The purist would say it's in fact "au temps pour moi", which is an expression that goes back to the army and 'temps' required for marching in step, or the right rhythm in music, but this is one of those debates that will rumble on for years, decades or centuries.
Like you, I've been away from the UK for too long to have a contemporary, like, I mean, translation, but apart from your suggestion, what about "So, that's one in the eye for me" / "I stand corrected"./ "Sorry, my mistake" / Thanks for putting me right" / "So I'll shut up then." / "So much for that idea" etc.
PB

[Peabrain]

Originally Posted by Blackladder See if you can get this one: 'Un ange est passé' meaning 'There was en embarassed silence' neat

Hi,
One would tend to hear "un ange passe" in the present tense more often. It can indeed be a reaction to an embarrassed, unexpected or prolonged silence, and the use of this expression may be an attempt to "furnish the silence", (meubler le silence), break the silence by saying something, anything. As you have realized, the French are a nation of talkers.

[dmu]

Originally Posted by Peabrain Hi, The purist would say it's in fact "au temps pour moi", which is an expression that goes back to the army and 'temps' required for marching in step, or the right rhythm in music, but this is one of those debates that will rumble on for years, decades or centuries. Like you, I've been away from the UK for too long to have a contemporary, like, I mean, translation, but apart from your suggestion, what about "So, that's one in the eye for me" / "I stand corrected"./ "Sorry, my mistake" / Thanks for putting me right" / "So I'll shut up then." / "So much for that idea" etc. PB

thanks for that, I'm not the only "ancient one", then! OH says there's no sense of apology in the expression, so no "Sorry". I'll pass on all suggestions to step-grandson which he can use depending on who is is speaking to...

[howiet01]

Just a quicky! If I wanted to say -at what time should I return (to collect him)?

would this be ok? À quelle heure dois-je retourner (pour le rassembler)?

[dmu]

Originally Posted by howiet01 Just a quicky! If I wanted to say -at what time should I return (to collect him)? would this be ok? À quelle heure dois-je retourner (pour le rassembler)?

A quelle heure dois-je revenir le chercher? (retourner also means turn around and rassembler means gather people together).
If your child is going to a party, I'd say "ça termine à quelle heure?"
Hope this helps

[Rosfrog]

I'd say 'à quelle heure je passe le chercher ?' or, as DMU suggested 'ça termine à quelle heure'

[Rosfrog]

For 'au temps pour moi' we could use 'my bad' in modern colloquial English, I think.

[Blackladder]

This from my neighbour (born in Franche Comté, lives in Charente) about a pair of blunt scissors:
Ca coupe comme mes genoux
neat
Blackie

[dmu]

Originally Posted by Blackladder This from my neighbour (born in Franche Comté, lives in Charente) about a pair of blunt scissors: Ca coupe comme mes genoux neat Blackie

Nice one, don't know it!

[Peabrain]

Originally Posted by Blackladder This from my neighbour (born in Franche Comté, lives in Charente) about a pair of blunt scissors: Ca coupe comme mes genoux neat Blackie

My late mother-in-law used to say "Ça coupe comme les genoux de ma grand-mère".
PB

[Claireaufr]

Do you know this one: "Tu t'es mis sur ton 31 !" which means "be all dressed up to the nines"