Useful French Phrases
#316
Re: Useful French Phrases
Here's something that may result in a much needed smile from DMU, and hopefully others.
I came across this yesterday - an interesting phrase, even if not really 'useful' as per the thread title.
C'est la chaudiere qui reproche a la marmite d'avoir le cul noir.
Although never having heard it said in conversation, as soon as I read it I associated it with our own fairly common expression, 'The pot calling the kettle black.'
The french version is a little more blunt than our current one, a translation being, 'It's the kettle accusing the pot of having a black arse.'
For myself and maybe others interested in literature, I wanted to know a little more about the origins of the expression, and read that one of the first appearances was in a 17th c Spanish translation of Don Quixote. And shortly afterwards in the same century, an English version is recorded as, 'The pot calls the pan burnt-arse.'
And with apologies to Novo , one may be interested to know that there's a related reference in the bible which states, 'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?'
I think I'll now go and put the kettle on.........
I came across this yesterday - an interesting phrase, even if not really 'useful' as per the thread title.
C'est la chaudiere qui reproche a la marmite d'avoir le cul noir.
Although never having heard it said in conversation, as soon as I read it I associated it with our own fairly common expression, 'The pot calling the kettle black.'
The french version is a little more blunt than our current one, a translation being, 'It's the kettle accusing the pot of having a black arse.'
For myself and maybe others interested in literature, I wanted to know a little more about the origins of the expression, and read that one of the first appearances was in a 17th c Spanish translation of Don Quixote. And shortly afterwards in the same century, an English version is recorded as, 'The pot calls the pan burnt-arse.'
And with apologies to Novo , one may be interested to know that there's a related reference in the bible which states, 'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?'
I think I'll now go and put the kettle on.........
#317
Re: Useful French Phrases
And with apologies to Novo , one may be interested to know that there's a related reference in the bible which states, 'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?'
I think I'll now go and put the kettle on.........
I think I'll now go and put the kettle on.........
No apology needed.. my vocabulary can be quite biblical at times.
#319
Re: Useful French Phrases
Have just been getting up to date with the latest news of the 'Westminster wallies', aka the Brexit fiasco. There were 2 phrases which caught my eye and especially raised a smile in the google translation.
The first was, 'ambiance etait bon enfant, and the 2nd plus pique-nique en famille que revolutionnaires couteau aux dents.
In my mind I translated these as, ' a friendly atmosphere/an air of good feeling, and more of a picnic rather than revolutionaries armed to the teeth.
Google came up with the amusing: the atmosphere was good kid, and more family picnic than revolutionary knife to your teeth.
Depending on how you read it, the reporting can be far more amusing than the sad, sad Brexit screw up!
The first was, 'ambiance etait bon enfant, and the 2nd plus pique-nique en famille que revolutionnaires couteau aux dents.
In my mind I translated these as, ' a friendly atmosphere/an air of good feeling, and more of a picnic rather than revolutionaries armed to the teeth.
Google came up with the amusing: the atmosphere was good kid, and more family picnic than revolutionary knife to your teeth.
Depending on how you read it, the reporting can be far more amusing than the sad, sad Brexit screw up!
#320
Re: Useful French Phrases
Have just been getting up to date with the latest news of the 'Westminster wallies', aka the Brexit fiasco. There were 2 phrases which caught my eye and especially raised a smile in the google translation.
The first was, 'ambiance etait bon enfant, and the 2nd plus pique-nique en famille que revolutionnaires couteau aux dents.
In my mind I translated these as, ' a friendly atmosphere/an air of good feeling, and more of a picnic rather than revolutionaries armed to the teeth.
Google came up with the amusing: the atmosphere was good kid, and more family picnic than revolutionary knife to your teeth.
Depending on how you read it, the reporting can be far more amusing than the sad, sad Brexit screw up!
The first was, 'ambiance etait bon enfant, and the 2nd plus pique-nique en famille que revolutionnaires couteau aux dents.
In my mind I translated these as, ' a friendly atmosphere/an air of good feeling, and more of a picnic rather than revolutionaries armed to the teeth.
Google came up with the amusing: the atmosphere was good kid, and more family picnic than revolutionary knife to your teeth.
Depending on how you read it, the reporting can be far more amusing than the sad, sad Brexit screw up!
To me, Google invariably tends towards the literal, whereas sometimes DeepL handles stuff a tad better.
I use both regularly (especially when dealing with officialdom) but the difference between the two can sometimes provide some hints.
Having just used both of your examples, then reading between the lines I would (either correctly or not) arrive at "the atmosphere was childish".
But the second one has me: a pirate at a picnic? Not a term I've encountered before.
#321
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,883
Re: Useful French Phrases
Hi hi hi...
To me, Google invariably tends towards the literal, whereas sometimes DeepL handles stuff a tad better.
I use both regularly (especially when dealing with officialdom) but the difference between the two can sometimes provide some hints.
Having just used both of your examples, then reading between the lines I would (either correctly or not) arrive at "the atmosphere was childish".
But the second one has me: a pirate at a picnic? Not a term I've encountered before.
To me, Google invariably tends towards the literal, whereas sometimes DeepL handles stuff a tad better.
I use both regularly (especially when dealing with officialdom) but the difference between the two can sometimes provide some hints.
Having just used both of your examples, then reading between the lines I would (either correctly or not) arrive at "the atmosphere was childish".
But the second one has me: a pirate at a picnic? Not a term I've encountered before.
All of tp's definitions are correct, and I'd add "good-natured" for "bon enfant".
#322
Re: Useful French Phrases
It is perfectly possible that I was somewhat swayed during my translation exercise as I was also watching a recording of the Westminster shenanigans of yesterday.
#323
Re: Useful French Phrases
BB, thanks for the DeepL link.
I wasn't familiar with it before, but could prove useful in future. Having said that DeepL and also a few other free on-line translators I've just tried (Reverso/World Lingo/Babylon/Collins) all come up with almost the same literal translation as Google, i.e. all a little off-target. In the first example, Reverso came up with the equally amusing, more family picnic than revolutionary tooth-knife.
In fact I use Google translation occasionally when seeing an unfamiliar word, but more frequently when reading AppleMac troubleshooting articles on a specialist forum written in German, the replies of which are way beyond me.
I wasn't familiar with it before, but could prove useful in future. Having said that DeepL and also a few other free on-line translators I've just tried (Reverso/World Lingo/Babylon/Collins) all come up with almost the same literal translation as Google, i.e. all a little off-target. In the first example, Reverso came up with the equally amusing, more family picnic than revolutionary tooth-knife.
In fact I use Google translation occasionally when seeing an unfamiliar word, but more frequently when reading AppleMac troubleshooting articles on a specialist forum written in German, the replies of which are way beyond me.
#324
Re: Useful French Phrases
BB as you tend to go looking for idiomatic uses of language, look no further. Try these:
So you’re in a French bar. It’s loud, but you can make out what people are saying.
i) You hear a fellow drinker talking about drinking like a hole…
ii)…another is talking about having a fat morning…
iii) …and someone broke sugar cubes on someone’s back.
iv) .....another is saying he had a white night.
v)......yet another was talking about sleeping in the pretty star.
What were they saying in French?
I'm familiar with and guessed all except #3 which I'm still struggling with, although I understand literally what they could be saying, but can't associate it with any popular expression I've ever heard. This may also tax DMU's use of French idiomatic expressions........
Any other takers?
So you’re in a French bar. It’s loud, but you can make out what people are saying.
i) You hear a fellow drinker talking about drinking like a hole…
ii)…another is talking about having a fat morning…
iii) …and someone broke sugar cubes on someone’s back.
iv) .....another is saying he had a white night.
v)......yet another was talking about sleeping in the pretty star.
What were they saying in French?
I'm familiar with and guessed all except #3 which I'm still struggling with, although I understand literally what they could be saying, but can't associate it with any popular expression I've ever heard. This may also tax DMU's use of French idiomatic expressions........
Any other takers?
#325
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,883
Re: Useful French Phrases
BB as you tend to go looking for idiomatic uses of language, look no further. Try these:
So you’re in a French bar. It’s loud, but you can make out what people are saying.
i) You hear a fellow drinker talking about drinking like a hole…
ii)…another is talking about having a fat morning…
iii) …and someone broke sugar cubes on someone’s back.
iv) .....another is saying he had a white night.
v)......yet another was talking about sleeping in the pretty star.
What were they saying in French?
I'm familiar with and guessed all except #3 which I'm still struggling with, although I understand literally what they could be saying, but can't associate it with any popular expression I've ever heard. This may also tax DMU's use of French idiomatic expressions........
Any other takers?
So you’re in a French bar. It’s loud, but you can make out what people are saying.
i) You hear a fellow drinker talking about drinking like a hole…
ii)…another is talking about having a fat morning…
iii) …and someone broke sugar cubes on someone’s back.
iv) .....another is saying he had a white night.
v)......yet another was talking about sleeping in the pretty star.
What were they saying in French?
I'm familiar with and guessed all except #3 which I'm still struggling with, although I understand literally what they could be saying, but can't associate it with any popular expression I've ever heard. This may also tax DMU's use of French idiomatic expressions........
Any other takers?
https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/casse..._sur_le_dos_de
From other results it seems to come from North Africa and might only be used nowadays by veterans from the Algerian War(of which OH wasn't....) On the other hand he taught me to say "Toubib" for Doctor, likewise of Arabic origin, which must have amused some, coming from une Anglaise.....
P.S. For those not familiar, "boire comme un trou" (drink a lot (on one occasion)), "faire grasse matinée" (have a lie-in), "une nuit blanche" (not sleep a wink), "à la belle étoile" (in the open air).
Last edited by dmu; Oct 20th 2019 at 5:06 pm.
#326
Re: Useful French Phrases
BB as you tend to go looking for idiomatic uses of language, look no further. Try these:
So you’re in a French bar. It’s loud, but you can make out what people are saying.
i) You hear a fellow drinker talking about drinking like a hole…
ii)…another is talking about having a fat morning…
iii) …and someone broke sugar cubes on someone’s back.
iv) .....another is saying he had a white night.
v)......yet another was talking about sleeping in the pretty star.
What were they saying in French?
I'm familiar with and guessed all except #3 which I'm still struggling with, although I understand literally what they could be saying, but can't associate it with any popular expression I've ever heard. This may also tax DMU's use of French idiomatic expressions........
Any other takers?
So you’re in a French bar. It’s loud, but you can make out what people are saying.
i) You hear a fellow drinker talking about drinking like a hole…
ii)…another is talking about having a fat morning…
iii) …and someone broke sugar cubes on someone’s back.
iv) .....another is saying he had a white night.
v)......yet another was talking about sleeping in the pretty star.
What were they saying in French?
I'm familiar with and guessed all except #3 which I'm still struggling with, although I understand literally what they could be saying, but can't associate it with any popular expression I've ever heard. This may also tax DMU's use of French idiomatic expressions........
Any other takers?
LOL, I, too, know Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, but No. 3 flummoxed me, never having been pronounced by OH, and I had to check, as per:
https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/casse..._sur_le_dos_de
From other results it seems to come from North Africa and might only be used nowadays by veterans from the Algerian War.(of which OH wasn't....) On the other hand he taught me to say "Toubib" for Doctor, likewise of Arabic origin, which must have amused some, coming from une Anglaise.....
https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/casse..._sur_le_dos_de
From other results it seems to come from North Africa and might only be used nowadays by veterans from the Algerian War.(of which OH wasn't....) On the other hand he taught me to say "Toubib" for Doctor, likewise of Arabic origin, which must have amused some, coming from une Anglaise.....
Toubib, I'm very familiar with, I learnt my French in a sometimes rowdy office environment.
Time for the thinking hat, methinks. How long have I got?
Last edited by BuckinghamshireBoy; Oct 20th 2019 at 5:21 pm. Reason: A bar too many???
#327
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,883
Re: Useful French Phrases
I'm fine with 1, 2 and 4, but as to 3 and 5, nope. Was there also some chat in that bar about a person smoking like a fireman?
Toubib, I'm very familiar with, I learnt my French in a sometimes rowdy office environment.
Time for the thinking hat, methinks. How long have I got?
Toubib, I'm very familiar with, I learnt my French in a sometimes rowdy office environment.
Time for the thinking hat, methinks. How long have I got?
#328
Re: Useful French Phrases
Bon, d'accord
I believe that I am currently urinating in a stringed instrument, and am therefore on the verge of giving my tongue to the cat.
Despite being tempted, I haven't yet followed the link that you posted above, still looking for mid-day at two o'clock.
I believe that I am currently urinating in a stringed instrument, and am therefore on the verge of giving my tongue to the cat.
Despite being tempted, I haven't yet followed the link that you posted above, still looking for mid-day at two o'clock.
#329
Re: Useful French Phrases
I cracked and followed the link this morning... I guess I was looking too hard at "pretty" rather than just going with "star". Interestingly (or not) DeepL offers "dormir sous les étoiles" as an alternative, whereas Google does not.
As to breaking sugar cubes, I had absolutely no idea, have never encountered that one. The only term I know involving sugar is "to sugar the strawberries"
Thanks both, same time next week?
As to breaking sugar cubes, I had absolutely no idea, have never encountered that one. The only term I know involving sugar is "to sugar the strawberries"
Thanks both, same time next week?
#330
Re: Useful French Phrases
I sometimes use Reverso for translations and it came up with "talk behind someone's back".
I have it on my phone and can change languages depending which country I am in.
It doesn't do Scottish
I have posted a link in the "bad jokes" thread about voice recognition in a Scottish dialect.
I have it on my phone and can change languages depending which country I am in.
It doesn't do Scottish
I have posted a link in the "bad jokes" thread about voice recognition in a Scottish dialect.
Last edited by cyrian; Oct 21st 2019 at 10:11 am.