18. J'en ai bien l'impression.
pronounced more or less: zha nay byenh linh preh see onh
Make a liaison between en and ai. Nasalize bien and the last syllable of impression.
Literal translation: I of it have well the impression.
Variant: J'ai bien l'impression.
Meaning: It certainly seems so to me. / That's certainly my impression.
Remarks: This expression can be used two ways. Firstly, simply to accentuate one's impression. Secondly, to challenge another person. In this latter scenario, j'en ai bien l'impression is the equivalent of: "It certainly looks that way...prove me wrong or step off." This use of the expression may also be designed to get juicy information out of the other person. The speaker's intention is usually obvious.
Example One (accentuating one's impression): You're heading towards the hills for a late afternoon walk and cross paths with Robert and Maurice, who are heading back into town. Unless they're sick or the weather far too inclement, their afternoon routine is set: déjeuner, sieste, promenade. The formula seems to be working: Maurice is over 90 years old and Robert is well into his 80s.
Observing village etiquette, you all stop to exchange a few words before continuing on your respective ways. "It's going to rain again tonight," Robert offers matter-of-factly. "J'en ai bien l'impression," confirms Maurice, with a slight shrug of his shoulders. Sighs all around. Then Maurice intones the conventional, "it will be good for the plants." No one mentions the past three weeks of rain. Instead you all shake hands and part company, complicit in the Cévenol attitude of perseverance.
Example Two (challenging the other person): You're at the local boulangerie-épicerie buying bread, yogurt and an eggplant. The caissière announces a total of 9 euros 45! Perhaps you misread the price per kilo for the eggplant? But still... Before you have a chance to protest, Christine takes your 10 euro note, hands you change and procedes to the next customer. She's clearly in a bad mood today. Outside you study the receipt then turn on your heels and head back in. Christine glances at the ticket and tells you that the eggplant must be a particularly heavy one. You're thinking, "n'importe quoi!" But you respond, "I don't think so."
"J'ai bien l'impression," she counters, thinking that will close the matter. But you insist that she re-weigh the eggplant. Quelle surprise! The new electronic register has malfunctioned or she's hit a wrong key; in any case, you get a refund. No apology though. That would not be French...j'en ai bien l'impression.
GOT GAUL?
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Tout le plaisir est pour moi.
17. Tout le plaisir est pour moi.
pronounced more or less: too leuh play zir eh poohr mwah
Literal translation: All the pleasure is for me.
Meaning: It's my pleasure. / The pleasure is all mine.
Remark: Tout le plaisir est pour moi is an elegant response to someone who has expressed appreciation. It is more generally used by men than women. While it conveys a compliment to the person being addressed, it also suggests the humility and generosity of the person from whose lips it passes. I suppose we could interpret it as fawning...but why not enjoy the graciousness of the moment instead?
Careful! Tout le plaisir est pour moi and the shorter, perhaps more commonly known expression avec plaisir are not synonymous, nor are they used in the same contexts. For instance, if you're at a dinner party and the host or hostess offers you another glass of wine, you can appropriately respond, "avec plaisir" ("yes, thank you very much"). En revanche, "tout le plaisir est pour moi," would be linguistically incorrect and even odd. You'll be the one drinking the wine so, yes, the pleasure will indeed be yours, but an expression of thanks – avec plaisir – is what's anticipated.
Example for Tout le plaisir est pour moi: You are leaving the local boulangerie-épicerie, your basket filled to the brim with supplies for the week. It's heavy, but you haven't far to go and can manage. Along the way you cross paths with Monsieur Mourgues, who's out for a stroll. He offers to carry your basket back to your place; you accept. To do otherwise would offend him and besides, he's a delightful old Frenchman who resembles a modern day Saint Nick in a baggy, plaid pantacourt and Crocs. When you arrive at the gate, you thank Monsieur Mourgues for his help. He hands you the basket, touches his right hand lightly to his chest, bends ever so slightly and says, "Tout le plaisir est pour moi, madame." You thank him one more time, exchange bises and say goodbye smiling. (Monsieur Mourgues, over 75 years old, is ageless.)
pronounced more or less: too leuh play zir eh poohr mwah
Literal translation: All the pleasure is for me.
Meaning: It's my pleasure. / The pleasure is all mine.
Remark: Tout le plaisir est pour moi is an elegant response to someone who has expressed appreciation. It is more generally used by men than women. While it conveys a compliment to the person being addressed, it also suggests the humility and generosity of the person from whose lips it passes. I suppose we could interpret it as fawning...but why not enjoy the graciousness of the moment instead?
Careful! Tout le plaisir est pour moi and the shorter, perhaps more commonly known expression avec plaisir are not synonymous, nor are they used in the same contexts. For instance, if you're at a dinner party and the host or hostess offers you another glass of wine, you can appropriately respond, "avec plaisir" ("yes, thank you very much"). En revanche, "tout le plaisir est pour moi," would be linguistically incorrect and even odd. You'll be the one drinking the wine so, yes, the pleasure will indeed be yours, but an expression of thanks – avec plaisir – is what's anticipated.
Example for Tout le plaisir est pour moi: You are leaving the local boulangerie-épicerie, your basket filled to the brim with supplies for the week. It's heavy, but you haven't far to go and can manage. Along the way you cross paths with Monsieur Mourgues, who's out for a stroll. He offers to carry your basket back to your place; you accept. To do otherwise would offend him and besides, he's a delightful old Frenchman who resembles a modern day Saint Nick in a baggy, plaid pantacourt and Crocs. When you arrive at the gate, you thank Monsieur Mourgues for his help. He hands you the basket, touches his right hand lightly to his chest, bends ever so slightly and says, "Tout le plaisir est pour moi, madame." You thank him one more time, exchange bises and say goodbye smiling. (Monsieur Mourgues, over 75 years old, is ageless.)
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