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?
Showing posts with label French expressions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French expressions. Show all posts
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.)
Monday, February 11, 2013
Puisque je te le dis...
16. Puisque je te le dis...
pronounced more or less: pweess keuh jeuh teuh leuh dee
Literal translation: Since I you it say.
Variant: Puisque je vous le dis...
Meaning: "Like I said..." / "I told you already..." / "You have my word on it."
Implications: Puisque je te le dis may be used simply to reaffirm what you've already expressed. It may also imply irritation or exasperation, in the which case the equivalent would be, "How many times do I have to tell you (anyway)?" In a further twist, Puisque je te le dis can be a verbal aggression by a speaker who feels his word is being impugned. In this case it's tantamount to, "how dare you question me? I know what I'm talking about!"
Remark: This expression is not the equivalent of "because I say so" (parce que je te le dis), which carries a dictatorial sentiment.
Example One ("it's true"): Every year there's a moment of tension between our village and the neighboring one as the two jockey to calendar dates for their biggest summer events. The Fête votive of one village invariably falls on the same date as the other's Kermesse. Scheduling the two events on the same weekend doesn't work for the vacationers, who would prefer the activities be held on separate weekends. Nor does it work for those in charge of the coffers, who would prefer the vacationers' pocketbooks be opened at their village event. Every year the same amazement can be heard when the summer events calendar is released across the valley:
"They did it again! Saumane's fête votive is the same weekend as our kermesse!"
--You're joking! Are you sure?
--Puisque je te le dis...
Example Two (the less common "you have some nerve"): You're at your small village bank to deposit a check. The majority of the villagers are elderly and prefer to trust the one and only teller to fill in any forms that need filling. In fact, the forms aren't even accessible to bank customers; the teller keeps them behind her cluttered, impregnable counter. She's a kind, generally personable lady and the transactions usually take place without a hitch. Usually. You hand her your check for 600 euros, tell her you'd like to deposit it into your savings account. She quickly fills out the deposit slip then hands it to you to sign. It reads 400 euros. You point out the mistake. No, no, she insists, the check is for 400 euros. No, no, you insist, it's for 600. Puisque je vous le dis, she says tapping the number with the tip of her pen. Case closed? Au contraire. The letters SIX CENTS EUROS are glaring up at you from the left side of the check. "I believe you have misread the number, madame."
Moral of the story: a handwritten French 4 can look remarkably like an American 6, so check those receipts folks.
Example Three: For a playful "how many times do I have to tell you before you believe me "puisque je te le dis, listen to the song Puisque je te le dis by singer-actress Jane Birkin, former companion to the song's composer, Serge Gainsbourg.
pronounced more or less: pweess keuh jeuh teuh leuh dee
Literal translation: Since I you it say.
Variant: Puisque je vous le dis...
Meaning: "Like I said..." / "I told you already..." / "You have my word on it."
Implications: Puisque je te le dis may be used simply to reaffirm what you've already expressed. It may also imply irritation or exasperation, in the which case the equivalent would be, "How many times do I have to tell you (anyway)?" In a further twist, Puisque je te le dis can be a verbal aggression by a speaker who feels his word is being impugned. In this case it's tantamount to, "how dare you question me? I know what I'm talking about!"
Remark: This expression is not the equivalent of "because I say so" (parce que je te le dis), which carries a dictatorial sentiment.
Example One ("it's true"): Every year there's a moment of tension between our village and the neighboring one as the two jockey to calendar dates for their biggest summer events. The Fête votive of one village invariably falls on the same date as the other's Kermesse. Scheduling the two events on the same weekend doesn't work for the vacationers, who would prefer the activities be held on separate weekends. Nor does it work for those in charge of the coffers, who would prefer the vacationers' pocketbooks be opened at their village event. Every year the same amazement can be heard when the summer events calendar is released across the valley:
"They did it again! Saumane's fête votive is the same weekend as our kermesse!"
--You're joking! Are you sure?
--Puisque je te le dis...
Example Two (the less common "you have some nerve"): You're at your small village bank to deposit a check. The majority of the villagers are elderly and prefer to trust the one and only teller to fill in any forms that need filling. In fact, the forms aren't even accessible to bank customers; the teller keeps them behind her cluttered, impregnable counter. She's a kind, generally personable lady and the transactions usually take place without a hitch. Usually. You hand her your check for 600 euros, tell her you'd like to deposit it into your savings account. She quickly fills out the deposit slip then hands it to you to sign. It reads 400 euros. You point out the mistake. No, no, she insists, the check is for 400 euros. No, no, you insist, it's for 600. Puisque je vous le dis, she says tapping the number with the tip of her pen. Case closed? Au contraire. The letters SIX CENTS EUROS are glaring up at you from the left side of the check. "I believe you have misread the number, madame."
Moral of the story: a handwritten French 4 can look remarkably like an American 6, so check those receipts folks.
Example Three: For a playful "how many times do I have to tell you before you believe me "puisque je te le dis, listen to the song Puisque je te le dis by singer-actress Jane Birkin, former companion to the song's composer, Serge Gainsbourg.
Monday, February 4, 2013
C'est vous qui le dites.
15. C'est vous qui le dites.
pronounced more or less: say voo key leuh deet
Literal translation: It is you who it says.
Variant: C'est toi qui le dis.
Meaning: That's what you say. / So you say.
Implications: C'est vous qui le dites immediately calls into question the validity of the comment just made and the honor of the person who made it. It expresses disagreement, is not necessarily accompanied by any explanation and attempts to put the other on the defensive by implying: "I disagree with you, so you must be wrong. What do you have to say about that?"
Remark: Yes indeed, the French do have sundry ways of letting you know that you don't. Stump them by asking if this is strictly French or is it a cross-culture tendency.
Example: Friends and acquaintances are chatting (in French) on the village square one balmy summer evening. The conversation turns to the upcoming soccer match between France and Germany. You say you're looking forward to it. Laughter. Implication: How could an American be interested in soccer? After all it's a European sport, not American.
OK, sure, soccer may not be as popular in the US as in France, but has been growing steadily since the 80s. More and more American kids are playing it and many American cities have professional teams. You politely explain this then add: "My son grew up playing soccer. In fact, I grew up playing soccer." You should definitely know whether you and your son played soccer, right? That can't possibly be called into question, right? Yet you incredulously hear a guy utter, "C'est vous qui le dites." So what's he expecting, for you to grab a soccer ball and do a David Beckham imitation? In all fairness, he may be referring to the first part of what you said, but either way...franchement. Dance him around the square singing, "C'est moi, c'est moi, 'tis I." He won't get that either.
pronounced more or less: say voo key leuh deet
Literal translation: It is you who it says.
Variant: C'est toi qui le dis.
Meaning: That's what you say. / So you say.
Implications: C'est vous qui le dites immediately calls into question the validity of the comment just made and the honor of the person who made it. It expresses disagreement, is not necessarily accompanied by any explanation and attempts to put the other on the defensive by implying: "I disagree with you, so you must be wrong. What do you have to say about that?"
Remark: Yes indeed, the French do have sundry ways of letting you know that you don't. Stump them by asking if this is strictly French or is it a cross-culture tendency.
Example: Friends and acquaintances are chatting (in French) on the village square one balmy summer evening. The conversation turns to the upcoming soccer match between France and Germany. You say you're looking forward to it. Laughter. Implication: How could an American be interested in soccer? After all it's a European sport, not American.
OK, sure, soccer may not be as popular in the US as in France, but has been growing steadily since the 80s. More and more American kids are playing it and many American cities have professional teams. You politely explain this then add: "My son grew up playing soccer. In fact, I grew up playing soccer." You should definitely know whether you and your son played soccer, right? That can't possibly be called into question, right? Yet you incredulously hear a guy utter, "C'est vous qui le dites." So what's he expecting, for you to grab a soccer ball and do a David Beckham imitation? In all fairness, he may be referring to the first part of what you said, but either way...franchement. Dance him around the square singing, "C'est moi, c'est moi, 'tis I." He won't get that either.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Non mais ça va pas ?!
14. Non mais ça va pas?!
pronounced more or less: nonh meh sah vah pah
Literal translation: no but that isn't going?
Variations: Ça va pas, non ?! / Non mais ça ne va pas ? / Ça va pas, la tête ?!
Meaning: What the heck is wrong with you anyway?! / Are you nuts or what?!
Implications: The cover of Grégoire Solotareff's children's book says it all.
In case you're not a "picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words" kind of person: Non mais ça va pas immediately positions the speaker in unequivocal opposition to whatever was just said or done. Not only is s/he opposed, s/he is stunned by the stupidity, audacity or inappropriateness of the other. How to reply? Three options come to mind:
1) Nonchalantly shrug your shoulders while pronouncing an indifferent Et alors? Expect repercussions.
2) Apologize then explain calmly what you were thinking. (You'll probably be the only one listening.)
3) Skip the apology and go directly to a counter-attack and/or condescending lecture of why you’re right.
Example: Your village boulangerie-épicerie is closed for two weeks while the owners are on vacation, so you drive 50 kilometers to the nearest hypermarché for groceries. From the cheese aisle on one side of the store, you hear very clearly what an Anglo-Saxon couple on the other side of the store will be having for dinner that night. It's as if their conversation were being broadcast over the PA system. Cultural stereotype? Yes. Accurate? Also yes.
You head for that marvel of the French grocery store, the apéro aisle – an entire aisle of things to serve during the cocktail hour. A French woman is discretely chatting with a friend. By the time she turns her attention back to her shopping cart, her child has filled it with all kinds of chips. “Non mais ça va pas ?!” she explodes with a smack of her hand, just like too many parents in too many places. Discretion be hanged. You hear yourself fire right back at her: Non mais franchement, madame, ça ne va pas ?!
Who’s the elephant and who’s the crocodile?
pronounced more or less: nonh meh sah vah pah
Literal translation: no but that isn't going?
Variations: Ça va pas, non ?! / Non mais ça ne va pas ? / Ça va pas, la tête ?!
Meaning: What the heck is wrong with you anyway?! / Are you nuts or what?!
Implications: The cover of Grégoire Solotareff's children's book says it all.
 | |
| Auteur: Grégoire Solotareff / Editeur: Ecole de Loisirs |
In case you're not a "picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words" kind of person: Non mais ça va pas immediately positions the speaker in unequivocal opposition to whatever was just said or done. Not only is s/he opposed, s/he is stunned by the stupidity, audacity or inappropriateness of the other. How to reply? Three options come to mind:
1) Nonchalantly shrug your shoulders while pronouncing an indifferent Et alors? Expect repercussions.
2) Apologize then explain calmly what you were thinking. (You'll probably be the only one listening.)
3) Skip the apology and go directly to a counter-attack and/or condescending lecture of why you’re right.
Example: Your village boulangerie-épicerie is closed for two weeks while the owners are on vacation, so you drive 50 kilometers to the nearest hypermarché for groceries. From the cheese aisle on one side of the store, you hear very clearly what an Anglo-Saxon couple on the other side of the store will be having for dinner that night. It's as if their conversation were being broadcast over the PA system. Cultural stereotype? Yes. Accurate? Also yes.
You head for that marvel of the French grocery store, the apéro aisle – an entire aisle of things to serve during the cocktail hour. A French woman is discretely chatting with a friend. By the time she turns her attention back to her shopping cart, her child has filled it with all kinds of chips. “Non mais ça va pas ?!” she explodes with a smack of her hand, just like too many parents in too many places. Discretion be hanged. You hear yourself fire right back at her: Non mais franchement, madame, ça ne va pas ?!
Who’s the elephant and who’s the crocodile?
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Par contre...
9. Par contre...
pronounced more or less: pahr conh-treuh (in the Midi) OR "pahr conh" + just a touch of "tr" (Paris and elsewhere)
Note: the "con-" is nasalized
Literal translation: by against (double prepositions sometimes appear in French)
Meaning: "on the other hand"
Implications: Like en revanche, par contre is used in the same contexts as "on the other hand" in English. It segues into a statement that opposes the point just expressed, allowing you to perform a linguistic balancing of the equation.
Remark: Whereas the meaning of this expression is "on the other hand," it's sometimes better translated as "but" or "however," depending on the context. And there's a difference between your using it to make two different points yourself (e.g."I just found a great deal on a new laptop; par contre it has a French keyboard..."), and someone else using it to counter what you say. In the latter case, chances are you're being called out.
Long considered as "incorrect" speech, par contre now appears in the Larousse and other such dictionaries, as an absolutely acceptable alternative to en revanche. If (when) a purist corrects you, trot out the names of these well-known, respected authors who used par contre in their work: Tocqueville, Stendhal, Maupassant, Gide, Proust, Saint-Exupéry and Malraux (among many others). If that doesn't convince them, toss the Académie Française into the mix.
Example One: A wonderful butcher comes through your village twice a week, a real plus since you live out in the boonies. He knows everyone in all the villages on his route by their first names. In colder weather when the windows are shut, you sometimes miss the horn announcing his arrival. En revanche, if you're too under the weather to go out to meet him at one of his several stopping spots, he'll happily deliver right to your doorstep at no charge. And if you forget your checkbook or don't have enough cash on you to pay for your purchase, he just marks down the amount owing and lets you pay next time he comes around. Everything he sells is organic and top quality, too. Par contre, your money doesn't buy as much from him as in a grocery store.
Example Two: In late February you receive a letter from the ERDF (Electricité Réseau Distribution France) informing you that there's a 5-hour power outage scheduled for April 13, from 8:30 - 13:30. The letter further informs you that the ERDF will try to make the outage as brief as possible and restore the power ahead of schedule. The letter ends with a standard fluffy highbrow blurb: "Nous vous prions de croire, Cher client, en notre volonté de vous assurer la meilleure qualité de service." A perfect example of pipeau, this translates roughly into: "we want to assure our clients the best service possible."
OK, sure, they might like to look at things that way; par contre past experience precludes you from sharing their rosy picture.
The morning of April 13 finally rolls around. Everyone in the village and surrounding hamlets has planned their day around the scheduled outage: the Agence postale, boulanger-épicierie, Café, restaurant and Mairie are closed, will open at 14:00 when the power is back on. Those who work at home have planned their days accordingly. The 5-hour block of time comes and goes without the power being turned off. Some assume all is well; par contre, you have this odd feeling...and at two o'clock sharp, the power goes out...
pronounced more or less: pahr conh-treuh (in the Midi) OR "pahr conh" + just a touch of "tr" (Paris and elsewhere)
Note: the "con-" is nasalized
Literal translation: by against (double prepositions sometimes appear in French)
Meaning: "on the other hand"
Implications: Like en revanche, par contre is used in the same contexts as "on the other hand" in English. It segues into a statement that opposes the point just expressed, allowing you to perform a linguistic balancing of the equation.
Remark: Whereas the meaning of this expression is "on the other hand," it's sometimes better translated as "but" or "however," depending on the context. And there's a difference between your using it to make two different points yourself (e.g."I just found a great deal on a new laptop; par contre it has a French keyboard..."), and someone else using it to counter what you say. In the latter case, chances are you're being called out.
Long considered as "incorrect" speech, par contre now appears in the Larousse and other such dictionaries, as an absolutely acceptable alternative to en revanche. If (when) a purist corrects you, trot out the names of these well-known, respected authors who used par contre in their work: Tocqueville, Stendhal, Maupassant, Gide, Proust, Saint-Exupéry and Malraux (among many others). If that doesn't convince them, toss the Académie Française into the mix.
Example One: A wonderful butcher comes through your village twice a week, a real plus since you live out in the boonies. He knows everyone in all the villages on his route by their first names. In colder weather when the windows are shut, you sometimes miss the horn announcing his arrival. En revanche, if you're too under the weather to go out to meet him at one of his several stopping spots, he'll happily deliver right to your doorstep at no charge. And if you forget your checkbook or don't have enough cash on you to pay for your purchase, he just marks down the amount owing and lets you pay next time he comes around. Everything he sells is organic and top quality, too. Par contre, your money doesn't buy as much from him as in a grocery store.
Example Two: In late February you receive a letter from the ERDF (Electricité Réseau Distribution France) informing you that there's a 5-hour power outage scheduled for April 13, from 8:30 - 13:30. The letter further informs you that the ERDF will try to make the outage as brief as possible and restore the power ahead of schedule. The letter ends with a standard fluffy highbrow blurb: "Nous vous prions de croire, Cher client, en notre volonté de vous assurer la meilleure qualité de service." A perfect example of pipeau, this translates roughly into: "we want to assure our clients the best service possible."
OK, sure, they might like to look at things that way; par contre past experience precludes you from sharing their rosy picture.
The morning of April 13 finally rolls around. Everyone in the village and surrounding hamlets has planned their day around the scheduled outage: the Agence postale, boulanger-épicierie, Café, restaurant and Mairie are closed, will open at 14:00 when the power is back on. Those who work at home have planned their days accordingly. The 5-hour block of time comes and goes without the power being turned off. Some assume all is well; par contre, you have this odd feeling...and at two o'clock sharp, the power goes out...
Friday, March 18, 2011
N'importe quoi
7. N'importe quoi ! / N'importe quoi...
pronounced more or less: nanh por teuh kwah OR nanh port kwah
A literal translation is senseless for this expression, so let's opt for literal meaning: "anything." The verb "importer" in this case = "to matter."
Variants: C'est n'importe quoi !
Implications: This expression is an instant, negative judgment, a "put down," if you will. It's the equivalent of: "What bunk!" / "What nonsense!" / "Whatever..." or if you're from New England, "wadehvah." It's more a reaction to what has just been said than to what has just been done, but can be used in both instances.
Remarks: N'importe quoi is not necessarily pejorative; it can also be used to mean simply "anything," in the sense that "it doesn't matter; anything will do."
Example One: You're out for a walk and stop to read the announcements posted on the board of the village square. One proposes an activity for this Sunday afternoon, from three to five in the village's Salle polyvalente (multipurpose room). Two euros for adults; anyone under 6 free... The event organizer is also its facilitator: the local restaurant's proprietor, better known for her avarice and empty headedness than her cuisine. The poster invites us to her slide presentation and talk on Spain, Goya, Andalusia and flamenco (both dance and music), followed by a no-host apéro and a dance lesson (rock -- je ne vois pas le rapport), using a DVD purchased at our boulangerie-épicerie. This is the perfect moment to mumble "n'importe quoi..."
(Apparently the rest of the villagers felt the same way; the event was canceled for lack of interest.)
Example Two: Unfortunately, numerous asinine statements (hallucinantes !) made on the heels of the earthquakes, aftershocks and tsunamis that hit Japan last week provide us with too ample opportunity to use this expression. This by Anne Lauvergeon, president of the French state-owned nuclear energy company Avera :"I believe we are going to avoid a nuclear disaster." Another by Eric Besson, French Minister of Industry: "This is certainly a serious accident but not a nuclear catastrophe." And from the WHO (OMS in French): "The public health risks are minimal for Japan." C'est n'importe quoi !
pronounced more or less: nanh por teuh kwah OR nanh port kwah
A literal translation is senseless for this expression, so let's opt for literal meaning: "anything." The verb "importer" in this case = "to matter."
Variants: C'est n'importe quoi !
Implications: This expression is an instant, negative judgment, a "put down," if you will. It's the equivalent of: "What bunk!" / "What nonsense!" / "Whatever..." or if you're from New England, "wadehvah." It's more a reaction to what has just been said than to what has just been done, but can be used in both instances.
Remarks: N'importe quoi is not necessarily pejorative; it can also be used to mean simply "anything," in the sense that "it doesn't matter; anything will do."
Example One: You're out for a walk and stop to read the announcements posted on the board of the village square. One proposes an activity for this Sunday afternoon, from three to five in the village's Salle polyvalente (multipurpose room). Two euros for adults; anyone under 6 free... The event organizer is also its facilitator: the local restaurant's proprietor, better known for her avarice and empty headedness than her cuisine. The poster invites us to her slide presentation and talk on Spain, Goya, Andalusia and flamenco (both dance and music), followed by a no-host apéro and a dance lesson (rock -- je ne vois pas le rapport), using a DVD purchased at our boulangerie-épicerie. This is the perfect moment to mumble "n'importe quoi..."
(Apparently the rest of the villagers felt the same way; the event was canceled for lack of interest.)
Example Two: Unfortunately, numerous asinine statements (hallucinantes !) made on the heels of the earthquakes, aftershocks and tsunamis that hit Japan last week provide us with too ample opportunity to use this expression. This by Anne Lauvergeon, president of the French state-owned nuclear energy company Avera :"I believe we are going to avoid a nuclear disaster." Another by Eric Besson, French Minister of Industry: "This is certainly a serious accident but not a nuclear catastrophe." And from the WHO (OMS in French): "The public health risks are minimal for Japan." C'est n'importe quoi !
Monday, February 28, 2011
C'est quoi le rapport ?
6. C'est quoi le rapport ?
pronounced more or less: say kwah luh rah-porh ?
Literal translation: "It's what the connection?"
Variants:
1. Je ne vois pas le rapport. / Je vois pas le rapport. = I don't see the connection (I don't see what that's got to do with it).
2. Il n'y a aucun rapport. / Aucun rapport. / Ça n'a aucun rapport. = There's connection whatsoever. / That has nothing to do with it.
Implications: C'est quoi le rapport? is the equivalent of these American English expressions: "What's the connection?" ; "Where's the connection?" and sometimes "What's your point?" Most especially, when accompanied by a scrunched-up face of unabashed disdain, it's the equivalent of: "What's that (expletive) got to do with it?" The speaker clearly finds the remark just expressed off-base, unrelated to the topic at hand. It is unlikely that s/he is actually inviting you to explain the connection. You're going to have to insist like crazy if you want to clarify your point, because it's already been discarded and possibly you along with it.
Remarks:
1) These expressions are also entirely valid ways of sincerely asking someone to connect the dots. Any implication of judgmental exasperation comes from context and/or tone of voice.
2) C'est quoi le rapport? is familiar French. Its variants are appropriate in any context.
Example One: You're chatting in French with family members and a couple of their friends. One person keeps tossing in inconsequential tidbits -- asides that have nothing to do with the conversation, as if she were playing for points in an imaginary game of "how many useless comments can you come up with in 30 minutes to show off how much time you spend reading Wikipédia?" The musicians at the table start talking about performing their own stuff versus performing someone else's. The woman (who doesn't speak English) looks directly at you (who does) and says (in French): "performers who do covers face different problems than musicians who write their own stuff -- they call them 'song writers' in English." Et alors? What's the point of saying "song writers" in English? Long pause, during which she's silent; she's waiting for something. What? It's highly unlikely that she's asking for confirmation. You respond in an even tone: "On dit 'composers' en anglais" (we say 'composers' in English) then add: "C'est quoi le rapport ?" She can't figure out your angle and remains, momentarily, speechless. Hooray.
Example Two: You buy a large bar of dark chocolate at the local épicerie. Later at home, you open the package and find speckled, grey, unappetizing chocolate that has obviously undergone some severe temperature change. The next day, you go back to the store to exchange it (not a common practice in France). You explain to the épicier that the chocolate has gone grey and is therefore not desirable to eat. The épicier looks at you in disbelief and asks: C'est quoi le rapport ? His wife has recently used a similar grey bar to make a delicious cake, dark chocolate is for cooking anyway, not for eating." You re-phrase: "I bought it to eat, not to cook with." Him: "but you cook with dark chocolate; you need to buy milk chocolate if you want chocolate to eat." (Mais franchement, j'hallucine ou quoi ?!) You could counter with another "c'est quoi le rapport" but it's a losing battle. You insist simply: "We like to eat dark chocolate. Do have any that's arrived recently, that may not be discolored?" Him: "Je vois pas le rapport..." After another ten minutes of this, you finally head back home with a new bar of dark chocolate.
Moral: if you want to hang out with the French, you'd better be tenacious or very, very zen.
pronounced more or less: say kwah luh rah-porh ?
Literal translation: "It's what the connection?"
Variants:
1. Je ne vois pas le rapport. / Je vois pas le rapport. = I don't see the connection (I don't see what that's got to do with it).
2. Il n'y a aucun rapport. / Aucun rapport. / Ça n'a aucun rapport. = There's connection whatsoever. / That has nothing to do with it.
Implications: C'est quoi le rapport? is the equivalent of these American English expressions: "What's the connection?" ; "Where's the connection?" and sometimes "What's your point?" Most especially, when accompanied by a scrunched-up face of unabashed disdain, it's the equivalent of: "What's that (expletive) got to do with it?" The speaker clearly finds the remark just expressed off-base, unrelated to the topic at hand. It is unlikely that s/he is actually inviting you to explain the connection. You're going to have to insist like crazy if you want to clarify your point, because it's already been discarded and possibly you along with it.
Remarks:
1) These expressions are also entirely valid ways of sincerely asking someone to connect the dots. Any implication of judgmental exasperation comes from context and/or tone of voice.
2) C'est quoi le rapport? is familiar French. Its variants are appropriate in any context.
Example One: You're chatting in French with family members and a couple of their friends. One person keeps tossing in inconsequential tidbits -- asides that have nothing to do with the conversation, as if she were playing for points in an imaginary game of "how many useless comments can you come up with in 30 minutes to show off how much time you spend reading Wikipédia?" The musicians at the table start talking about performing their own stuff versus performing someone else's. The woman (who doesn't speak English) looks directly at you (who does) and says (in French): "performers who do covers face different problems than musicians who write their own stuff -- they call them 'song writers' in English." Et alors? What's the point of saying "song writers" in English? Long pause, during which she's silent; she's waiting for something. What? It's highly unlikely that she's asking for confirmation. You respond in an even tone: "On dit 'composers' en anglais" (we say 'composers' in English) then add: "C'est quoi le rapport ?" She can't figure out your angle and remains, momentarily, speechless. Hooray.
Example Two: You buy a large bar of dark chocolate at the local épicerie. Later at home, you open the package and find speckled, grey, unappetizing chocolate that has obviously undergone some severe temperature change. The next day, you go back to the store to exchange it (not a common practice in France). You explain to the épicier that the chocolate has gone grey and is therefore not desirable to eat. The épicier looks at you in disbelief and asks: C'est quoi le rapport ? His wife has recently used a similar grey bar to make a delicious cake, dark chocolate is for cooking anyway, not for eating." You re-phrase: "I bought it to eat, not to cook with." Him: "but you cook with dark chocolate; you need to buy milk chocolate if you want chocolate to eat." (Mais franchement, j'hallucine ou quoi ?!) You could counter with another "c'est quoi le rapport" but it's a losing battle. You insist simply: "We like to eat dark chocolate. Do have any that's arrived recently, that may not be discolored?" Him: "Je vois pas le rapport..." After another ten minutes of this, you finally head back home with a new bar of dark chocolate.
Moral: if you want to hang out with the French, you'd better be tenacious or very, very zen.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
C'est du pipeau !
5. C'est du pipeau !
pronounced more or less: say dew pee po
The stress goes on the last syllable, "-peau": C'est du piPEAU !
Variant: C'est pas du pipeau ! / Ce n'est pas du pipeau ! These are simply negative forms of the expression, meaning something akin to: "And that's not just whistlin' Dixie, folks."
"Un pipeau" is a reed pipe (tin whistle) or a bird call.
Literal translation: "It's a bird call." / "It's a tin whistle."
Implications: C'est du pipeau implies that whatever was just said isn't true or at best a stretch of the imagination. It's roughly equivalent to the American English expressions, "what a load of rubbish" or, a bit more outdated, "it's strictly for the birds." It's sometimes used as well to indicate that, in the user's opinion (always the favored perspective), what is being referred to as "pipeau" is inconsequential, no big deal, about as important as...well, let's see...a tin whistle.
Remarks: This is a familiar, fairly high-frequency expression, in no way vulgar (sorry to disappoint).
Example One: You walk into your dining room and nearly drop to the floor when you see that someone has carved his initials into your beautiful mahogany dining table. A blood curdling J'hallucine ! escapes your lips. You suspect one of the kids in the household, and by "suspect," I mean that you're sure. Not having good parenting instincts, you call all the kids into the room in hopes of exposing the culprit and forcing a tearful, guilt-ridden confession. They all deny the act. Dumbfounded, you say: C'est du pipeau !!!! Mais j'hallucine ou quoi ?!!!
To no avail, of course. Eh bien !
PS: this example crosses cultures with no problem whatsoever. Just ask my brother, JS.
Example Two: "La Tour Eiffel bio, c'est du pipeau" ["an organic Eiffel Tower, yeah, sure, you betcha...not!"] That's what all the buzz was back in 2009 when the French were preparing, in celebration of the 120th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower, to re-paint the giant according to the organic norms set up for 2012. In fact, the paint used was identical to the paint used in 2001, no lead, but plenty of solvents, so... c'est du pipeau !
pronounced more or less: say dew pee po
The stress goes on the last syllable, "-peau": C'est du piPEAU !
Variant: C'est pas du pipeau ! / Ce n'est pas du pipeau ! These are simply negative forms of the expression, meaning something akin to: "And that's not just whistlin' Dixie, folks."
"Un pipeau" is a reed pipe (tin whistle) or a bird call.
Literal translation: "It's a bird call." / "It's a tin whistle."
Implications: C'est du pipeau implies that whatever was just said isn't true or at best a stretch of the imagination. It's roughly equivalent to the American English expressions, "what a load of rubbish" or, a bit more outdated, "it's strictly for the birds." It's sometimes used as well to indicate that, in the user's opinion (always the favored perspective), what is being referred to as "pipeau" is inconsequential, no big deal, about as important as...well, let's see...a tin whistle.
Remarks: This is a familiar, fairly high-frequency expression, in no way vulgar (sorry to disappoint).
Example One: You walk into your dining room and nearly drop to the floor when you see that someone has carved his initials into your beautiful mahogany dining table. A blood curdling J'hallucine ! escapes your lips. You suspect one of the kids in the household, and by "suspect," I mean that you're sure. Not having good parenting instincts, you call all the kids into the room in hopes of exposing the culprit and forcing a tearful, guilt-ridden confession. They all deny the act. Dumbfounded, you say: C'est du pipeau !!!! Mais j'hallucine ou quoi ?!!!
To no avail, of course. Eh bien !
PS: this example crosses cultures with no problem whatsoever. Just ask my brother, JS.
Example Two: "La Tour Eiffel bio, c'est du pipeau" ["an organic Eiffel Tower, yeah, sure, you betcha...not!"] That's what all the buzz was back in 2009 when the French were preparing, in celebration of the 120th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower, to re-paint the giant according to the organic norms set up for 2012. In fact, the paint used was identical to the paint used in 2001, no lead, but plenty of solvents, so... c'est du pipeau !
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Et alors ?
3. Et alors ?
pronounced more or less: Ay ah lohr
Essentially expresses one of two possible postures: 1) "So what? Why are you telling me this? It's not important... (to me)" or 2)"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand???!"
Literal translation: "And so?" / "And then?"
Implications: "Big deal (that would be of interest to me because...?)" or "would you please get to the point (if you have one)."
May be accompanied by a shoulder shrug and a disinterested or puzzled look.
Remark: "Et alors?" is not necessarily dismissive. The speaker may sincerely be asking for an explanation or for more information.
Example One: One summer evening we were out on the terrace, a bottle of champagne on the table and glasses in hand. The couple that lives upstairs -- lovely people on occasion albeit nombrilists par excellence -- stopped by to say hello on their way down the road to water their garden. Salut, salut, bisous, bisous...then we explained that we were celebrating the birth of my son's daughter. They don't know my son. Not missing a beat, and without a single comment or question, the gentleman expressed a disinterested "et alors?"and started talking about their grand-daughter, who was expecting a baby in September. Alas, a true story...
(The baby, by the way, is healthy, beautiful...and curious about life around her.)
Example Two: Imagine yourself out about town. You run into your former neighbors George and Georgette, whom you rarely see since moving. You catch up then fall silent, not really having anything to add but not quite ready to say goodbye to each other. George drops this by way of conversation: "that news on TV last night...wow! Jean-Marc won!" You don't have a television and don't know anyone named Jean-Marc, so you stand there waiting for George to continue, to explain. He doesn't. He's waiting for you to make a comment about the sensational news, which he assumes you know because he does. (Franchement...) Finally since nothing's clear or going anywhere, you say: "Et alors? What's the scoop? I don't have a TV and who's JM anyway?"... inviting George to go on with his story.
(Et bien oui, you guessed it, another true story: turns out that Jean-Marc is the son of a woman G&G knew in their childhood days. He and his wife just won big in the lottery.)
pronounced more or less: Ay ah lohr
Essentially expresses one of two possible postures: 1) "So what? Why are you telling me this? It's not important... (to me)" or 2)"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand???!"
Literal translation: "And so?" / "And then?"
Implications: "Big deal (that would be of interest to me because...?)" or "would you please get to the point (if you have one)."
May be accompanied by a shoulder shrug and a disinterested or puzzled look.
Remark: "Et alors?" is not necessarily dismissive. The speaker may sincerely be asking for an explanation or for more information.
Example One: One summer evening we were out on the terrace, a bottle of champagne on the table and glasses in hand. The couple that lives upstairs -- lovely people on occasion albeit nombrilists par excellence -- stopped by to say hello on their way down the road to water their garden. Salut, salut, bisous, bisous...then we explained that we were celebrating the birth of my son's daughter. They don't know my son. Not missing a beat, and without a single comment or question, the gentleman expressed a disinterested "et alors?"and started talking about their grand-daughter, who was expecting a baby in September. Alas, a true story...
(The baby, by the way, is healthy, beautiful...and curious about life around her.)
Example Two: Imagine yourself out about town. You run into your former neighbors George and Georgette, whom you rarely see since moving. You catch up then fall silent, not really having anything to add but not quite ready to say goodbye to each other. George drops this by way of conversation: "that news on TV last night...wow! Jean-Marc won!" You don't have a television and don't know anyone named Jean-Marc, so you stand there waiting for George to continue, to explain. He doesn't. He's waiting for you to make a comment about the sensational news, which he assumes you know because he does. (Franchement...) Finally since nothing's clear or going anywhere, you say: "Et alors? What's the scoop? I don't have a TV and who's JM anyway?"... inviting George to go on with his story.
(Et bien oui, you guessed it, another true story: turns out that Jean-Marc is the son of a woman G&G knew in their childhood days. He and his wife just won big in the lottery.)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Et bien...?
2. Et bien...?
pronounced more or less: Ay b'yenh
Variation: Eh bien...?
The -en is nasalized: to produce the correct sound, don't let your tongue touch the roof of your mouth.
Essentially expresses a lack of surprise, but also acceptance of a situation as the (not necessarily agreeable) norm and therefore to be expected.
Literal translation: "And well...?"
Meaning: "Well, whad'ya expect after all?" tinged with "Whatchya gonna do?"
Often accompanied by a shoulder shrug, raised eyebrow and knowing look.
Implication: Everybody (especially me and apparently not so much you ) knows that that's the way it is. Why would we/should we expect otherwise and beside there's nothing we can do about it.
Example: Up until a few months ago, our small village, like other remote villages in France, was still living in the age of dial-up Internet connections (j'hallucine). The community finally installed a high speed system, but the job wasn't done properly (Et bien...?). Many homes found themselves and find themselves not only without a functional Internet connection, but also without phone service. So DSL technicians make the long trek up here several times a week to correct the problems and connect new customers. Each time a repair is made to link a new customer into the system, an already existing customer loses his service. We couldn't make any sense out of it till yesterday when a technician confessed that, given the way the system had been installed, the only way to connect a new client was to disconnect an old one. My reaction: J'hallucine! The reaction of the French villagers? Et bien...?
pronounced more or less: Ay b'yenh
Variation: Eh bien...?
The -en is nasalized: to produce the correct sound, don't let your tongue touch the roof of your mouth.
Essentially expresses a lack of surprise, but also acceptance of a situation as the (not necessarily agreeable) norm and therefore to be expected.
Literal translation: "And well...?"
Meaning: "Well, whad'ya expect after all?" tinged with "Whatchya gonna do?"
Often accompanied by a shoulder shrug, raised eyebrow and knowing look.
Implication: Everybody (especially me and apparently not so much you ) knows that that's the way it is. Why would we/should we expect otherwise and beside there's nothing we can do about it.
Example: Up until a few months ago, our small village, like other remote villages in France, was still living in the age of dial-up Internet connections (j'hallucine). The community finally installed a high speed system, but the job wasn't done properly (Et bien...?). Many homes found themselves and find themselves not only without a functional Internet connection, but also without phone service. So DSL technicians make the long trek up here several times a week to correct the problems and connect new customers. Each time a repair is made to link a new customer into the system, an already existing customer loses his service. We couldn't make any sense out of it till yesterday when a technician confessed that, given the way the system had been installed, the only way to connect a new client was to disconnect an old one. My reaction: J'hallucine! The reaction of the French villagers? Et bien...?
Friday, January 21, 2011
50 French ways to assume a (superior) position...
Mort Rosenblum quotes Victor Hugo as writing: "France, France, without you the world would be alone" (Mission to Civilize, HBJ 1986). Too bad we can't conjure up Hugo for more on his insider's take on the culture. My outsider-insider's point of view -- as an Anglophone who's been living in France for several years and who speaks fluent French -- is that the French are exquisitely talented nombrilistes, navel-gazers. They have a tendency to position culture, country and self (theirs) at the center, as the original reference, the ultimate first and last right word. True, illusion and conviction are not unique to the French. But the French pull it off convincingly, with panache. They have a flair for assuming a superior position. They have a flair for intimating, without actually pronouncing the words, that "it's so because I say it's so". A single word, or handful of words, delivered with aplomb, a gesture and a knowing look. Point made, discussion closed, go away, right now, so I can move on to something or someone of actual interest...
Numerous expressions in current French quickly and effectively convey an instant French reaction to a situation. This blog proposes to present fifty such expressions. Fifty ways to leave the other...momentarily speechless. Or if you are the other: fifty cultural-linguistic windows that may increase your flair and your fun with (the) French.
1. J'hallucine!
pronounced more or less: jha - luy - seen
variant: NON MAIS j'hallucine!
Essentially expresses enormous disbelief in what one hears or sees.
Literal translation: "I'm hallucinating!"
Implication: Whatever you just told me or whatever you just did/ whatever just happened/has just been said is way off base as far as my standards are concerned and no one in their right mind (me) would have/could have said or done such a thing.
Example One: You are attending a library conference. A respectful hush falls over the room when the host takes the microphone to present the guest speaker. The speaker takes the podium and begins her address. A few minutes into the speech, your hear a cell phone ring. It belongs to the person directly behind you, to your left. You don't really pay any attention to it; someone always forgets to turn off their phone... She's probably embarrassed, will switch it off and that will be that. But no! She takes the call. "Hello?" In a knee-jerk reaction, you let out an entirely inappropriate: "J'hallucine!" [= You've got to be kidding! = How can you be so rude?!]
Then, since she continues to converse with the caller, and you yourself are obviously as oblivious to social decorum as she, you look the phone offender right in the eye and announce with disgust: "NON MAIS j'hallucine!" [= What?! Were you raised by wolves, you barbarian?!]
You are both invited to leave the room.
Example Two: You're standing in the e-ticket line with your son at CDG Roissy. The well-dressed guy in back of you slides his expensive luggage alongside yours, then steps slightly in front of you, cutting in line. The line in which you've been waiting for over an hour. The line in which everybody else has been waiting for over an hour, too. Without a word, you simply resume your position in front of him. He does it again: slides his luggage up next to yours and steps slightly in front of you. You are amused by his audacity. You silently resume your place ahead of him. The same scenario plays out a few more times. The situation has become annoying. You look the guy squarely in the eye: J'hallucine! And that's the end of it.
Warning: j'hallucine is familiar French.
Numerous expressions in current French quickly and effectively convey an instant French reaction to a situation. This blog proposes to present fifty such expressions. Fifty ways to leave the other...momentarily speechless. Or if you are the other: fifty cultural-linguistic windows that may increase your flair and your fun with (the) French.
1. J'hallucine!
pronounced more or less: jha - luy - seen
variant: NON MAIS j'hallucine!
Essentially expresses enormous disbelief in what one hears or sees.
Literal translation: "I'm hallucinating!"
Implication: Whatever you just told me or whatever you just did/ whatever just happened/has just been said is way off base as far as my standards are concerned and no one in their right mind (me) would have/could have said or done such a thing.
Example One: You are attending a library conference. A respectful hush falls over the room when the host takes the microphone to present the guest speaker. The speaker takes the podium and begins her address. A few minutes into the speech, your hear a cell phone ring. It belongs to the person directly behind you, to your left. You don't really pay any attention to it; someone always forgets to turn off their phone... She's probably embarrassed, will switch it off and that will be that. But no! She takes the call. "Hello?" In a knee-jerk reaction, you let out an entirely inappropriate: "J'hallucine!" [= You've got to be kidding! = How can you be so rude?!]
Then, since she continues to converse with the caller, and you yourself are obviously as oblivious to social decorum as she, you look the phone offender right in the eye and announce with disgust: "NON MAIS j'hallucine!" [= What?! Were you raised by wolves, you barbarian?!]
You are both invited to leave the room.
Example Two: You're standing in the e-ticket line with your son at CDG Roissy. The well-dressed guy in back of you slides his expensive luggage alongside yours, then steps slightly in front of you, cutting in line. The line in which you've been waiting for over an hour. The line in which everybody else has been waiting for over an hour, too. Without a word, you simply resume your position in front of him. He does it again: slides his luggage up next to yours and steps slightly in front of you. You are amused by his audacity. You silently resume your place ahead of him. The same scenario plays out a few more times. The situation has become annoying. You look the guy squarely in the eye: J'hallucine! And that's the end of it.
Warning: j'hallucine is familiar French.
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