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New Franglish idioms to hit the road
When a tourist butchers the language of Molière, he was said to speak French like a Spanish Basque. Later, this Basque was somehow transformed into a cow! The link between a foreigner and a bovid is not quite clear. However, French people use it a lot. The holiday season has already started, so be careful not to translate the following expressions word for word. Otherwise, you might be the cow.
It is hard working under a “sun of lead” (“un soleil de plomb”). After an iced tea, you wander around, thinking about white sand and coconut trees. In summary, you “bubble” (“buller”) and you are not really effective. Well, it is now time “to take the key to the fields” (“prendre la clé des champs”)! You might want to “roll your lump” (“rouler leur bosse”) to the beautiful English countryside, or maybe “leave on the hats of the wheels” (“partir sur les chapeaux de roues”) to nice beaches eating seafood.
Are you ready? Alright “Simone, get in the car!” (“en voiture, Simone!”) At “potron-kitty” (“dès potron-minet”), travellers are already driving to their destination to be the first to “brown the pill” (“se faire dorer la pilule”). There is unfortunately a massive amount of traffic already. Your children are getting bored. You are “not out of the hostel” (“ne pas être sorti de l’auberge”)…
However, instead of blaming these damned cars on your way to the seaside - what are all these tourists doing here, anyway? - you are “in the moon” (“être dans la lune”) and wonder when you will have a rest.
Several hours later, you are finally “arriving in a good port” (“arriver à bon port”). Your little ones go to the swimming pool and you warn them not to “drink the cup” (“boire la tasse”). When the children are in bed, it is time for you to go to the hotel bar. The traditional Saturday night “party already beats its full” (“la fête bat son plein”). Your table companions have drunk their mojito “dry bottom” (“cul sec”). You chose a fruit cocktail with an exotic name. “To yours” (“à la vôtre”), you deserved it!
You could not understand a thing ? Do not worry, here is the real translation:
It is hard working under a blazing sun. After an iced tea, you wander around, thinking about white sand and coconut trees. In summary, you are daydreaming and are not really effective. Well, it is now time to head for the hills! You might want to go around the beautiful English countryside or get off to a flying start to nice beaches and eat seafood.
Are you ready? Alright, let’s go! At the crack of dawn, travellers are already driving to their destination to be the first to tan on their sunbed. There is unfortunately a massive amount of traffic already. Your children are getting bored. You are not out of the woods yet… However, instead of blaming these damned cars on your way to the seaside - what are all these tourists doing here, anyway? - you have your head in the clouds and wonder when you will be allowed have a rest.
Several hours later, you finally arrive safe and sound. Your little ones run to the swimming pool and you warn them not to swallow any water. When the children are in bed, it is time for you to go to the hotel bar. The traditional Saturday night party is already in full swing. You hear your table companions shout “bottoms up!” while they drink their mojito. You choose a fruit cocktail with an exotic name. Cheers! You deserved it!
French idioms | Wrong translation | English idioms |
Un soleil de plomb | A sun of lead | Blazing sun |
Buller | To bubble | To daydream |
Prendre la clé des champs | To take the keys to the fields | To head for the hills |
Rouler sa bosse | To roll one's lump |
To go around |
Partir sur les chapeaux de roues | To leave on the hats of the wheels | To get off a flying start |
En voiture, Simone ! | Simone, get in the car! | Let's go! |
Dès potron-minet | At potron-kitty | At the crack of dawn |
Se faire dorer la pilule | To brown the pill | To tan |
Ne pas être sorti de l'auberge | Not to be out of the hostel | Not to be out of the woods |
Etre dans la lune | To be in the moon | To have one's head in the clouds |
Arriver à bon port | To arrive in a good port | To arrive safe and sound |
Boire la tasse | To drink the cup | To swallow water |
La fête bat son plein | The party beats its full | The party is in full swing |
Cul sec | Dry bottom | Bottoms up |
A la vôtre | To yours | Cheers |
You can also read:
Holy cow! We let the cat out of the bag!
If you are head over heels for someone
and want to get all lovey-dovey!
We'll be there to take you on cloud nine
COMMENTS:
23/07/2016 - pauljeeee said :
"When the children are in bed, it is time for you to go to the hotel bar."
What?!?
Who is taking care of the children?
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