44 Comments

Is there a French expression corresponding to “take the bait?” Because no way will I submit my hard-R, Midwestern-accented, French-fry French.

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Yes, 'mordre a l'hamecon' which basically means the same :)

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Merci. Still not taking the bait, although it does sound more tempting in French.

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I absolutely love it!!! Now I just need to get together with some of my old French branches. Too bad a plane ticket to France costs the skin of an arse these days.

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Hmm, but I don't really use that skin; maybe it's actually worth giving up to see Frances' beauty?

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Thanks Jude!

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N’est-ce pas la “langue” de Molière et non pas le “langage” de Molière?

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Bien vu, c'est effectivement la langue

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Ouf!

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Love this. In fact, I need more of this. We did not learn any “cul”- related expressions at the French immersion elementary school I went to growing up. 😆😆

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Nice! I am considering making a similar post with greek expressions :)

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Merçi mille fois, ma vieille branche.

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Mais de rien mon cher

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I love this series! Lots of peau and cul expressions today. Very visceral!

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The most brilliant use of audio and Notes.

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Ha! Old friend= vieille branche. In Italian, you can say vecchia quercia, or old oak tree, for same thing. Interesting how Italian friends are whole trees, French ones are strong branches. Or something.

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Merci beaucoup pour ces phrases drôles! Mad, idiomatic expressions like this are exactly what one needs to sound like a native. Mais j’ai un peu peur d’essayer de parler ces phrases pour vous maintenant ! Merci encore 😊

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You’re welcome Jacqueline.

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This is fun. The only reason I won’t participate is fear of being disabused of the one compliment I received attempting French conversation - that though my grammar was shit, my accent was perfect.

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PS There is a Dutch equivalent of "mal dans sa peau:"

Niet lekker in je vel zitten (literally: to not SIT well in one's skin. Although it reads to us a "not feel well in one's skin.")

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So funny, even when we're french ! That's so true, "dormir sur ses 2 oreilles" is in fact impossible 😂😂 Very funny to see these usual expressions analysed this way. A good way for me too to know your corresponding slang expressions, that we don't learn at school !!

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But by the way "vieille branche" is more used by seniors. Not an expression of young people so don't try to use it if you're... under 50 I would say ! As a foreigner, everything is allowed, people will understand but think you're on a little old French. I think anyway it would seem weird or artificial coming from a non native speaker ;) Whereas other expressions mentioned are very commonly used ;) "S'incruster" is more young but common. A lot of expressions come from young people and after diffuse everywhere ;)

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Incruste, s’inscruster and all its variations was a big part of my teenage vocab 😂👌🏻

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Pareil

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This is my life always: Avoir le cul entre deux chaises.

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This is part of why I enjoy learning about foreign languages: seeing the uniquities of each one, their idioms, quirks, and sayings, is always so novel. Thanks a lot for sharing!

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Love this! I google translate my work and engagement has been slow to nil. Google translate is limited and my French is moldy. My intent was to engage Quebec and France in particular as my grandmother was Acadian.

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