Phrases that just don't translate!

[Noggin]

One of the side 'benefits' of this course is learning more French phrases!! I don't usually remember them when people use them up here, but I've started writing them down now LOL

So the other day my instructor said to someone in another group (we were all standing around waiting for the key holder to arrive) -

elle est casse pied

To me it sounded like cassé pieds, so how can I be broken foot! LOL

It really means something like - she's a pain in the arse (I suspect it's less rude than that cos we were all larking about, so it was said in humour - I'm pretty sure!

So, can't translate that at all cos, at the least, pied is foot!! LOL


On one of the computer tests, a question was something like - en cas de coup de pompe, que faire ?

I translated coup de pompe on my phone and it did NOT say what the laptop version of DeepL says which is 'drained' - it did say 'cut pump'
which made no sense.

Interesting to ask a non english speaking French to explain coup de pompe in simple French



This morning I was talking to a friend about the driving side and he said -

un doigt dans le nez, so I got that, a finger in the nose. But WTF does that mean!!

The closest I could get to (after a lot of discussion about the meaning in broken english) was -

it's piss easy (still not sure that's the best translation to share to my french friends!)



So often people use random phrases that I just can't work out cos, they just don't translate! I'm sure it's the same the other way tho!


Mind you, I did learn this morning that teasing is 'taquiner' (French friends up here speak more English than on the course!). So at least I can tell the driving instructor next time that "tu me taquines"


So if you know any random French phrases I should know (mostly polite really! LOL) please share

[Sadlonelygit]

Next time someone does something stupid in front of you whilst driving, just say sois béni

[Noggin]

[ChrisW]

elle est casse pied

I actually remember that one - it's similar to pain in the neck. Bit less severe than arse.

[petrolpete]

"Il (où elle) est casse couilles/burnes/bonbons" is the next level up.
The french do have a great array of expressions.
"Je ne suis pas tombé avec la dernière pluie" I was not born yesterday.
"Tu l'as dans l'os": literally you have it in the bone.

[Jody]

One of the side 'benefits' of this course is learning more French phrases!! I don't usually remember them when people use them up here, but I've started writing them down now LOL

So the other day my instructor said to someone in another group (we were all standing around waiting for the key holder to arrive) -

elle est casse pied

To me it sounded like cassé pieds, so how can I be broken foot! LOL

It really means something like - she's a pain in the arse (I suspect it's less rude than that cos we were all larking about, so it was said in humour - I'm pretty sure!

So, can't translate that at all cos, at the least, pied is foot!! LOL


On one of the computer tests, a question was something like - en cas de coup de pompe, que faire ?

I translated coup de pompe on my phone and it did NOT say what the laptop version of DeepL says which is 'drained' - it did say 'cut pump'
which made no sense.

Interesting to ask a non english speaking French to explain coup de pompe in simple French



This morning I was talking to a friend about the driving side and he said -

un doigt dans le nez, so I got that, a finger in the nose. But WTF does that mean!!

The closest I could get to (after a lot of discussion about the meaning in broken english) was -

it's piss easy (still not sure that's the best translation to share to my french friends!)



So often people use random phrases that I just can't work out cos, they just don't translate! I'm sure it's the same the other way tho!


Mind you, I did learn this morning that teasing is 'taquiner' (French friends up here speak more English than on the course!). So at least I can tell the driving instructor next time that "tu me taquines"


So if you know any random French phrases I should know (mostly polite really! LOL) please share

Some Frenchies will actually say " Like the fingers in the nose " in English, they believe it's a common English expression !

[Noggin]

This morning I was talking to a friend about the driving side and he said -

un doigt dans le nez, so I got that, a finger in the nose. But WTF does that mean!!

Some Frenchies will actually say " Like the fingers in the nose " in English, they believe it's a common English expression !

My friend was seriously surprised when he realised it wasn't a phrase I'd heard of in French or ever used in English!!

[Mr Moofo]

Germans in NRW all greet you with a hearty "Mahlzeit" when you walk past them from 11.00 am onwards. Until around 15.00.
It means "Mealtime".
I never worked that out!

I once used " To kill two birds with one stone", in cob German. They looked at me strangely - and said " Ah, to get two flies with one swat" !

"Ich bin warm/ heiss" - translates as "I am warm / hot". What it really means is "I am on heat". Generally in a gay sense !

[Noggin]

Germans in NRW all greet you with a hearty "Mahlzeit" when you walk past them from 11.00 am onwards. Until around 15.00.
It means "Mealtime".
I never worked that out!

I once used " To kill two birds with one stone", in cob German. They looked at me strangely - and said " Ah, to get two flies with one swat" !

I like the two flies with one swat!! LOL

"Ich bin warm/ heiss" - translates as "I am warm / hot". What it really means is "I am on heat". Generally in a gay sense !

I learnt this very fast in French, not because I got it wrong, but a friend told me that when she first met her soon to be father in law, he said how are you and she replied "I'm cold" (it was the depths of winter here, valid reply! sort of!).. BUT, she said "Je suis froide" - which essentially means "I'm frigid" Apparently he did look at her funny, then at his son! LOL

So, Je suis chaud(e) means - I'm on heat, ready to fk, etc, not just in a gay sense!! LOL

You have to say I HAVE cold/hot here!!

[Mr Moofo]

German
Mir bist warm / Mir bist kalt