FRENCH NOTE 14 IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS WITH , " MANQUER "
In this note , I would like to explain certain idiomatic expressions which contain " manquer" or" manqué " , manque etc.
1. MANQUER LA COCHE: " le coche " means coach , a mode of transportation in olden days.
The English equivalent would be " to miss the bus " . In other words , when you miss some good opportunity , you miss the bus. This French idiom can be used in that sense.
Vous auriez obtenu ce poste, si vous aviez assisté à l'entretien.Vous avez manqué le coche cette fois.
You would have got that post if you had attended the interview. This time , you missed the bus.
2. MANQUER À SA PROMESSE
This expression means, " not keeping one's promise"
Méfiez-vous de celui qui manque à sa promesse.
Beware of one who does not keep his promise.
3. NE PAS MANQUER D' AIR
This expression means " to have the nerve " or " to have the cheek "
Après m'avoir trompé sur le prix, il ne manque pas d'air pour me demander mon aide.
After having overcharged me, he has the cheek to request my help.
4. MANQUER D'ARGENT -short of money
Elle a abandonné le cours à l'université comme son père manque d' argent .
She gave up her university course as her father is short of money.
5. Manquer de délicatesse - lacking tact or refinement
Ceux qui manquent de délicatesse ne peuvent pas réussir à la diplomatie.
Those who are tactless can not be successful in diplomacy .
6. MANQUER DE POT - to be unlucky
En dépit d' un doctorat en math, il est en chômage . Il manque de pot.
In spite of a doctorate in mathematics, he is unemployed. He is unlucky .
7. LES MOTS ME MANQUENT- words fail me
Je ne sais pas comment exprimer ma reconnaissance. Les mots me manquent.
I don't know how to express my gratitude . Words fail me.
8. NE PAS EN MANQUER UNE
The meaning of the above idiom is " to commit a stupidity or gaffe always "
Au cours de son inaugural leçon , le prof n'en manquait pas une. Il a dit que Kant était Français .
During the inaugural lesson, the professor committed a stupidity. He said that Kant was a Frenchman.
9. NE PAS MANQUER DE QQN -not to allow someone to escape without being revenged
Or being taught a lesson
Si quelqu'un fait du mal à un éléphant , on dit que cet animal ne manque pas de lui.
If somebody harms an elephant , it is said that the animal never fails to take revenge.
10. " GARÇON MANQUÉ" means a tomboy
Jeanne d' Arc était un véritable garçon manqué.
Jane of Arc was a real tomboy.
11. LE MANQUE--lack, want, shortage, defect, emptiness(used as a noun )
Âpres la mort de son épouse , il éprouve un manque.
After the death of his wife, he feels a void.
That is all.
My notes on " MANQUER" are concluding. Hope all these notes were useful to you.
My next subject will be a series of notes on ,FRENCH VERBS.
Bonne journée
Sayee Jayaraman
21/05/2015
In this note , I would like to explain certain idiomatic expressions which contain " manquer" or" manqué " , manque etc.
1. MANQUER LA COCHE: " le coche " means coach , a mode of transportation in olden days.
The English equivalent would be " to miss the bus " . In other words , when you miss some good opportunity , you miss the bus. This French idiom can be used in that sense.
Vous auriez obtenu ce poste, si vous aviez assisté à l'entretien.Vous avez manqué le coche cette fois.
You would have got that post if you had attended the interview. This time , you missed the bus.
2. MANQUER À SA PROMESSE
This expression means, " not keeping one's promise"
Méfiez-vous de celui qui manque à sa promesse.
Beware of one who does not keep his promise.
3. NE PAS MANQUER D' AIR
This expression means " to have the nerve " or " to have the cheek "
Après m'avoir trompé sur le prix, il ne manque pas d'air pour me demander mon aide.
After having overcharged me, he has the cheek to request my help.
4. MANQUER D'ARGENT -short of money
Elle a abandonné le cours à l'université comme son père manque d' argent .
She gave up her university course as her father is short of money.
5. Manquer de délicatesse - lacking tact or refinement
Ceux qui manquent de délicatesse ne peuvent pas réussir à la diplomatie.
Those who are tactless can not be successful in diplomacy .
6. MANQUER DE POT - to be unlucky
En dépit d' un doctorat en math, il est en chômage . Il manque de pot.
In spite of a doctorate in mathematics, he is unemployed. He is unlucky .
7. LES MOTS ME MANQUENT- words fail me
Je ne sais pas comment exprimer ma reconnaissance. Les mots me manquent.
I don't know how to express my gratitude . Words fail me.
8. NE PAS EN MANQUER UNE
The meaning of the above idiom is " to commit a stupidity or gaffe always "
Au cours de son inaugural leçon , le prof n'en manquait pas une. Il a dit que Kant était Français .
During the inaugural lesson, the professor committed a stupidity. He said that Kant was a Frenchman.
9. NE PAS MANQUER DE QQN -not to allow someone to escape without being revenged
Or being taught a lesson
Si quelqu'un fait du mal à un éléphant , on dit que cet animal ne manque pas de lui.
If somebody harms an elephant , it is said that the animal never fails to take revenge.
10. " GARÇON MANQUÉ" means a tomboy
Jeanne d' Arc était un véritable garçon manqué.
Jane of Arc was a real tomboy.
11. LE MANQUE--lack, want, shortage, defect, emptiness(used as a noun )
Âpres la mort de son épouse , il éprouve un manque.
After the death of his wife, he feels a void.
That is all.
My notes on " MANQUER" are concluding. Hope all these notes were useful to you.
My next subject will be a series of notes on ,FRENCH VERBS.
Bonne journée
Sayee Jayaraman
21/05/2015
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