For a change , let me take up some French Idioms in this note. Of course neither French Grammar nor I will part with each other. After sometime , I will revert to grammar.
1. Casser trois pattes à un canard - c'est extraordinaire
The literal translation of this French Idiom is " to break three legs of a duck". What does it mean? A duck has only two legs. If one can break three legs of a duck, it is something extraordinary or miraculous . It does not happen in the normal course. Generally this idiom is used negatively, like ," ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard ". The rough English equivalent would be , " nothing to write home about ". A banal thing.
J'ai écouté le discours du Prime Ministre lors du jour de l'indépendance . Ça ne casse pas à trois pattes à un canard .
I heard the Prime Minister's speech on Independence Day. Nothing extraordinary.
Hope you got it ?
2. Couper les cheveux en quatre - to split hairs , se donner au mal inutilement
The literal meaning of this idiom would be , " to cut hairs into four ". The best English equivalent would be " to split hairs ". This expression is used when one is very meticulous about something when it is not necessary. Sometimes lawyers have a tendency to argue by splitting hairs. They would take some word in a legal text and give bizarre interpretations.
Expliquez ce que vous voulez dire clairement sans couper les chevreaux en quatre.
Explain what you mean clearly without splitting hairs.
Got it ?
3. Y aller par quatre chemins - to beat around the bush, aller droit au but
When you don't express something directly or do not come to the point but go about it in a roundabout manner, we say you are beating around the bush. This expression is the French equivalent . The literal meaning of the idiom would be " to go there by four paths". If you have a straight route, why do you take so many routes to reach your goal ?
Si vous n'acceptez pas ma proposition, dites moi franchement . N'y allez. pas par quatre chemins.
If you do not accept my proposal tell me frankly. Don't beat around the bush.
4. Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre - se surestimer , to bite off more than one can chew
Sometimes we overestimate our capacity and try to do more than what we are capable. The English idiom would be, " to bite off more than one can chew". The literal meaning of the French idiom would be, " to have eyes bigger than the stomach ". Easy to understand. Our eyes see a large quantity of food. But whatever we see can not be eaten and digested.
Martin , vous avez à achever quatre projets maintenant . À mon avis, vous avez les yeux plus gros que le ventre.
Martin , you have four projects to complete now. In my view, you are biting off more than you can chew.
Got it ?
5. Y aller avec le dos de la cuiller - to mince words,
N'y aller pas avec le dos de la cuiller - to make no bones about something, agir brutalement
Normally one uses the right side of a spoon. No one uses the wrong side. In that case , you don't do the job wholeheartedly. When you bluntly say something to another, it causes mental pain. To express such situations you can use the idiom," n'y aller pas avec le dos de cuiller". The literal meaning of the idiom would be ," not to go there with the spoon in the wrong way". Without mincing words, you tell what you feel bluntly.
Faites attention à votre travail au bureau. Le nouveau patron n'y va pas avec le dos de la cuiller en vous jugeant .
Pay attention to your work in the office. The new boss does not mince words while judging you.
Hope you got the meaning of these idioms.
I owe a deep debt of gratitude to Mme. Véronique JEANSEN , a very good friend of mine for her encouragement in my French Studies. Her regular letters to me are of great educational value. I hope to receive her valuable suggestions in future also. She lives in Reims , France .
Happy learning !
Sayee Jayaraman
3/04/2015
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