" faire un tabac " - avoir un grand succès
" to have a great success"/ " to be a great hit "
This is a popular expression in French . Don't pronounce the final consonant in " tabac ". This word in English means tobacco. But the expression has nothing to do with tobacco. This word is onamatopic . When you articulate it , it imitates a sudden or violent sound. In the nineteenth century , the seafarers of France used the term " un coup de tabac " during a storm which damages a ship with thundering noise. This expression was extended to the sound produced when spectators applaud the performance of the artists during a theatrical play . It follows that the play is a great success . So faire un tabac means producing / causing great success.
Now let us make some sentences using this expression.
1. La visite du Premier Ministre de L'Inde , Narendra Modi, aux État-Unis fait un tabac.
The Indian Prime Minister , Narendra Modi 's visit to the United States is big success.
2. Le film " Gandhi " faisait un tabac .
The film " Gandhi " was a great hit.
Remember that this expression is informal. You may use it in your normal daily conversation. Don't use it in formal writing.
C'est tout.
À bientôt !
The francophones who read this may point out if my explanation is correct or not. I am sharing whatever I know in the spirit of a student of French language and not with any pretension to great scholarship or mastery of this difficult language.
T. K. Jayaraman
2/08/2015
Bangalore
No comments:
Post a Comment