Phrase of the Day

sryanbruen

Everyday, I will post a new French phrase here. I thought that this would be nice to do so learners can learn phrases over time here on the Boards.ie forum. To start off today:

Tous étaient là - Everybody was there

sryanbruen

J'attache énormément d'importance à ses opinions - I consider his opinions exceedingly important

sryanbruen

A-t-il l'heure? - Does he have the time?

sryanbruen

Didn't mean to be so late today, sorry guys.

On attendait mieux de toi - We expected more from you

sryanbruen

Ce mec a l'air fort - This guy seems strong

mtoutlemonde

sryanbruen wrote: »

Everyday, I will post a new French phrase here. I thought that this would be nice to do so learners can learn phrases over time here on the Boards.ie forum. To start off today:

Tous étaient là - Everybody was there

If I was to use this phrase, I would be using tout in the singular. For example saying hello to everyone is 'Bonjour tout le monde' so I would say 'Tout le monde était là'. I am of course open to correction.

sryanbruen

Où as-tu caché mon cadeau? - Where did you hide my gift?

sryanbruen

Je visite la France trop souvent - I visit France too often

sryanbruen

Donne-m'en deux - Give me two

sryanbruen

La vie n'est pas juste - Life isn't fair

sryanbruen

Il m'a frappé le bras - He hit me on the arm

sryanbruen

Mettez un peu de beurre et d'huile et faites revenir sur le gaz - Put in a bit of butter and oil and brown on the gas cooker

sryanbruen

Sorry I forgot to post here yesterday

J'ai trouvé du boulot - I've found a job

sryanbruen

J'ai trop de boulot à faire - I've got too much work to do

sryanbruen

Je m'en vais - I'm going away

sryanbruen

Depuis son arrivée à la tête du Barça, l'entraîneur catalan a tout gagné - (ever) since he took the helm of Barça, the Catalan coach has won everything

Syphonax

"Sorry" But whats French for "you look sharp today sir" ?

sryanbruen

Syphonax wrote: »

"Sorry" But whats French for "you look sharp today sir" ?

Monsieur, vous regardez bien aujourd'hui

Not 100% sure on this though.

sryanbruen

Prendre en compte - To take into account

mtoutlemonde

sryanbruen wrote: »

Monsieur, vous regardez bien aujourd'hui

Not 100% sure on this though.

That's a literal translation. Regarder is the verb to look at something e.g. Cheque soir, je regarde la télé.

If I were to translate this sentence, I would either say 'vous êtes beau' or vous avez l'air beau' aujourd'hui.

mtoutlemonde

Very mature.

sryanbruen

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Very mature.

What's this post for?

sryanbruen

quartier général - Headquarters

mtoutlemonde

sryanbruen wrote: »

What's this post for?

Someone posted an inappropriate comment in German but it was obviously removed by a mod.

sryanbruen

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Someone posted an inappropriate comment in German but it was obviously removed by a mod.

Oh ok.

sryanbruen

Ma voisine va se marier demain - My neighbour is getting married tomorrow

sryanbruen

à bon escient - Wisely

sryanbruen

Où habitez-vous? - Where do you live?

sryanbruen

Blanchir du linge - To wash linen

sryanbruen

Avoir le rhume - To have a cold

sryanbruen

Les étoiles illuminent le ciel noir - The stars illuminate the dark sky

sryanbruen

Merci de participer aux frais d'entretien des sanitaires - Thank you for donating to the maintenance of this sanitary facility

sryanbruen

Les cheveux blanchissent avec l'âge - Hair whitens with age

sryanbruen

La neige a blanchi les toits - The snow whitens the roofs

mtoutlemonde

Où vous êtes allé? - Where have you gone?

shrapnel222

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Où vous s all- Where have you gone?

it should be

Où etes vous alle? Where did you go? (not sure why but it's not saving my accents)

mtoutlemonde

shrapnel222 wrote: »

it should be

Où etes vous alle? Where did you go? (not sure why but it's not saving my accents)

Vous avez raison - je suis désolé. Où est-ce que vous êtes allé? Although I think the first is still correct but would involve intonation?

Il a travaillé hier?
Est-ce qu'il a travaillé hier?
A-t-il travaillé hier?

shrapnel222

ou vous etes alle? is colloquial and bad french, but would be used by the less educated french.

vous etes alle ou? is also perfectly acceptable but less litterary

Où est-ce que vous etes alle? is absolutely fine also

mtoutlemonde

shrapnel222 wrote: »

ou vous etes alle? is colloquial and bad french, but would be used by the less educated french.

vous etes alle ou? is also perfectly acceptable but less litterary

Où est-ce que vous etes alle? is absolutely fine also

I posted the expression on a language forum, here is the result:

slang = non ! familier = oui.

Où êtes-vous allé* ? = soutenu
Où est-ce que vous êtes allé ? = courant
Où vous êtes allé / Vous êtes allé où ? = familier (la deuxième tournure - celle avec le où à la fin - est à mon avis plus fréquente).

Colsin91

Il ne faut pas pousser mémé dans les orteils, surtout quand elle ne porte pas de culottes. Literally it means don't push Granny in the nettles, especially when she is not wearing underwear. De facto, it means don't exaggerate

Colsin91

Il parle le français comme une vache espagnole. Literally he speaks French like a Spanish cow. De facto it means that his French is brutal

Colsin91

Il pleut comme vache qui pisse. It is raining like a pissing cow (and that is why I adore French)

Colsin91

C'est la période de vaches grasses. Literally it means that it is the period of the fatty cows (calves). De facto it means that it is a time of prosperity. On the opposite hand, c'est la période de vaches maigres. Literally it means it is the period of the scrawny cow (calves). De facto it means that it is a time of austerity

Colsin91

Mieux vaut avoir la tête bien faite que bien pleine Better to have your head well made than well full

Colsin91

Tu ne peux pas avoir le beurre et le prix du beurre. You cannot have the butter and the price of the butter I.e. You cannot have your cake and eat it

Colsin91

Soyez réaliste, demandez l'impossible. Be realistic, ask for the impossible

shrapnel222

Colsin91 wrote: »

Tu ne peux pas avoir le beurre et le prix du beurre. You cannot have the butter and the price of the butter I.e. You cannot have your cake and eat it

close. it's "tu ne peux pas avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre"

Colsin91

Strange, I was quoting my partner who is French. He says it the way I wrote it

Colsin91

Faute de grives, on mange des merles. Literally, it means in the absence of thrushes, one eats blackbirds. I.e. Beggars can't be choosers

Mountainsandh

Colsin91 wrote: »

Il ne faut pas pousser mémé dans les orteils, surtout quand elle ne porte pas de culottes. Literally it means don't push Granny in the nettles, especially when she is not wearing underwear. De facto, it means don't exaggerate

les orties
Les orteils are your toes.
Autocorrect I imagine, it's a nightmare sometimes.

edit : I know it as "le beurre et l'argent du beurre" alright. Maybe it's a regional thing ?

Colsin91

I use predictive text alright with French. It is a pain in the backside.

I remember in college, in my French class I proudly said "un bon bailleur en fait bailler dix". My lecturer looked at me strangely. He had never heard the experssion. Every time I yawn, mt partner says it to me. Sometimes I am not sure if they are his family sayings or idioms. Is it widespread to say "il péte plus haut que ses fesses" ?