French Word of the Day

underneath there

Le chat est sous la table. Il se cache là-dessous.
The cat is under the table. He’s hiding underneath there.

THIS WEEK
One of the things you might notice when you visit French-speaking country is that the word là — there — comes up a lot. Inevitably, there seems to be some pointing involved as someone describes to you where something is located. Moreover, là is often combined with other adverbs of place to emphasize the direction of something. This week, we’re going to look at this little word with a big place in day-to-day French language.

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over there

Le chien joue avec la balle là-bas.
The dog is playing with the ball over there.

THIS WEEK
One of the things you might notice when you visit French-speaking country is that the word là — there — comes up a lot. Inevitably, there seems to be some pointing involved as someone describes to you where something is located. Moreover, là is often combined with other adverbs of place to emphasize the direction of something. This week, we’re going to look at this little word with a big place in day-to-day French language.

WITH MEMBERSHIP, LIFE’S A LITTLE MORE FRENCH!

• MEMBERS can reiview last week’s words by taking our weekly quiz.
• SUBSCRIBE TODAY to become a member. Only 3.95 a month!
• Thinking about becoming a member? Take our Visitors Preview.

Actual meaning: to have a lot of nerve
Literal meaning: to have tuft of hair

Il m’a accusé de mentir. Il a vraiment du toupet!
He accused me of lying. He’s really got a lot of nerve!

ORIGIN OF THIS EXPRESSION
This expression is said to have originated in the 16th Century as a reference to men who were hired by Italian nobles to kill their competitors. The assassins, who did not want to be recognized, would hide their faces with a long tress of hair — un toupet. Hence, to have le toupet came to be an exaggerated way to say someone has the same nerve as these cold-blooded killers.

THIS WEEK
We love idiomatic phrases. This week, we’ll discover more of these fun and useful gems that provide a fascinating window into the French mindset.

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Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

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Actual meaning: to wait forever
Literal meaning: to make like a leek (which grows very slowly)

Robert a fait le poireau parce que Jean était deux heures en retard.
Robert waited forever, because Jean was two hours late.

THIS WEEK
We love idiomatic phrases. This week, we’ll discover more of these fun and useful gems that provide a fascinating window into the French mindset.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BENEFITS OF A VOILA! MEMBERSHIP
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guilty, not guilty

L’homme a été déclaré non coupable par le jury.
The man was found not guilty by the jury.

THIS WEEK
It’s our own version of a courtroom drama here at French Fanatic as we examine the vocabulary of the court.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

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to rule

Le juge a statué en faveur du demandeur.
The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiff.

THIS WEEK
It’s our own version of a courtroom drama here at French Fanatic as we examine the vocabulary of the court.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

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the plaintiff

Le demandeur réclame des dommages au motif que le vendeur a menti.
The plaintiff is claiming damages on the grounds the salesman lied.

THIS WEEK
It’s our own version of a courtroom drama here at French Fanatic as we examine the vocabulary of the court.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

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to travel through time

Pensez-vous que l’humanité apprendra à voyager à travers le temps?
Do you think that mankind will learn to travel through time?

THIS WEEK
We’ll cover words to describe how we manipulate and manage time.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

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to go back in time

Visiter la France, c’est comme remonter dans le temps.
To visit France is like going back in time.

THIS WEEK
We’ll cover words to describe how we manipulate and manage time.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BENEFITS OF A VOILA! MEMBERSHIP
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and our archives by subject.

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