New French idiom

New to me, anyway.

Champs libre, free rein.

A propos of absolutely nothing I have found that if you want translation software to use tu you can write thou.

I haven’t tried thou art or even good Yorkshire speak th’art. :joy:

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That’s a great tip! Thanks!

Thine translates as à toi!

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That’s useful! I get fed up of changing Vous to Tu where it’s appropriate.

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cf avoir quartier libre :slightly_smiling_face:

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I came across a new expression today. I am not exactly sure what it means but I think I got the gist of it. I was helping my neighbour, whose invalid husband had fallen on the floor. As we lifted him she said he was very heavy, then added “dis donc”. When I asked her afterwards what it meant I got more Gallic shrugs than explanation. Perhaps someone like @vero could help with its meaning? Google translate just says “hey”

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“….., You don’t say” ?

As in …”this is bl00dy heavy “

….”You don’t say”

or

“You go on…” , in another context. As in “Tell us” or “Tell us more” or “Tell us, then”

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It’s usually just a “goodness" sort of understated acknowledgment of something or a reinforcement, often said as eh bien dis-donc, often coming after ça alors. You can also use it in a very passive aggressive way eg you see something unsuitable that’s none of your business but you say eh ben dis-donc to indicate you have noticed and are judging.

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You might expect that but for that we’d say just dis or dis-moi tout, no donc, or more usually raconte.

Thanks for the replies. I think I will just revert to my Dellboy French

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A Quebeqois uses it more rhetorically, as “You don’t say!”

:canada: