D. Allan Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 peu (puh) un peu = a little, a bit bien peu = precious little, very little à peu prés = about (approximately) , pretty much à peu prés le même = about the same dans peu de temps = in a short time, in a while il y a peu de temps = not long ago être de peu = to be of little importance, without value quelque peu = somewhat, slightly (adv) « Attends un peu! » = wait a minute! « Beaucoup de bruit, peu de fruit. » - French proverb Much noise, little fruit. « Nous n'avons eu que bien peu à faire. » We have had only very little to do. « C’est peu de servir l’homme, il faut encore lui plaire. » Florian, Fables, 1792, p.107 It s not enough to serve man, you must please him too. Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 Il y a un peu d’eau pour l’éléphant. Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Gail Posted May 14, 2008 Administrators Share Posted May 14, 2008 Oui- peut-être il a très soif! (Maybe he's really thirsty!) Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 Ou peut-être il veut un bain moussant! (Or maybe he wants a bubble bath!) Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Gail Posted May 14, 2008 Administrators Share Posted May 14, 2008 Ou peut-être il veut un bain moussant! Un bain moussant? LOL Où pourrait-il en trouver un en Afrique? Est-ce qu'il y a une telle chose-là? Un bain de luxe, bien sûr! Trans- A bubble bath? LOL Where could he find one of those in Africa? Is there such a thing there? A luxurious bath, for sure! Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 15, 2008 Author Share Posted May 15, 2008 He just Originally Posted By: D. Allan Ou peut-être il veut un bain moussant! Un bain moussant? LOL Où pourrait-il en trouver un en Afrique? Est-ce qu'il y a une telle chose-là? Un bain de luxe, bien sûr! Trans- A bubble bath? LOL Where could he find one of those in Africa? Is there such a thing there? A luxurious bath, for sure! Il y a besoin de plus des éléphants pour faire les bulles d'air dan l'eau. He needs more elephants to blow air-bubbles. Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 15, 2008 Author Share Posted May 15, 2008 On dit, pour faire; ou à faire Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Gail Posted May 15, 2008 Administrators Share Posted May 15, 2008 "pour faire" ou peut-être "de faire + quelque chose (qch)" You would find à faire mostly at the end of a sentence, such as: Il n'y a rien à faire- There's nothing to do Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 15, 2008 Author Share Posted May 15, 2008 thanks beaucoup Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 15, 2008 Author Share Posted May 15, 2008 énergie (eh-nehr-zhee) fem. energy énergie solaire, solar energy énergie nucléaire, nuclear energy « L' attention est l' état de l' homme qui veut surmonter une difficulté ; c' est une manière d' être, produite par l' énergie de la volonté ; c' est un effet, et non pas une cause. . . » - Antoine-Louis-Claude Destutt De Tracy, Eléments d’idéologie – I Attention is the state of one who wishes to surmount a difficulty; it is a state of consciousness produced by the will’s energy; it is an effect, and not a cause. . . Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 16, 2008 Author Share Posted May 16, 2008 Une souris verte* (ewn soo-ree vehrt) (Child's song) Une souris verte Qui courait dans l’herbe. Je l’attrape par la queue, Je la montre à ces messieurs. Ces messieurs me dissent : Trempez – la dans l’huile, Trempez-la dans l’eau, Ça fera un escargot tout chaud. Je la mets dans un tiroir, Ell’ me dit : Il fait trop noir. Je la mets dans mon chapeau, Ell’ me dit : Il fait trop chaud. *Une souris vert, literally “a green mouse,” in other words immature, like a green fruit. Little Baby Mousie (freely translated) Lit-tle ba-by mous-ie He runs in the green grass . When I catch him by the tail, I show him to those old men. Those old men they tell me: Put him in some oi-il , Or in some wat-er, That will make the lit-tle slug** all warm. I put him in a draw-er, He tells me: It’s too dar--rk. I put him in my ha-at, He tells me it’s much too warm. - dAb ** “escargot” is actually a snail. An “escargot de pays” is a land snail. Une souris verte -97-03.doc Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Gail Posted May 16, 2008 Administrators Share Posted May 16, 2008 When I read through the poem and got to the part about the escargot, I knew that they meant snail, for escargot is a well-known appetizer. The actual word for slug is "limace (f)". I remember the story my Belgian friend told me about when she lived in Costa Rica. During the rainy season they would have great big slugs all over the place, even inside the house on the curtains. I did enjoy the little ditty! Thanks for finding it, dab! I'd never seen it before :) Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 16, 2008 Author Share Posted May 16, 2008 Quote: When I read through the poem and got to the part about the escargot, I knew that they meant snail, for escargot is a well-known appetizer. 'Ces messieurs' were teasing that the little mouse would be a nice snack! I've never 'enjoyed' the delicacy of snail. Are they served in the shell? Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Gail Posted May 16, 2008 Administrators Share Posted May 16, 2008 Quote: I've never 'enjoyed' the delicacy of snail. Are they served in the shell? Couldn't tell you as I've never partaken. Supposedly they are done up with garlic and butter, but anything done with garlic and butter would improve in flavour! I do remember reading up once on the process but that still didn't tempt me... Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 19, 2008 Author Share Posted May 19, 2008 porter (pohr-teh ), noun, masc. 1. in dancing, a lifting or carrying of one’s partner 2. a brown beer of English origin porter , verb 1. to carry 2. to bring, take, transport 3. to wear, carry, “He wears a shirt,” “Il porte une chemise” 4. of one’s ‘bearing’, “She holds her head high,” “Elle porte la tête haute.” “Les chaînes du mariage sont si lourdes qu’il faut être deux pour les porter.” -Alexandre Dumas (fils) The chains of marriage are so heavy that it takes two to carry them. (C’est amusant!) Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 20, 2008 Author Share Posted May 20, 2008 1. rire (reer ) verb, riant pr.pt; ri past pt. rire de, to laugh at, about rire aux anges, (lit. to laugh with the angels) to smile gently while sleeping rire aux éclats, to roar with laughter pour rire, for a joke, for a laugh rire de someone, to make fun of someone, laugh at someone se rire de, Formal, to laugh at Je ris, tu* ris, elle rit, nous rions,vous riez, elles rient I laugh, you laugh, she laughs, we laugh, you laugh, they laugh Elle rit de tout ce que vous dites. Pourquoi ? Parce qu’elle a de jolies dents. -Benjamin Franklin She laughs at everything you say. Why? Because she has pretty teeth. « Le ketchup m’a giclé sur la figure. C'était génial. On a ri tous les deux sans pouvoir s’arrêter. » - André Gauthier, Mon Papa The ketchup spurted on my face. It was awesome. They both laughed without being able to stop themselves. 2. rire , noun, masculine, a laugh rires, laughter, singular « Le rire est à l’homme ce que la bière est à la pression. » Alphonse Allais To a man a laugh is like beer on tap. 3. risible , adjective, laughable « . . . il n'en est pas moins vrai que la bouche risible de ces paysans reste encore assez large pour avaler trois cachalots. » - Isidore Ducasse, Dit Le Comte de Lautrémont, Les chants de Maldoror It is none the less true that the comical mouths of these peasants stay open wide enough to swallow three whales. Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 marier (mahr-yeh), 1. to marry a. (of priest, pastor) to unite in wedlock b. to give one’s daughter in marriage 2. to join, unite, marier des couleurs, to blend colors « Personne ne connaît mon secret que le respectable abbé Pirard. J’irai chez lui ; il nous mariera. » – Stendhal, Rouge and Noir, 1830, p. 441 No one knows my secret except the respectable abbot Pirard. I will go to his place ; he will marry us. se marier 1. to marry, get married, to wed, Se marier à , Se marier avec 2. (of color, etc.) to go with, to harmonize with, Se marier avec; Ces deux mots ne se marient pas bien = These two words do not go together. mari, masc. husband marié, masc. married man, bridegroom mariée, fem. married lady, bride mariage, sing. masc. marriage, wedding mariable, adj. of an age for marriage, marriageable « Jeanne va se marier. Pour commencer, ils vont habiter dans une petite maison de gardien proche du domaine où travaille Louis. » Sophie Roïk, Les Fraise des Bois Jeanne is going to get married. To begin with they are going to live in a little guard house near the estate where Louis works. « je veux me marier avec l’femme que j’aime. » I want to marry the woman I love. « On me dit: ‘Mariez-vous’, mais je ne suis pas mariable, si je n’aime pas infiniment. » - Montherl, Lépreuses, 1939, p. 1390 They tell me : Marry ! but I am not ready for marriage if I do not love infinitely. « Ce voyage hebdomadaire, elle le faisait maintenant sans même donner d'explication à son mari. » – Emile Zola, La Bête Humaine This weekly trip, she made now without even giving a reason to her husband. Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Gail Posted May 21, 2008 Administrators Share Posted May 21, 2008 Oui, je me suis mariée à mon mari... Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 adorer (ah-doh-reh ) , verb 1. to adore, to worship (a god) 2. fam. to adore, idolize, to be passionately fond of synonymes: adorer, admirer, aduler, aimer, bénir, chérir, déifier, glorifier, idolâtrer, prier, raffoler, rendre, servir, vénérer related words : adorant, adoring, (pres. part.) adoré, adored, (past. part.) adorable, adj. adorable, lovely, loveable adorateur, noun , masc., worshipper, one who adores adoration, noun, fem., act of adoring Il ne l’aime pas, il l’adore. Cette mère est folle de son fils, elle l’adore. He does not like her, he adores her. This mother is crazy about her son, she worships him. « . . .et recommença a sortir avec mistress Reiver pour toute la durée de la saison, l'adorant d'une façon discrète et respectueuse, comme un ange du ciel. » –Rudyard Kipling, Dans L’Erreur . . . and he began again to go out with Mrs. Reiver for the duration of the season, adoring her in a discreet and respectable manner, as an angel from heaven. « . . . il est adoré de la multitude en délire, qui aime, non par le jugement, mais par les yeux. . . » -William Shakespeare, Hamlet . . . he is worshipped by the crowd enthusiastically, which loves , not by their judgment, but by their eyes. . . Il n'y a pas, dans toute la Lorraine, un coin de nature plus adorable. – Emile Zola, L’Attaque du Moulin There is not in all Lorraine a corner of nature more lovely. « . . . c'était Moïse dénonçant la sentence mortelle à l'infidèle adorateur du veau d'or ; . . . » -François René de Chateaubriand, Les Martyrs . . . it was Moses announcing the fatal sentence on the unfaithful worshipper of the golden calf ; . . . « Télesphore vint s'asseoir près de lui et le regarda avec adoration. » -Louis Hémon, Maria Chapdelaine Telesphore comes to sit near him and looks at him with adoration. « L'enfant était devenue jeune fille, et je l'aimais à l'adoration à la folie. Ah! monsieur, vous la verrez... » -Louis Fréchette, Le Retour de L’Exilé The child had become a young woman, and I loved her adoringly, madly. Ah! Mr., you will see . . . Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Gail Posted May 22, 2008 Administrators Share Posted May 22, 2008 Mmmmm.... j'adore le chocolat! Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 Ah! vous dirais-je maman Chanson des enfants, Children’s song Sung to the tune known in English as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” Ah ! vous dirais-je, maman...........Oh! to you would I say, mama, Ce qui cause mon tourment?..........What is causing my torment? Papa veut que je raisonne.............Papa wants me to think (reason) Comme une grande personne..........Like a grown-up person. Moi je sais que les bonbons............Me, I know that candy Valent mieux que la raison.............Is better than such thinking. Ah ! vous dirais-je, maman...........Oh! to you would I say, mama, Ce qui cause mon tourment?..........What is causing my torment? Papa veut que je retienne.............Papa wants me to remember Les verbes La Laurentienne...........All the Laurentienne verbs. Moi je dis que les bonbons............Me, I say that candy Valent mieux que les leçons...........Is better than those lessons. Are little French children so polite? An American child might say "Oooh, mama, I'm telling you / Who it is thats teasing me./ Papa..." etc. Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 26, 2008 Author Share Posted May 26, 2008 plaisanterie (play-zon-tree), noun, fem. joke, prank, something said or done to amuse faire des plaisanteries, to crack jokes faire des plaisanteries à quelqu’un, to make fun of someone tourner la chose en plaisanterie, to turn a thing into a joke, to laugh a thing off plaisanterie à part, joking aside, seriously Entendre, entendre bien la plaisanterie, to take things said as amusing, without taking offense. plaisanter, verb, intrans. « Je reconnais, Monsieur Holmes, dit-il, que je vous ai des obligations, mais je dois regarder ce que vous venez de dire ou comme une plaisanterie de mauvais goût ou comme une insulte. Sherlock se mit à rire. » -Arthur Conan Doyle, Sliver Blaze ‘I recognize, Mr. Holmes,’ he said, ‘that I am obliged to you, but I must consider what you just said as either a joke in bad taste, or as an insult.’ Sherlock began to laugh. « Eh bien! non, monsieur le Curé, ce n'est pas possible. La commune n'a pas le sou.., Si le bon Dieu fournit le plâtre et les tuiles, nous fournissons les maçons. » Cette plaisanterie de paysan incrédule le fit éclater d'un rire énorme. –Emile Zola, La Faute de L’Abbé Mouret ‘Well ! no, Father, it’s not possible. The town hasn’t a penny. . , If the good Lord provides the plaster and the tiles, we will provide the masons.’ This skeptical peasant’s jest made him burst into an enormous laugh. « Il lui demanda sans la moindre hésitation: Parlez-vous sérieusement ou plaisantez-vous?>> – -anon., Le Chevalier de la Charrette (Lancelot) – Modern French Version He asked him without the least hesitation : ‘Are you serious or joking?’ Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 27, 2008 Author Share Posted May 27, 2008 Après un virage brusque au dessus ... after a sharp turn above … brusque ( brewsk ), adj. brusque, abrupt, curt, offhand, blunt brusquer, verb: to be brusque with someone; to rush matters brusquerie, sing. fem. brusqueness brusquement, adv. brusquely « Ma gaieté n’a pas duré. J’ai eu une brusque rechute de nostalgie fresnoise et scolaire. » -Henry Goutier-Villars, Sidonie Gabrielle Colette, A. Roubille, Claudine à Paris, p. 91 (pub. 1903) My cheerfulness did not last. I had an abrupt relapse of nostalgia for Fresnes and school. « Il a quelque chose de brusque et d’impétueux qui ne lui attire pas beaucoup d’amis. » -Lettres de Madame de Sévigné de sa famille et de ses amis, (B. VII, 46.) He has something abrupt and impetuous about him which does not attract many friends. « La mère Gabet, souffrant d'une crise brusque de sa sciatique, n'était pas venue; et d'autres soins de ménage retenaient Hubertine au logis. » -Emile Zola, Le Rêve Mother Gabet, suffering from a sudden attack of her sciatica, did not come; and other household cares kept Hubertin at home. « Julien se retira brusquement de la fenêtre, descendit précipitamment l' escalier et arriva juste dans la cour en même temps que la voiture. » -Champfleury, Les Bourgeois de Molinchart Julien withdrew abruptly from the window, went in a rush down the staircase and reached the courtyard just at the same moment as the car. « Que la brusquerie de mes paroles ne te fâchent point, je suis franc. Sois homme, Élie ! tu* as déjà beaucoup baissé dans l' opinion de tes camarades par ta liaison condamnable ; mais le passé est passé, que Dieu t'accompagne ! » - Alexandre Dumas (Père), La Princesse Flora I hope the bluntness of my words does not annoy you, I’m sincere. Be a man, Elie! you have already fallen very much in the opinion of your friends due to your reprehensible affair; but the past is past, may God go with you! Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 trêve ( trehv), sing. fem. 1. truce, cease fire 2. figurative: pause, respite, rest, intermission Trêve de plaisantries: Familiar: enough of this nonsense; let’s stop this joking ; let’s get serious; (seriously) sans trêve: unceasing(ly), without intermission [color:#CC6600] « Ils envoient des députés à Rome, et proposent la paix; une trêve de cent ans leur est accordée, mais au prix d'une partie de leur territoire. » -Tite-Live, Histoire Romaine They sent delegates to Rome proposing peace; a truce of one hundred years was granted to them, but at the cost of part of their territory. Oh! que je suis heureux de vous revoir! - C'est bien, c'est bien, maître Bazin, dit Aramis; tréve de compliments. –Alexandre (Père) Dumas, Vingt ans après Oh ! how happy I am to see you again! - It’s good, it’s good, maestro Bazin, says Aramis; that’s enough compliments. « . . . cette bouderie contre la bouteille n'est pas naturelle: ce que je te dis. MOI: Mais vous pourriez bien avoir deviné juste. BIGRE LE FILS: Jacques, trêve de plaisanteries, placées ou déplacées, je ne les aime pas. » Denis Diderot, Jacques le fataliste et son maître . . . this sulkiness against the bottle isn’t natural: that’s what I tell you. ME: You very well may have figured that out . BIGRE THE SON: Jack, enough of jokes, well placed or out of place, I don’t like them. Je m' arrêtai tout un dimanche à Lucerne. Les cloches sonnant sans trêve, la neige épandue sur le paysage, le froid m' accablaient de tristesse. – Maurice Barrès, Un Homme Libre I stayed all Sunday at Lucerne. The bells sounding without pause, the snow spread out on the landscape, the coldness, weighed me down with sadness. Si vous trouvez une information erronée, de faute de frappe ou d'orthographe, veuillez demander la modification. Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 lorsque (lohrsk) conj. when (at the time, moment) lors . . . . que = lorsque: Lors même que nous sommes heureux. Even when we are happy. lors de = at the time of ; during. Il fait beau lors de sa naissance. It was good weather at the time of /during his birth Lorsque and quand are interchangeable J'en jugerai lorsque je serai mieux informé. Lorsqu'il est arrivé, je sortais. Lorsqu'il pleut, les oiseaux se taisent. –Dictionnaire de L’Académie française, 8th Edition (1932-5) I'll consider it when I am better informed. When it happens, I leave. When it rains the birds are silent. « Le banquier est quelqu’un qui vous prête son parapluie lorsque le soleil brille et vous le retire aussitôt qu’il pleut. » -Mark Twain A banker is someone who lends you his umbrella when the sun shines and takes it back as soon as it is raining. « Pendant les fouilles faites en présence du roi à Naples, lors de la restauration de 1815, on trouva dans une des chambres de la maison d'Alcmaeon une grande fresque d'une beauté très particulière, qui représentait un groupe de nymphes dont les yeux étaient tournés vers la figure principale. » - Charles Baudelaire, Le jeune enchanteur, histoire tirée d’un palimpseste de Pompeïa During the searches made in the presence of the king at Naples, at the time of the restoration in 1815, they found in one of the rooms of the house of Alcmaeon a large fresco of a very special beauty, which represented a group of nymphs whose eyes were turned toward the main face. « La poudre de violette était employée au XIX° siècle, surtout en Angleterre et en Allemagne, pour calmer les douleurs des petits enfants lors de la pousse des dents. » -Paul Lafargue, Le Darwinisme sur la scène française A powder of violets was used in the 19th century, especially in England and Germany, to calm the pain of small children during toothing. Car lors même que notre langage est exact, élégant, sublime, ces qualités sont uniquement le résultat de l' ensemble et de l’ enchaînement du discours, puisque nous ne louons dans les mots que leur convenance avec les choses. –Quintilien, L’Institution oratoire For even when our language is precise, elegant, and sublime, these qualities are only the result of the whole, of the chain of the speech, since we praise words only for their suitability with things. Si vous trouvez une information erronée, de faute de frappe ou d'orthographe, veuillez demander la modification. Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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