This French expression means “to go window shopping.” However it translates literally as “to do some lick-window.” This phrase comes from the idea that the window shopper is standing so close to the window and gazing in with such pleasure that it looks like she is licking the window. The idiom first appeared in the 20th century, following the more widespread availability of plate glass.
The French word “devant” can be used as a preposition, as an adverb, or as a noun. Preposition As a preposition, “devant” means “in front of,” “ahead of” or “before.” Adverb As an adverb, “devant” means “in front,” “at the front,” or “ahead.” Noun As a masculine noun, “le devant” means “the front.”
The French verb “être” is important in the French language. It serves as the equivalent of the English verb “to be” and plays a vital role in constructing sentences, expressing identity, existence, and characteristics. With its diverse conjugation patterns, “être” encapsulates the essence of being in the French language. As an irregular verb, “être” defies…
“En faire tout un fromage” literally means “to make a whole cheese out of it.” Which doesn’t make a lot of sense in English, of course. But its real meaning is “to make a mountain out of a molehill.” It refers to making a big story out of a small or insignificant thing or event,…
“Blanchir de l’argent” is a French expression meaning “to launder money.” Literally it means to whiten or to whitewash money, but in English you would say to launder. Just like the English expression, “blanchir de l’argent” means to give illegally gained money a valid, legal existence by hiding its criminal origins. This is done in…
The French idiom “poisson d’avril” literally means “fish of April”, which sounds meaningless and nonsensical. But in fact it refers to the name of any April Fool’s Day joke or prank, carried out on the 1st April in any year. It was first used towards the end of the 17th century, because the word “poisson”…
Exploring the French Verb “s’occuper de”: Usage, Etymology, and Examples 1. Understanding “s’occuper de” “S’occuper de” is a reflexive verb in French, which means it always requires a reflexive pronoun. The reflexive pronoun “se” changes according to the subject of the sentence: 2. Usages of “s’occuper de” a) Taking Care of Something or Someone One…