ne pas envoyer dire

The French expression “ne pas envoyer dire” (also written as “ne pas l’envoyer dire”), means “to say something to someone, very directly, bluntly, or unceremoniously.”

Example of usage

  • “C’est qu’il n’est pas content ! Non, foutre ! Il n’est pas content, et il ne l’envoie pas dire !” (It’s because he is not happy. No, damn! He isn’t happy, and he makes no bones about it).
  • “La gosse n’aime pas ses galons et elle ne lui envoie pas dire” (the little girl doesn’t like her braids and she says so, in no uncertain terms)
  • “Tu sais ce que je suis et ta mère ne me l’a pas envoyé dire, tout à l’heure” (You know what I am, and your mother told me without pulling any punches, just now)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • avoir la dent dure

    French is full of colorful expressions that don’t always have obvious meanings at first glance. One such expression is “avoir la dent dure”, which literally translates to “to have a hard tooth.” Its figurative meaning, however, is quite different. Meaning and Origin of the Expression The expression “avoir la dent dure” is used to describe…

  • How to say “under” in French

    Translating prepositions from one language to another can be a tricky task. One group of prepositions that often poses challenges in learning French is the one containing “under,” “underneath,” “below” and “beneath.” “Sous” The most common and straightforward translation for “under” in French is “sous.” This word is the primary equivalent of “under” and is…

  • faire long feu

    The French idiom “faire long feu” literally translates as “to make long fire.” What it really means is “to drag on,” “to not have the desired effect,” “to last longer than expected” or “to miss your goal.” It comes from the era of of muzzle-loading rifles, before the invention of waterproof cartridges that enclosed the…