tout baigne

“Tout baigne” is a French saying that literally means “everything bathes.” This conjures up visions of a perfect summer beach setting, where some people lay in the sun and others splash about in the water.

The meaning of the saying seems to confirm this, because it means “everything is going well, it’s happening for the best, there is no problem.”

However this idiom is a shorter form of the original, which was “tout baigne dans l’huile,” which means “everything bathes in oil.” That referred to the cooking process and meant that everything was going well, because everything that was meant to be cooked, was currently being cooked in oil. Imagine a large quantity of “frites” (fries) cooking in oil. If enjoying some freshly cooked frites was your priority, you would be happy to know that “tout baigne.”

This expression is relatively recent, dating from the middle of the 20th century.

Equivalent English sayings include “everything is hunky dory,” “everything is running as smooth as silk,” or “easy-peasy.”

Subscribe to be informed of new posts!

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

  • appel du pied

    An “appel du pied” literally means a “call of the foot” but actually means a discrete invitation, a seduction attempt, an allusive proposal or simply an invitation. Its origin is unknown. There is a related term that exists in the world of fencing with swords, but it doesn’t seem to be linked to this usage….

  • 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…

  • pouvoir

    The French verb “pouvoir” means “to be able to” or “can” in English. It is an irregular verb that is commonly used in everyday communication. Here is its conjugation in the present tense: “Pouvoir” is used to express ability, permission, or possibility in various contexts. Its conjugations may change depending on the subject pronoun and…

  • le parti & la partie

    Homonyms are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation but have different meanings. In this article, we’ll delve into two French homonyms: “parti” and “partie.” Meaning and Usage 1. Le parti: 2. La partie: Etymology 1. Le Parti: Latin Origin: The word “parti” has its roots in the Latin word “partitus,” which is the…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *