trempé comme une soupe

The French saying “trempé comme une soupe” means literally “soaked like a soup.” It means “soaked,” “wet” or “completely wet.”

This is a very old idiom whose exact origins are unknown. It sounds like it is stating the obvious, since a soup is, by definition, wet. But “soupe” originally meant the slice of bread that was dipped into the soup and then withdrawn in a state that was “as wet as a soup,” or “wet like a soup.”

Over time, the word “soupe” has come to mean the liquid part of the soup, not the bread that is dipped into it.

The nearest English equivalents to this saying are “wet to the skin” or “soaked to the bone.”

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

  • il y a

    The French phrase “il y a” means “there is” or “there are.” It covers both singular and plural. “il y a” versus “c’est” “Il y a” is often used for situations where you can’t see the thing being talked about. Eg “there is a bike in the garden” (when you’re not in the garden), or…

  • Thing

    In French, there are several words used to refer to “thing.” Each has its nuances and specific contexts where it’s most appropriate. Here’s a guide to the different French words for “thing.” Chose The most common word for “thing” is une chose. It is used broadly and can refer to just about any object or…

  • Thanking

    The way to say “thank you” in French involves words like “merci,” “remerciements” and “remercier.” Most people are familiar with “merci,” but may not have heard of the other two words. Merci “Merci” is either an exclamation or a masculine noun meaning “thanks” or “thank you.” Remerciements “Les remerciements” (masculine plural) is a noun meaning…

  • Faire vinaigre

    “Faire vinaigre” means literally to “make vinegar.” What could “make vinegar” possibly mean? It means to hurry up, to go faster. It’s also used by kids playing jump rope to indicate that they want the rope holders to turn the rope faster. The jump rope usage gives a clue as to the origin of this…

  • être

    The French verb “être” is the equivalent of the English verb “to be.” It’s the most frequently used verb in the whole French language. It’s an irregular verb, which means that is doesn’t follow regular conjugation patterns. This is the present tense of être: The verb être is used to express identity, nationality, and describing…

  • grammar: adjective position

    In French, adjectives can be positioned either before or after the noun they describe. Each placement has a different meaning. While most adjectives come after the noun, certain adjectives are usually placed before it. Adjectives Placed Before the Noun French has several categories of adjectives that are commonly placed before the noun. These include: 1….