Une bête de somme means a workhorse or a beast of burden. Back in the 12th century, “une somme” meant the load that a horse or a mule could carry. Then, in the 16th century, the term “bête de somme” arrived. These days, the more common word for burden is “un fardeau,” but the term “bête de somme” survives in its original form.
The French saying “marquer d’une pierre blanche” literally means “to mark with a white stone.” It means to write down a date so as to remember it for a long time, or to identify a period of time as being especially memorable and auspicious because a happy or favourable event took place then. This idiom…
The French verb “savoir” is a frequently used verb. It means “to know.” It is different from the verb “connaître,” which means “to know” in the sense of “to be familiar with.” “Savoir” is more like “to know how” (to do something). “Savoir” is an irregular verb, which means it doesn’t follow the usual rules for…
“Mine de rien” is a popular French expression that is used in everyday conversations. Literally translated, it means “appearance of nothing,” “expression of nothing,” or “look of nothing,” but its true meaning goes beyond its literal interpretation. This expression is often used to describe someone’s behavior or attitude when they are doing something in a…
“L’arbre qui cache la forêt” – what does this French expression mean? Literally it translates as “the tree that hides the forest.” In English, you would refer to someone who “can’t see the forest for the trees” or who “can’t see the wood for the trees.” Someone who gets caught up in details that prevent…
This expression means “that’s it,” “that’s enough” or “we’re all squared up.” It refers to payment and is based on the street “rue Michel le Comte” in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. This street received its name in 1270. The expression comes from the drivers of horse drawn hackney cabs who were originally based in the…
Meaning The primary meaning of the French verb “râler” is “to grumble” or “to complain.” It is used to express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or frustration, often in a vocal or audible manner. However, “râler” can take on several additional meanings depending on the context: Conjugation “Râler” belongs to the group of regular “-er” verbs, and its…
