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 word “cloche” means “bell,” but in French slang, it means “head” or sometimes “idiot.” In the middle of the 19th century, this saying meant to get drunk. But by 1900, it had changed to its present meaning, which is to have a good meal, to banquet, to gorge oneself, to thoroughly enjoy (food &…
In French, certain verbs such as “être” (to be), “avoir” (to have), “faire” (to do/make), and “aller” (to go) have unique conjugation patterns. Interestingly, the third person plural forms (“they” form) of these verbs all end in “ont.” No other French verbs have the “they” form ending in “ont.” This article will explore the present…
Here are the 19 most important irregular verbs to know in French. They are important because they are very frequently used. They are also important to know because many exist in compound form (eg, venir is used in the compound forms revenir, devenir, prévenir, provenir, convenir, survenir and advenir, among others). Since these 19 verbs…
The French saying “se brosser” literally means “to brush yourself.” What it really means is to be obliged to do without something you desire, to make a noise, to rummage around, or even just to wash yourself. It comes from a French idiom “faire brosse,” which meant to miss or to fail. This dates back…
“Donner un coup de pouce” is a French saying that literally means “to give a push of the thumb.” It really means a rapid and audacious attack, a smart way to proceed, some momentary help, or just help in general. The origin of this idiom is unknown. Its first date of use is also unknown….
“Franchir le Rubicon” means to cross the Rubicon. It means to take a decisive and irreversible step, to take a decision and accept all its consequences, to make an irreversible choice, or to take an irrevocable decision. The Rubicon is a river that in 49 BC separated Gaul from the Roman Empire. Julius Caesar, the great…