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 phrase “il faut” translates to “it is necessary.” It is an impersonal expression, meaning that the “il” does not translate as “he,” but rather as “it.” So it means “it is necessary,” not “he is necessary.” In fact, the French verb “falloir,” which is the infinitive that “il faut” comes from, can only…
“Avoir les jambes en coton” means literally “to have legs of cotton” or “to have cotton legs.” It means to have no strength left in your legs, to have weak legs or to have unsteady legs. In English, you would probably say that you had “legs like jelly,” “jelly legs,” “rubber legs” or “shaky legs.”…
“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…
Meaning “Sentir” vs “Se Sentir” The key distinction between “sentir” and “se sentir” lies in the context and the object of the verb. “Sentir” focuses on external sensations or perceptions, whereas “se sentir” is inward, concerned with one’s emotional and physical state. Conjugation Let’s take a look at how “sentir” and “se sentir” are conjugated…
The French verbs “amener,” “apporter,” “emmener” and “emporter” are used to translate the English verbs “to take” and “to bring.” But which one should you use? And what happened to “prendre?” mener Both “amener” and “emmener” are based on the verb “mener,” which means “to lead.” You can lead a person, an animal or a…
“Prêcher dans le désert” means to speak without being heard, to speak to those who don’t want to listen, or to speak uselessly to people who don’t want to allow themselves to be convinced. Literally, it means “to preach in the desert” and is an evocative saying. This expression dates from the 18th century. It doesn’t…
