Pads Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Can any one explain this expression meaning to be down [:(]Avoir le cafard = I have the cockroach??? WHY ?Although I too would be down if I had cockroaches[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chessfou Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 cockroach is one meaning of cafard.Another meaning is dark thoughts, hence "feeling down." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted December 5, 2007 Author Share Posted December 5, 2007 Ah I see ![I] Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 I think it's linked to Beaudelaire (French poet), who used it in Les Fleurs du Mal.I'll have a quick look in my copy and report back... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Charles Beaudelaire - Les Fleurs du Mal - La Destruction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted December 5, 2007 Author Share Posted December 5, 2007 So would he of been the first person to use this word in this sense ? Hence the saying coming from his words? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 He seems to have been a very depressed (and depressing) person. He also used the word "spleen" a lot to express morbid depression.Every French pupil has had to learn and discuss several of his poems, hence the depressing note above...[:'(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Pads, if you have the blues, you can also "avoir le bourdon", so watch out for all these insects ! [:P]http://www.insectes.org/question/reponse.md?cle_faq=43&type=text.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisymay Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 I understood that cafard was also used for protestants because of their sombre clothing. I seem to remember something about Eleneor of Aquitaine and cafards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 A french neighbour once said to me "c'est triste" meaning the bad weather. I thought this was a strange use of the word but obviously acceptable to french people. I suppose we say such weather is depressing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 I think that would be a bit like saying "It's a gloomy day".Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 A little practise for you PadsUn jour un monsieur rentre chez un droguiste :Bonjour, je voudrais un insecticide.C'est pour les moustiques ou pour les mites ?C'est pour moi... J'ai le cafard ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWINKLE Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 They also say "J'ai un coup de blues" around my way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crépuscule Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 By chance, I found "broyer du noir" in my dictionary also allegedly meaning "down in the dumps". I've never seen it used anywhere. Is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Oh yes, I've heard it. It means sitting there turning over bad things in your mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Like "I'm pi s s e d off"[6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Toi, tu n'as pas plutôt les boules ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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