SaligoBay Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 Expressions like "double entendre" or time off "in lieu".Garlic bread.Cafetières. I'm sure there are more, but after a while you forget...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 Sacre bleu, is that french or not............ I don't think that french people say it...... has anyone heard anyone say it....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chauffour Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 french windows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val_2 Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 Johnny Hallyday for one. Bet this got up our racist bigot of a neighbour's nose who lives and breathes Johnny and has even banned his young kids from playing any other music in the house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernice Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 "cul de sac" - use of this term will cause French people to snigger .....Bernice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opas Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 `Frech Kissing` ......I have never been greeted in this way in France,well not out of the home anyway.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 French letters, French leave.The French think they're English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 Charles Aznavour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Later Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 French toast, french fries, french cricket, french humour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissie Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 Where does the word "duvet" come from? And "valance"? I always thought they were French until I went shopping here.Chrissie(81) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teejay Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 Slightly perplexed by this thread as I assumed the expression cul-de-sac was utterly French and so did some immobilier recently who described one property has having 'acces a la propriete par un chemin en cul-de-sac'. Surely its meaning 'bottom of a sack/bag' describes pretty well what we have come to accept as 'no way out'.According to an ancient copy of Harrap's, 'cafetiere' is perfectly acceptable too. I just thought it was a coffee pot. Confused without being dazed,J. (sans accents) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 [quote]Where does the word "duvet" come from? And "valance"? I always thought they were French until I went shopping here. Chrissie (81)[/quote]'Duvet' is from the Old French 'dumet' from Old Norse 'dum' or 'dun' meaning 'down' (as in Eider).'Valance' is also Old French, related to 'avaler', to hang down (old meaning), also related to 'avalanche'.Neither seems to be in use with the same meaning as in English, though.'Smarmy knowall git' is an English term, however.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 The french use ederon, for an eider down, and easy one to spot.And duvet, well, the word duvet is used quite a bit. And includes plumes. Also that fuzz adolescent boys grow on their chins is called duvet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now