k&k learn french 75 -
jéter l'éponge
In show 75 we discuss "jeter l'éponge" (to give up) - yet another useful expression if you're playing endless card games with small peoples!
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To throw the sponge
English equivalent
To throw in the towel
To give up
To quit
Admit defeat
To stop trying
French equivalent
Abandonner (to abandon)
Renoncer (to give up)
Frog's phrase
Kyliemac n'est pas contente que Katia ne l'ait pas invitée en australie. Heureusement elle a jeté l'éponge depuis que Katia lui a rapporté tout un stock de Tim Tams.
Translation
Kyliemac is not happy that Katia didn't invite her to Australia. Thankfully, she gave up when Katia brought her an entire stock of Tim Tams.
k&k learn french 74 -
il n'y a pas le feu au lac
In show 74 we explain "il n'y a pas le feu au lac" (there's no rush) - a very commonly used expression in the French workplace!
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
There is not the fire at the lake
English equivalent
There's no rush
There's no hurry
There's no need to panic
We've got time
Where's the fire?
French equivalent
Y a pas le feu (there's no fire)
Il n'y a pas d'urgence (there's no emergency)
On n'est pas pressé (we're not in a hurry)
Frog's phrase
Kylie : Allô? Frog?
Frog Oui allô?
Kylie : Dépêche-toi! T'as deux heures de retard pour enregistrer le podcast!
Frog : Oh la là, c'est bon, y a pas de feu a lac, ohhh.
Translation
Kylie : Hello? Frog?
Frog : Yeah hi?
Kylie : Hurry up! You're running two hours late for the podcast!
Frog : Ohhh, it's fine, there's no need to panic, ohhh.
k&k learn french 73 -
se sortir les doigts du cul
The expression "se sortir les doigts du cul" (get a move on) is not the most polite of French expressions (and therefore one should be cautious when using it), but in show 73, we talk about the fact that it's certainly one that you'll hear if you spend any amount of time with the French!
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To leave ones fingers of the arse
English equivalent
Pull your finger out (of your arse)
Get a move on
Get a wriggle on
Get your arse / butt into gear
Move your arse / butt
Get the lead out
French equivalent
Faire un effort (to make an effort)
S'activer (to speed oneself up)
Se mettre au travail (put oneself to work)
Frog's phrase
Pamela a enfin décidé de se sortir les doigts du cul et de prendre des cours de français. Ahhh.
Translation
Pamela has finally decided to pull her finger out and take French lessons.
k&k learn french 72 -
avoir les chevilles qui enflent
"Avoir les chevilles qui enflent" is not actually a reference to an affliction often suffered by pregnant women, but to the unfortunate tendency of some people to have a big head. You'll hear all about it in show 72.
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To have the ankles which swell
English equivalent
To have a big head
To hink one is hot shit
To be full of oneself
To think highly of oneself
To think one is better han everyone else
French equivalent
Prendre la grosse tête
Péter plus haut que son cul (covered in learn french #34)
Se croire sortie de la cuisse de Jupiter (see learn french #54)
Frog's phrase
Chaque fois que vous dites à Katia qu'elle chante bien, elle a les chevilles qui enflent, faites attenion, déjà qu'elle a tendance à avoir les orteils qui enflent... hehehe.
Translation
Every time you tell Katia that she sings well, she gets a big head, so be careful, given that she has the tendency to have toes that swell... hehehe.
k&k learn french 71 -
se faire des couilles en or
"Se faire des couilles en or" means to make a fortune, and in show 71 we explain how else you can say this in French and in English.
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To make one's balls in gold
English equivalent
To make a mint
To make the jackpot
To make a bundle
To strike it rich
French equivalent
Ramasser le pactole (to collect the bonanza)
Se faire une fortune (to make a fortune)
Gagner une fortune (to win a fortune)
Antonym
Se faire des couilles en plomb (to make one's balls in lead)
Frog's phrase
Frog a mis en vente des poupées à l'effigie de Katia et Kyliemac. Grâce à ça, il s'est fait des couilles en or, et habite, désormais, à Monaco.
Translation
Frog put Katia and Kyliemac dolls up for sale. Because of this endeavour, he struck it rich, and now lives in Monaco.
k&k learn french 70 -
crever la dalle
"Crever a dalle" means to be really really hungry! You'll hear all about it and other alternative ways to say it in French (and in English) in show 70.
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To burst the flagstone
English equivalent
To be starving
To be dying of hunger
To be starving to death
To be ravenous
To be fricken' hungry
To be famished
French equivalent
Crever de faim (to burst of hunger)
Avoir la dalle (to have the flagstone)
Avoir les crocs (to have the fangs)
Avoir très faim (to have much hunger)
Frog's phrase
Depuis la crise internationale et la pénurie de m&ms, on crève la dalle dans le Coffee Table Studio.
Translation
Ever since the international crisis and the shortage of m&ms, we're dying of hunger in the Coffee Table Studio.
