k&k learn french 108 -
casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu'un
"Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu'un" (to talk (about someone) behind their back) is a really useful expression if you like to engage in a little bit of gossip now and again! Hear all about it in show 108!
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To break some sugar on the back of someone
English equivalents
To talk (about someone) behind their back
To bitch (about someone) behind their back
To backbite someone
To bad-mouth someone
To backstab someone
To rip someone to shreds (behind their back)
To gossip about someone
To criticise someone (behind their back)
To speak ill of someone
To talk trash about someone
To trash-talk someone
French equivalents
Critiquer quelqu'un (to criticise someone)
Dire du mal de quelqu'un (to speak badly of someone)
Parler dans le dos de quelqu'un (to speak in the back of someone)
Dire des méchancetés/vacheries/saloperies sur quelqu'un (to say nasties/bitchy remarks about someone)
Dénigrer quelqu'un (denigrate someone)
Parler derrière le dos de quelqu'un (to speak behind the back of someone)
Habiller quelqu'un de toutes pièces (to dress someone of all pieces)
Habiller quelqu'un (to dress someone)
Frog's phrase
Pamela aime bien discuter avec sa meilleure amie Mary-Jane, et casser du sucre sur le dos de Jean-Pierre pendant qu'il regarde TF1.
Translation
Pamela likes talking with her best friend Mary-Jane, and to backstab Jean-Pierre whilst he watches TF1.
25 Apr, 2010
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expressions
k&k learn french 107 -
être plus royaliste que le roi
"Être plus royaliste que le roi" (to go overboard) is a commonly used expression but which is quite tricky to explain and provide a good translation in English, as you'll hear about show 107.
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To be more royalist than the king
English equivalents
To be more Catholic than the Pope
To go overboard
French equivalents
Être plus catholique que le Pape (to be more Catholic than the Pope)
Faire des excès de zèle (to have an excess of zeal)
Frog's phrase
Au début de l'aventure du podcast, Kyliemac était toujours plus royaliste que le roi. Elle supprimait les gros mots, et les petits bruits de tout, elle raccourcissait aussi les rires de Katia. Maintenant, trois ans plus tard, elle en a plus rien à foutre.
Translation
At the beginning of the podcast, Kyliemac was always going overboard. She deleted swear words and all sorts of little noises, and she shortened Katia's laughter. Now, three years later, she doesn't give a shit.
18 Apr, 2010
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expressions
k&k learn french 106 -
avoir du pain sur la planche
"Avoir du pain sur la planche" (to have a lot to do) is an expression often heard in the French workplace and at school (well, pretty much everywhere work is involved!), as you'll hear in show 106.
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To have some bread on the board
English equivalent
To have a lot to do
To have lots to do
To have a lot on one's plate
To have one's work cut out (for them)
To be busy
To have a lot going on
(Note : to have too much on one's plate = to have too much stuff going on)
French equivalent
Avoir beaucoup de choses à faire (to have a lot of things to do)
Avoir beaucoup de travail (to have a lot of work)
Avoir encore du pain sur la planche (to have still some bread on the board)
Rester encore du pain sur la planche (there remains still some bread on the board)
Frog's phrase
Katia et Kyliemac ont du pain sur la planche avant l'episode 333, parce qu'entre nous, tout ce qu'elle font pour l'instant c'est boire du pineau.
Translation
Katia and Kyliemac have got their work cut out for them before episode 333, because between us, all they're doing for now is drinking pineau.
11 Apr, 2010
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expressions
k&k learn french 105 -
être un enculeur de mouches
"Être un enculeur de mouches" (to be nitpicky) is certainly an interesting expression when you break it down into English - find out all about it, as well as how to say it in a variety of different ways, in Show 105.
Literal translation
To be buggerer of flies
English equivalent
To be a nitpicker
To be nitpicky
To be pernickety
To split hairs
To be anally retentive
French equivalent
Être pointilleux (à l'excès)
Être tatillon
Pinailler
Se perdre dans les détails
Chercher la petite bête
Couper les cheveux en quatre
Se prendre la tête
Sodomiseur des dipthères
Frog's phrase
Jean-Pierre est un enculeur de mouches en vacances. Si Pamela ne suit pas éxactement sa façon de faire, il ménace de rompre avec elle.
Translation
On holidays, Jean-Pierre is so anally retentive. If Pamela doesn't do exactly what he wants to do, he threatens to break up with her.
4 Apr, 2010
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expressions
k&k learn french 104 -
chier une pendule
"Chier une pendule" (to get your knickers in a knot) is quite a strong idiom that you'll hear in movies and on the street - we highly recommend you listen to show 104 to find out other ways of saying it so that your mother isn't forced to wash your mouth out with soap.
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To shit a grandfather clock
English equivalent
To get your knickers in a knot
To get your panties in a bunch
To get worked up about something
Make a song and dance about something
To go ape-shit
To get all het up
To chuck a hissy fit
French equivalent
Ne pas nous en chier une pendule (don't go shitting a grandfather clock on us)
S'enerver (to get worked up)
S'agiter (to get shaken up)
Faire un caca nerveux (to make a nervous poop - see k&k learn french #21)
En faire toute une histoire (of it to make all a mountain k&k learn french #91)
En faire un pataquès (of it to make an error of phonetic liaison between words(!!))
Piquer une crise (to sting a crisis)
Frog's phrase
Chaque fois que Frog appel en plein enregistrement du podcast, Kyliemac nous chie toute une pendule.
Translation
Every time Frog calls during the recording of the podcast, Kyliemac goes totally ape-shit.
28 Mar, 2010
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expressions
k&k learn french 103 -
être emballé
"Être emballé" (to be thrilled) is a slightly outdated expression but one you will come across in movies and books. Hear all about it in show 103.
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To be wrapped up
English equivalent
To be thrilled
To be excited
To be taken with
French equivalent
Être content (to be happy)
Être charmé (to be charmed)
Être enthousiaste (to be enthusiastic)
Être enchanté (to be enchanted)
Être ravi (to be delighted)
Important note
Today, this phrase is most commonly used in the negative form, "ne pas être emballé" (to not be wrapped up = to not be excited about)
Frog's phrase
Katia est emballée chaque fois qu'un auditeur envoie des bonbons. Ah, elle est emballée aussi dès qu'un auditeur envoie un mail. Ah, et puis elle est emballée aussi quand il neige. Et quand il fait beau. Tout cette emballement, c'est suspect... ça doit être les médicaments.
Translation
Katia gets excited whenever a listener sends lollies. She also gets excited whenever a listener sends an email. And, well, she also gets excited when it snows. And when it's nice outside. All this excitement, it's suspicious... it must be the medication.
