k&k learn french 100 -
avec ma bite et mon couteau
"Avec ma bite et mon couteau" (to make do) is one of those expressions that you'll hear around the French world but which needs to be used very carefully. And to be honest... there's really no way to make this phrase elegant, as you'll hear in show 100!
As a way of celebrating our 100th episode of k&k learn french, check out the video version of this podcast and see what really happens when we record in the k&k studio!
Literal translation
With my dick and my knife
English equivalent
To make do
To make do with what one has got to hand / on hand
To do something with the bare essentials
With the clothes on one's back
French equivalent
Se débrouiller (to manage)
Avec peu de moyens (with few means)
Avec ma flûte et mon couteau (with my flute and my knife)
Frog's phrase
Depuis que Pamela l'a quitté pour le plombier sénégalais, Jean-Pierre est parti sur les routes de l'Afrique du Nord avec sa bite et son couteau pour reconquérir Pamela.
Translation
Since Pamela left him for the Senegalese plumber, Jean-Pierre has hit the roads of North Africa with nothing but the clothes on his back to regain Pamela's heart.
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
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show after
Hi K&K,
Just discovered you. Went straight to the video podcast - obviously - and I think you are one of the best ways to learn French.
Thank you.
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signin is not working for me... i love you guys. everything you do is so much fun... btw, the "en" in "moyen" is pronounced as if it was "in", as in a few other words. (damn those nasal sounds!)