Post: trivia that might spark interest
Posted by andrew crosby on 9/03/08
Here is a random list inspired by a trip to France:
WHAT WE LEARNED IN FRANCE
1. Stayed at a hotel, "La Sarrasine." Origin of
word: the Saracens. There is a characteristic chimney
shape used there that may date from this influence. Also,
buckwheat in French is "sarrasin."
2. The famous chickens of Bresse eat specially-grown
yellow corn, and develop a yellow skin, and have their fat
interspersed in the flesh, not as an outer layer (or some
such explanation!)
3. Friends said, "Today we plan to go "en Suisse" if
that's alright. We said "really?" Turns out they
said "Ansouis," a chateau nearby in the Luberon.
4. They also said we could go to Marseille and
see "le vieux port." The husband, the joker,
said, "Andrew, she's not calling you a "vieux porc" (old
pig).
5. Had a macaroni dish called "macaronnade."
6. Natives of the Aveyron department, where the
famous Laguiole knives are made, call it LA-EOLE, because
the Italians who came long ago to the area as shepherds
would not have sounded the "G" in their language.
7. "PPH" is a rather cruel joke at the expense of old
people: "he'll never make it through the winter…" Passera
Pas l'Hiver.
8. School bus shelter sign: "Ramassage Scolaire" =
gathering up of the students
9. Learned about lights:
- chandelle = any flame
- bougie = cylindrical candle (not tapered)
- cierge = a taper; tapered candle
- chandeliere = branched candle-holder standing on a
table
- lampe = a table lamp
- lampadaire = a floor lamp
- lustre = branched light holder hanging from the
ceiling
- …….. but there was some heated discussion about
the fine points of usage of all these among the French
10. In the Logis de France brochure: "beaten paths"
= des sentiers battus"
11. "en cas ou" = "in the eventuality that…" (I need
it ….. the worst happens….. etc.)
12. Heard someone say, with no helpful context, NOZE
DOOR. Had no idea. Turned out to be "noces d'or"
(golden wedding celebration)
13. I know it like the back of my hand … "Je le sais
comme mes poches."
14. In Paris, heard often… Bah oui! for "Mais oui!"
15. Man speaking to daughter on phone, often
interjected: Ma fille….. Ma grande…
16. Said of the French national symbol, "le
coq,"…. "Le seul oiseau qui peut chanter, meme les pieds
dans la merde."
17. When you have "trop mange" …. "les amygdales se
baignents" (…tonsils are taking a bath…)
18. When you drink a deliciously smooth drink….. "Le
petit Jesus en culottes de velours qui descend dans la
gorge."
19. One never knows what the future will bring… "On ne
sait pas que le futur nous reserve."
20. In church, the "faithful flock" …. "Troupeau des
fideles"
21. In Marseille, "un café allonge" = espresso with more
than the usual amount of water; "une noisette" = coffee
with milk (Us: "Is this an expression peculiar to
Marseille? Waiter: "No, it's French." Not all French
people agree. A dictionary says some meanings for
noisette are “hazelnut” and "tissu: light brown."
and "couleur, yeux: hazel" (No mention of coffee)
22. How often do you find three French verb infinitives
strung together cheek-by-jowl? We bought a CD of Jean
Sablon, popular French singer of some decades past. He
sings "Miss Otis Regrets" in French. The English
is, "Miss Otis regrets she's unable to dine tonight,
Madam. The French is, "Madame, Miss Otis regrette de ne
pouvoir venir diner."
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- trivia that might spark interest, 9/03/08, by andrew crosby.
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