English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
In English we use the phrase "they'll get a big head" if we expect someone to get over confident, arogant, or otherwise full of themselvesIn French I understand that the equivalent is "les chevilles...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
Just a stab in the dark, but the King James Version of the Bible refers to love saying "Is not puffed up" Could they be related? I have no idea.
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
I suspect that to the French big ankles are the acme of un-chic, gross to us.
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
Just googling about and came across a joke page about blondes in French:- Quelle la diffrence entre une blonde intelligente et le yeti?- Le yeti a t dcouvert!Ahem, sorry... more to the point I found...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
I don't get the first one.What is the difference between an intelligent blonde and a yeti?The yeti was discovered. que?
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
Yes, the joke seems a little mixed-up. The yeti, of course, has not been discovered, as is the case (in terms of the joke) of the intelligent blonde.Now, if they'd said, what's the difference between...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
Still, who can figure the French?I think the fact that the Yeti has never been discovered *is* the joke, but I'm easily entertained.And, with the second joke, since "les chevilles qui gonflent" is an...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
I don't know about origin of big head or swollen ankles but I was tickled to see that the French haveles yeux sont plus gros que le ventre ... which is almost equivalent to ouryour eyes are bigger...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
PGUS, where did you find "les chevilles qui gonflent"? It seems to not be current in the area where I live, but that is not too suprising .I have a book somewhere around that compares english and...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
A friend made the comment as to the different phrase. She is not French but is reasonably fluent and lived several years there. Certainly not a surprise that this may be an older phrase and not...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
Just some salt to the pot I found this example www.pinkpigpage.com/archives/bilan/bilanpress.htmlFrom the context "gonfler les chevilles" equates to big-headedness."Et quand meme 4 articles logieux...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
The book is:Sky Mortimer! Ciel Blake!"Dictionnaire francais-anglais des expressions courantes" by Jean-Loup Chiflet, then turn the book over and you have "English-French Dictionary of Running Idioms"...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
I'm interested to see how much more of this thread we're going to devote to French etymology. Perhaps, Steve, you could send a personal message to those interested in French regional dialects - I see...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
Eliza, OK, No SAM this time :-)yep, always a call to make when going "off subject" (thread or forum).In this case I have only 3 defenses (quality to be assessed!)1) the book I mention also includes...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
Consider this..What do you do when you get too successful/rich especially in France? Eat too much.What is the classic sickness of overindulgers? Gout.What's a classic symptom of gout? Swollen feet and...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
Faldsie, that is the worst pun in the history of this board.I salute you!
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
In this case I have only 3 defenses (quality to be assessed!)Steven is a promising pupil who has unfortunately not yet found an appropriate outlet for his creativity. He is easily distracted and has...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
PGUS,yep, folks from outside of Alsace use and know this saying. Not much info on its origin!Eliza, re >Or would you object if Indoda and I devoted threads to South Sotho etymology?>Please...
View ArticleRe: English=big head,French=les chevilles qui gonflent(ankles)?
Comment by D Wilton in Welcome thread today:Posting in a language other than English without providing a translation is indeed bad form and can indeed be fairly construed as rude.A good rule of thumb...
View Article