la ficelle
Monday, February 21, 2005
la ficelle (fee-sehl) noun, feminine
1. string, twine
2. stick, small rope (of French bread)
3. trick (tip)
Terms & Expressions:
ficeler (verb) = to tie, to string
C'est ficelle = It's not easy
tirer sur la ficelle = to exaggerate
tirer les ficelles = to pull the strings
voir la ficelle = to see how something is done
connaître les ficelles = to know the ropes
les ficelles du métier = the tricks of the trade
être mal ficelé = "to be badly tied up" (badly dressed)
déménager à la ficelle = to pack up and leave without paying
.........................
Citation du Jour:
Voir, entendre, aimer. La vie est un cadeau dont je défais les ficelles chaque matin, au réveil.
To see, to hear, to love. Life is a present in which I untie the strings each morning, upon awakening. --Christian Bobin
.......................................
A Day in a French Life...
(Do not miss the story that originally appeared here, along with the vocabulary below. Order the book!)
1. string, twine
2. stick, small rope (of French bread)
3. trick (tip)
Terms & Expressions:
ficeler (verb) = to tie, to string
C'est ficelle = It's not easy
tirer sur la ficelle = to exaggerate
tirer les ficelles = to pull the strings
voir la ficelle = to see how something is done
connaître les ficelles = to know the ropes
les ficelles du métier = the tricks of the trade
être mal ficelé = "to be badly tied up" (badly dressed)
déménager à la ficelle = to pack up and leave without paying
.........................
Citation du Jour:
Voir, entendre, aimer. La vie est un cadeau dont je défais les ficelles chaque matin, au réveil.
To see, to hear, to love. Life is a present in which I untie the strings each morning, upon awakening. --Christian Bobin
.......................................
A Day in a French Life...
(Do not miss the story that originally appeared here, along with the vocabulary below. Order the book!)
....................
*References Entrez, entrez! = Come in, come in!; le canapé (m) = sofa; le repas de vendanges (m) = harvest meal; le vin rouge (m) = red wine; la poutre (f) = beam; la confiture (f) = jam; underwear (the thong type) is known as "un string" in France.
Quand on prend la peine de découvrir les ficelles, on se sent moins marionnette... / When we take the time to discover the strings, we feel less like a puppet. -- Robert Blondin
*References Entrez, entrez! = Come in, come in!; le canapé (m) = sofa; le repas de vendanges (m) = harvest meal; le vin rouge (m) = red wine; la poutre (f) = beam; la confiture (f) = jam; underwear (the thong type) is known as "un string" in France.
Quand on prend la peine de découvrir les ficelles, on se sent moins marionnette... / When we take the time to discover the strings, we feel less like a puppet. -- Robert Blondin
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