Draguer? At what age are you "lucky" to be noticed? (Or, by chance, hit on?)
Wednesday, May 03, 2017
TODAY'S WORD: se faire draguer or se faire brancher
: to get hit on
brancher une nana = to hit on a girl
CLICK HERE to listen to the following example sentence
Ah bon? Tu t'es fait draguer au supermarché?
Oh really? You got hit on at the supermarket?
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A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
While putting away groceries I reached for an item my husband had requested--pleased to have brought back the right ones. "Found you some rasoirs," I shouted to the man two rooms down. "A nice man helped me...." I smiled to myself as I put away the rest of the groceries. Such plaisanterie is healthy in a marriage, n'est-ce pas?
"Ah bon? Tu t'es fait draguer au supermarché?" Mr Two-Rooms-Down called back, feigning la jalousie.
This time I snickered, remembering what a French woman told me two years ago, "At your age, you should be grateful your husband is still so attracted to you." Her comment made me feel so....unsexy, unadventurious and perhaps even undeserving? I have heard a similar statement from American women, a generalized idea that at this age, we should be grateful for a man's attention.
Earlier, back at the grocery store, such words came to mind as I stood before the men's razor display, suspicious of the stranger who'd begun talking to me. Busy wondering "is this guy hitting on me?" a more humbling and sarcastic thought startled me: "Ha! At your age!" It immediately silenced my Inner Hot Mama, who gets stuffed deeper and deeper into the psyche--the more I listen to the media and certain women.
"Vous cherchez un rasoir?" the man with curly black hair smiled.
"Oui. Pour mon mari," Yes, for my husband, I pointed out.
"Does he have soft or coarse hairs?" the man replied in English, with a thick French accent. His question set me back.
After all these years I should know whether my husband has soft or coarse whiskers! In a guilty panic I studied the stranger's stubble (a.k.a. la barbe de trois jours).
"Coarse!" I guessed.
"Here, these should be good for a man on vacation," he said, handing me a 6-pack of "Wilkinson Swords."
Vacation? He thinks I'm a tourist. I did not correct him. Instead I said Merci, c'est vraiment gentil and, as he walked off, I thought of how absurd it was to have confused a pick-up artist with a good samaritan. The ego is a funny thing. One minute it's a Hot Mama, the next it tells itself it should be so grateful, at one's age, for even being noticed at all.
***
When Mr Two-Rooms-Down came into the kitchen, I touched his stubbly face. "What kind of whiskers do you have?" I said, handing him his razors. "Soft or course?"
"Je ne sais pas," he mumbled, pulling me close and planting a kiss of my middle-aged lips. Whatever the mainstream says, I will always be a hot mama in his heart. And for that I'm grateful.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
Increase your vocabulary with these useful terms from our story
le rasoir = razor
la plaisanterie = banter
n'est-ce pas? = isn't that true
ah, bon? = really
tu t'es fait draguer? = you got hit on?
la jalousie = jealousy
vous cherchez? = are you looking (for something)?
la barbe de trois jours = stubble (stylish stubble)
gentil = nice
je ne sais pas = I don't know
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Hi,
Simply great and humorous Word a Day today. (May 3, 2017)
For my taste, one of your best ones.
Others could have been more helpful for my French, but this was most fun and interesting.
Keep up the good work,
Gene
Posted by: gene holt | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 12:59 PM
Very funny, Kristie, but you are too pretty to be ignored at any age! Susan
Posted by: Susan Stafford | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 01:26 PM
Hi Kristie
agree with the above. BTW (by the way) Wilkinson Sword blades have existed for many years before Jonny W!
my Father used to use them decades ago!
How is your new life. Does JM miss his vines?
x Alice Halliday (married to another Jonny!)
Posted by: Alice Halliday | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 01:32 PM
No matter what age Kristi, take any positive interaction as positive, weather it be a flirtatious comment or a friendly & innocent line spoken to you! I have found so many people we encounter these days are "sour" in their ability to smile, greet, say excuse me when expected, as well as eye contact seems a thing of the romantic past! We need to get back to that mindset of "what the world needs now is love sweet love" and begin treating others with a kindness our mothers and grandmothers would be proud of! You are amazingly open minded and have such an easy smile...its a wonder you don't have more encounters like this one!
Posted by: Elissa | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 01:44 PM
Love and passion...an eternal flame ~
Posted by: Chris Allin | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 01:46 PM
I think Wilkinsons actually made swords some centuries ago!
Posted by: Judy | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 01:48 PM
Thank you for the kindest words, to those who have commented. And Alice and Judy, thanks for the info on Wilkinson Swords! I have been enjoying the Wikipedia entry and will make the correction in my blog
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkinson_Sword
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 02:05 PM
Kristi, I know where you shop -- what time of day was he there? ;-)
Posted by: Cynthia Gillespie-Smith | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 02:13 PM
Beauty, on the inside, cannot help but show on the outside. Having read your posts for many years I believe you are beautiful both inside and out! And, a little innocent flirting is good for the soul (and ego!).
Posted by: Luann | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 02:15 PM
Haha, Cyn! See you soon 😘😘
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 02:22 PM
Hi Kristi,
I agree with at the comments above......one of your best FWAD and I LOVE the photo of you two on the golf course!
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 02:50 PM
Wondering about the house search! News?
Posted by: Susan | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 03:15 PM
Une femme d'un certain âge est tout de même une femme!
Posted by: Richard Patocchi | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 03:26 PM
WilkinsonsSword dates from the 1700s. They were originally sword makers.
Posted by: Georgette Love | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 04:08 PM
Hi, that made me laugh, poor Johnny Wilkinson must be feeling very old! Wilkinson Sword was founded in 1772 by Henry Knock and guess what, made swords. Diversified into razors in 18xx something
Posted by: J K Le Maux | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 04:31 PM
Kristi, you hit a nerve common to most aging women. Is he flirting or being complimentary.?
I had a recent interview ncounter in a drug store requesting a new passport photo.
I made a remark in humor and asked if this kid could make me look 20 Years younger.?
He let out a laugh heard throughout the store! I let him live...but decided not to make jokes with
someone so much younger than I am!
Posted by: Carol K | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 04:39 PM
The guy might not have been hitting on you, Kristi, but I bet he thought you were pretty darn cute. This piece is another example of your genius in taking a small incident from daily life and making it loom large. You show how human frailty can tilt toward the comic. Such a fun essay!
Posted by: Bettye Dew | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 06:15 PM
Kristie,
I absolutely love ALL your pictures and stories. All my life I have loved everything French. Someday I want to go there and your emails take me there till I get there. I have not quite mastered the language yet!!!
Posted by: Celia | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 06:44 PM
Our dear Kristi,
You brought such a smile to our faces this morning!
Thank you!What a great way to start the day!
No doubt about it,your beauty from the inside clearly shows on the outside!
And!One of the joys of being committed to your soul mate is that, no matter what,each to the other,you are always seeing the best.Truly one of life's sweetest(and most appreciated )joys.
Love
Natalia. xo
Posted by: Natalia | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 06:58 PM
Kristi, as Luann said, and as I have said before, you are beautiful inside and out. Always have been and always will be. The women who made those nasty comments married for the wrong reasons and are worried that their relationships will fail when the physical attraction fades. If that's all you've got going for you in a marriage, yes, it's doomed. But your beauty is not just skin deep. You are incredibly thoughtful and considerate and offer those around you far more than good looks. No one in his right mind would ever leave you.
Posted by: Teresa | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 07:01 PM
I would say the man that suggested Wilkensword blades was not merely a good samaritan. Whatever your age you are still an exceptionally beautiful woman and should quietly bask in that knowledge. If you have it - it is not neccessary to flaunt it. It is apparent. Cheers from the south coast of Turkey.
Posted by: Ken Curtis | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 08:04 PM
love it
Posted by: joie in Carmel | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 08:16 PM
I met you several years a go when you spoke at Parler Paris. You were/are very attractive, which you must realize every time you look in a mirror. Don't believe that over the hill stuff. I'm over 80 and look it, and men still flirt with me.
It's all in the attitude.
Posted by: Carol | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 10:30 PM
That is a cute story! As a retired teacher of 40 years, some children in my neighborhood get scared of me when I wear my hoodie! So when a shopkeeper calls me miss, wow (pleurage)! Thank you for your French expressions! I pray for you and your husband every day!
Posted by: Lindy | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 10:36 PM
The phrase is confusing for grammar & tense. Past tense in the English translation, but using the infinitive in French, in both phrases. I was expecting draguée ou branchée after tu t'es fait. Good story. Funnier to me that the man did not recognize you as a French speaker of over 20 years, and spoke in heavily accented English to you. 😀
Posted by: Sarah La Belle | Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 11:39 PM
Now I am very curious! S'il vous plait...How do you say soft or course whiskers en francais?
Posted by: Jan Hersh | Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 12:40 AM
Kristi, I admire your sense of humour and this endearing story. As Susan commented, above, you really are too beautiful to not be noticed, at any age.
Posted by: Katia | Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 02:43 AM
Kristi are you kidding? You think you are too old to be hit on; have you looked in a mirror lately? You are a beautiful woman and should expect looks, leers, and more for years to come!
Posted by: Avril | Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 04:35 AM
Agree! It feels great to have a little encounter, a few pleasantries with a stranger, makes my day! Takes away the aloneness so prevalent in our fast-paced world. Openness begets openness and the heart grows bigger and warmer.
Kristi, glad you had this encounter and told us another wonderful daily life experience!!
Posted by: Judi in Lake Balboa | Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 05:40 AM
Great photos and a fun story. You've still "got it", in all ways, Kristin!
Posted by: Karen W (Parkton, Md) | Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 03:27 PM
Seeing newborns and infants, plus elderly couples holing hands fills me with joy (one time ago an elderly wife said she and hubby still hold hands -- neither of us dares to let go!) Telling about the inspiring Street-Redford love and decision to marry is significant to our marriage as I had given up proposing unsuccessfully but after seeing Out Of Africa, Nancy said she had decided she wanted to get married! Told her she made me wait now it was her turn to wait. About 5 minutes later her proposal was accepted. Seize the opportunity!!!
Posted by: Frederick Caswell | Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 04:59 PM
You are gorgeous and EVEN IF the man was not flirting with you, i'm sure he was enjoying speaking to a beautiful woman (he was French, after all, no?).
You and your hubby are so blessed!
Posted by: Sandra Lee | Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 07:30 PM
Hey! your selling yourself short. Judging by your photo, my attractive- woman - nearby -radar was activated, trust me. I personally don't think those pants your wearing do you justice, of course I'd never tell you that in person ; but I was searching to see what if anything I could criticize about you.
So what if the guy was hitting on you ? if he was smooth and intelligent, and made you feel appreciated; thats a good thing in this suspicious and angry world we could use less fear and self loathing, don't you think? It's a tragic state of affairs in modern life that so many folks are stalked by self doubt, fear and loathing.
Posted by: robert jasso | Monday, May 08, 2017 at 12:04 AM
Hi Kristi,
Just because I'm such a grammar nerd, I would have used the phrase "kiss on the lips" instead of "kiss of the lips".
I'm just back from a conference and was so surprised and flattered that one of the fellows there was hitting on me! He even ran after me to tap me on the back so he could say hello. I'm 71 and have been widowed for 5 years. I gave him my phone number at the end of the conference, but even if nothing comes of it it was great fun to flirt and be noticed!
Posted by: Bette | Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 08:00 PM