Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Vocabulary/Bird"

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[[File:birds-les-oiseaux.jpg|thumb|none|Poule mouillée (Went hen for a man.)
[[File:birds-les-oiseaux.jpg|thumb|none]]
Is said of the timide man, who is cunning, who does make a decision
]]


==The birds: les oiseaux==
==The birds: les oiseaux==
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*Litterally: "Being the stuffing turkey"
*Litterally: "Being the stuffing turkey"
*Meaning: Getting caught up in a case.
*Meaning: Getting caught up in a case.
==Etre une poule mouillée==
*Litterally: Be a wet hen
*Meaning: be a coward
*Closest English expression: Be a chicken!

Revision as of 10:28, 27 April 2017

Birds-les-oiseaux.jpg

The birds: les oiseaux

  • hummingbird: colibri
  • blackbird: merle
  • rooster: coq
  • crane: grue
  • dove: colombe
  • eagle: aigle
  • falcon: faucon
  • nightingale: rossignol
  • ostrich: autruche
  • owl: hibou
  • partridge: perdrix
  • peacock: paon
  • penguin: pingouin
  • pigeon: pigeon
  • raven: corbeau
  • robin: rouge-gorge
  • sparrow: moineau
  • stork: cigogne
  • swallow: hirondelle
  • swan: cygne
  • turkey: dindon
  • vulture: vautour
  • canard: duck
  • poule: chicken

Expressions

Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps

  • Literally: One swallow doesn't make spring
  • Meaning: One swallow doesn't make a summer

The proverb has two possible meanings:

  1. Do not draw conclusions from a single fact or a single element.
  2. And, more generally: one must not rely too quickly on appearances; One person is not enough to achieve a major goal.

Politique de l'autruche

  • Litterally: the ostrich policy
  • Meaning: Refusal to accept danger.
  • Origin: This expression recalls the legend that ostriches burrow their heads in the sand when they are afraid, which prevents them from seeing what threatens them.
  • Example: "Appliquer la politique de l'autriche" means that one refuses to see the danger where it is.

Un froid de canard

  • Litterally: cold of a duck
  • Meaning: A big cold

être un vautour

  • Litterally: "be a vulture"
  • Meaning: "be ruthless"
  • Synonymous: être un requin (be a shark)

Vivre comme un coq en pâte

  • Litterally: Live as a rooster in paste
  • Meaning: Lead a comfortable and cozy existence.

Etre le dindon de la farce

  • Litterally: "Being the stuffing turkey"
  • Meaning: Getting caught up in a case.

Etre une poule mouillée

  • Litterally: Be a wet hen
  • Meaning: be a coward
  • Closest English expression: Be a chicken!