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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French word of the day: Pourboire

Don't be fooled by this expression, which - when used in a sentence - it can sound like someone is offering you a drink.

Published: 3 June 2020 11:18 CEST
French word of the day: Pourboire
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know pourboire? 

Because you'll probably think it's something different than it really is the first time you hear this expression.

What does it mean?

If you divide pourboire in two, you get pour and boire, which means 'to' and 'drink'.

Tu as ce qu'il faut pour le pourboire ? sounds a lot like 'have you got what you need to drink?'.

You would be forgiven to think that the person asking you this is offering to pay the next round.

But it really means something very different.

Pourboire is really the French word for 'tip', what you give your waitress if you're happy with your food or your barman if you found his cocktail-making skills particularly impressive.

The expression is similar to when some in the UK will say 'have a drink for yourself'.
 
Originally, the expression pourboire was used to signify exactly that – giving the receiver enough money so that they could treat themselves to a drink in return for their services. 
 
In general tipping is not such a big deal in France as in some other countries, particularly the USA, and the amount tipped generally reflects the phrase's original meaning – enough to buy a drink.
 
 
Use it like this
 
If you're unsure about how much to tip, ask;
 
Quel pourboire faut-il laisser ? – How much should we tip?
 
Quand donner un pourboire en France ? – When should you give a tip in France?
 
Le pourboire est-il inclus en France ? – Is the tip included in France?

 

 

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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French Phrase of the Day: Les carottes sont cuites

This French expression can be used in the kitchen, as an important coded message during war-time, and when the end is near.

Published: 20 September 2024 10:59 CEST
French Phrase of the Day: Les carottes sont cuites

Why do I need to know les carottes sont cuites?

Because this expression might signal the end of something.

What does it mean?

Les carottes sont cuites – roughly pronounced lay ca-rote sohn queet – translates as ‘the carrots are cooked’.

While you might use this literally when preparing a meal, the phrase is also an old-fashioned idiom.

Figuratively, it means ‘the situation is hopeless’ or ‘the decision is final’. The expression is very similar to ‘your goose is cooked’ or ‘your tea is out’ in English. It can also just mean ‘it’s over’.

Generally it has a negative connotation, which might be explained by the phrase’s origins.

There are a few guesses – the first involves the word carrotte having a close pronunciation to crotte (poop). The second evokes a phrase used in the 18th and 19th centuries.

At the time, avoir ses carottes cuites meant ‘to be dying’ or close to death. It was a bit of gallows humour – carrots were usually accompanied by meat dishes, so the joke is that the dying person would soon be meat themselves, ready to be eaten alongside some carrots. 

Over time, les carottes sont cuites went on to describe hopeless or unchangeable situations. 

That said, it has been used for some optimistic moments, notably during the D-Day landings, when les carottes sont cuites was a coded message from Radio Londres announcing the imminent landings  to their listeners.

Use it like this

Les carottes sont cuites. L’homme d’affaires a déjà décidé de le licencier. – It’s over. The businessman already decided to sack him.

Maman a déjà décidé de te punir ! Les carottes sont cuites. – Mummy already decided to punish you! Your goose is cooked.

C’est terminé. Les carottes sont cuites. Il a fait son choix. – It’s over, my goose is cooked. He made his choice.

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