Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 40
April 6, 2018
A funny IRS story from France
BORDEAUX AND THE DORDOGNE small group tour Sept 17-25 - culture, cuisine & wine. Click here for itinerary.
Today's word: le fisc américain
: the IRS
365 Days of French Expressions: Learn one new French Expression per Day
Example Sentence :
Depuis 2014, les Français nés aux Etats-Unis sont tenus de déclarer leurs revenus au fisc américain, voire de payer des impôts aux Etats-Unis alors qu'ils n'y ont jamais vécu.-ladepeche.fr
Since 2014, French people who were born in the States are requir...
April 3, 2018
Partir en vrille: Approaching Two Decades of Sobriety when a "loaded" piece of chocolate leads to a lapse (or a relapse?)
Autumn excursion in France, especially for women - "Women in Burgundy: Life, Laughter, and the French Paradox” October 18 to 27, 2018 - includes two nights in Paris. Click HERE for details.
Today's French expression: partir en vrille
: to spin out of control, to go astray, to go south, to run amok, to go off the deep end
Click here to listen to "partir en vrille"
Après avoir dégusté un tout petit morceau de chocolat, elle est partie en vrille au centre commercial. After sampling a v...
March 28, 2018
How to say "not-to-be-missed" or "must-see" in French + tonight's winetasting in Marseilles with Château de Pibarnon and Chateau de Roquefort
Today's expression: à ne pas manquer
: not to be missed, a must-see, do not miss
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following example sentence, in French
Click here to hear the sound file for "a ne pas manquer"
A ne pas manquer ce soir (le Jeudi 29 Mars) à partir de 18H30 au Vin Sobre Obélisque de Mazargues....Dégustation exceptionnelle de deux Grands Crus de Provence qui sont le Château de Pïbarnon et le Château de Roquefort représentés par leurs propriétaires respectifs Eric...
March 27, 2018
Raconter des salades (Fountain Guy takes us for a ride) = today's expressions: se faire empapaouter or se faire berner:
BORDEAUX AND THE DORDOGNE small group tour Sept 17-25 - culture, cuisine & wine. Click here for itinerary.
se faire berner
: to be deluded, to be duped, taken in
se faire empapaouter
: to be had, to be screwed
Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc read the following text in French:
Click here to listen to the sound file
Se faire berner ou se faire empapaouter, voilà deux façons pour dire que nous nous sommes faits prendre pour des cons
To be duped or to be had, two ways to say that...
March 23, 2018
Audacity and "avoir du culot": going beyond the limits in Elba, Italy
A quiet cove at Elba Island, off the coast of Tuscany.
avoir du culot
1. to have the audacity, to have balls, to have some nerve
365 Days of French Expressions. See the book.
Avoir du culot: listen to this phrase and the following sentence
Avoir du culot: Il faut avoir du culot pour dépasser ses limites.
To be daring: You've got to be daring go beyond your limits.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
My husband has a gift for finding hidden jewels in nature. To get to th...
March 20, 2018
Chantier or construction site + A hole in the wall is better than un trou dans la tête! Caution while sleeping....
Our kitchen here in La Ciotat. See a before picture at the end of this archive post.
Today's Word: le chantier
: construction site, building site, work zone
Book: 365 Days of French Expressions: Learn one new French Expression per Day
Depuis notre retour de l'ile d'Elbe, Kristi, Smokey, et moi, vivons dans un chantier. Nous essayons de "go with the flow," c'est-à-dire de lâcher prise.
Since our return from Ebla Island, Kristi, Smokey, and I are living in a work zone. We are trying t...
March 13, 2018
Postcard from Elba, Italy...and the French word for "puddle of water"
We made it to Elba Island after driving all the way from La Ciotat. To break up the 9-hour road trip, Jean-Marc organized two overnight stops: one in the Ligurian town of Albenga--and the other in Lucca. We didn't get to see much these famous Italian towns as it rained non-stop (the pluie turned to hail as we crowded beneath a tiny portico, in Lucca, along with a handful of other pedestrians surprised by the downpour). Day three on the road and the rain would not let up. The threat of aquapl...
March 9, 2018
Echapper belle: What we are avoiding, alluding, dodging, and running away from this week!
After moving to La Ciotat seven months ago, we love our new city more than ever. But there is one thing driving us far far away this week...
Today's French word: échapper
: to escape, outrun, slip away from
...and the popular French expression échapper belle (to have a lucky escape, to escape by the skin of one's teeth, to just make it out in time)
AUDIO FILE
Click here to listen to "echapper" and the following phrase
Pour nous échapper des gros travaux de démolition qui commencent...
March 5, 2018
Abasourdi + Chez le dermato: The French don't see the skin doctor (or the dentist) twice a year
I try to illustrate every post with photos, but it's a bit challenging when the topic is the doctor's office. Who wants to see a picture of that? So enjoy this random shot instead!
Today's word: abasourdi
: stunned, taken aback, thunderstruck
: deafened
Book: 365 Days of French Expressions: Learn one new French Expression per Day
Listen to the following words, read by Jean-Marc:
Click here for the soundfile
Je suis abasourdi par le nombre de personnes qui veulent «connaître» l'u...
March 2, 2018
Meaningless small talk leads to a meaningful connection! + parler de pluie et du beau temps
An invitation to talk to strangers...in today's vocabulary-packed story.
parler de pluie et du beau temps
: to talk about the weather, to talk small talk, to shoot the breeze
synonyms: tailler une bavette, bavarder, commérer
365 Days of French Expressions: Learn one new French Expression per Day
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristin Espinasse
"Bavardons"
I'm so glad I opened my mouth at the minimarket checkout line. "Can you imagine?" I say to my daughter, recounting how I met a...
