Jan 15, 2009

To box things up! Faire ses cartons!

According to the CPS (Current Population Survey), less than 12 % of Americans moved since 2007. In comparison, between 1950s and 1960s, the number of movers reached near 20%.
Here is a map of the migration flows in the US.
As for us, after living 10 years in our house, we have decided to move because we felt in love with another house only a few steps away... We are now ready for another adventure!

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Selon l’enquête du CPS (Institut National de Statistiques) moins de 12% des américains ont déménagé depuis 2007. Par comparaison, entre 1950 et 1960, le nombre de déménagements atteignait alors 20%. Ici , une carte des flux de migrations internes aux US.
Quant à nous, après avoir vécu 10 ans dans notre maison, nous avons décidé de déménager car nous sommes littéralement « tombés en amour » pour une autre maison à seulement quelques pas d’ici... Nous voilà prêts maintenant pour une autre aventure !

French Expression in context / Expression française en contexte

The word "
carton"derives from "carte"(borrowed from Italian "carta"). It is a thick reinforced paper used for all kinds of purposes.
Thus different expressions stem from this:


  • Faire ses cartons! " (lit: to make one's boxes).
    "Packing moving boxes!" To box things up!
    This figurative informal expression is often used in France when someone is moving. The word "carton" designates here the moving boxes.

  • "Faire un carton!" (lit: to make a card). "It's a hit !" /To Do great.
    This expression has different meanings:
    1.
    Back to the beginning of the 20th century, it was used in a shooting range, when the bullets were shot all in the middle of the target made of cardboard (carton in French) which led to a success.
    2. In terms of Printing and Publishing, it refers to a technical process in which one or more papers containing errors are detached from the original document to be redone for printing.

  • "cartonner" (to box/ to card) . To do great or To crash one's car.
    This verb is derivated from the expression "faire un carton".
    1. It is used in an informal way also in a sens of success: "J'ai cartonné à mon examen de français!" (I did great on my French exam!).
    2. However, it is also used in slang when having a car accident. A "carton" is an accident.

  • "Taper le carton!"(lit: to hit the card). “Playing cards !”
    It's a familiar expression that found it roots in the old days when cards were made of cardboard (different layers of paper sticked together). The verb "taper" comes from the old French word"taquer" which means "frapper" (to hit).

  • "(prendre) un carton jaune/rouge!": (to get) a Yellow/Red card.
    As in English, it is used in many sports to indicate that a player is to receive a suspension (temporary or permanently) regarding his conduct.


A bientôt!