"ça lui fait une belle jambe!" - "That makes him a nice leg !" ;-)

Do you want to dance with me?
This invitation took place, last Saturday, under sunny skies, for the traditional Arlington Town Day, located in the suburbs of Boston.
Like the previous years, the atmosphere was very lively and brought many smiles, and lots of fun.

Voulez-vous danser avec moi?
Cette invitation a eu lieu samedi dernier, sous un soleil radieux à l'occasion de la traditionnelle fête de la ville d'Arlington, située dans la banlieue de Boston.
Comme les années précédentes, l’atmosphère animée a apporté beaucoup de sourires et de joie.

French Expression in context / Expression française en contexte

Expressions around the word "jambe" (leg):

"Ca me/lui fait une belle jambe!" (Lit : That makes me/him-her a nice leg ! ) It won't get me/ him- her very far! As you may guess, this expression is related to fashion and beauty but, believe it or not, it’s all about men, not women. The origin goes back to the 17th century when men used to wear long silk socks (chausses). At that time, men legs were a great deal of attention (no offense ladies!) and ribbons were added to embellish and emphasize the legs. The expression “Cela ne me rendra pas la jambe mieux faite" (lit: it won’t bring me my leg better shaped ) is found in the “dictionnaire académique Furetière” (1694) and was used in a sarcastic sense, reffering to something useless is done to you . Another version is given by Diderot in one of his quotes: ‘"un homme qui marche et qui fait la belle jambe est faux et manieré" (“ a man walking while showing a beautiful leg is fake and affected”) gave the expression "faire la belle jambe" meaning: “to show off”/ to “prance”. The modern idom“ça lui fait une belle jambe :”(lit: it makes him/her a beautiful leg) is a combination of the two versions and means today: it's of no interest to me! ............................ "Faire des ronds de jambe " (lit: to make circle of legs!). To bow and scrape! This expression is a reference to a ballet dance figure « half-circles made by the pointed foot, returning through first position to repeat; creating the letter 'D' on the floor”. ............................... "Traiter par dessus la jambe" (Lit: to treat over the leg) To treat someone/something without regards. Borrowed from the old French game « jeu de paume » (tennis), this expression is derivaded from the metaphor "jouer quelqu'un sous jambe"("to play someone under leg") that was used when a player get the upper hand. ............................... "Avoir les jambes en coton" : ( Lit: to have legs of cotton"): To feel weak at the knees . The expression appeared for the first time in 1839 in the famous Stendhal novel: "La chartreuse de Parme"(sources: L'internaute). Cotton is also used in other French idioms. .................................. "Trainer la jambe" (Lit: to drag the leg) To trudge along. .............................. "Tenir la jambe à quelqu'un" (Lit to hold someone’s leg) To annoy someone with endless blabla... :-( .............................. I hope this is not the case here! Otherwise everyone might: "Prendre ses jambes à son cou" (Lit: to throw one’s legs to one’s neck) To take to one's heels .............................. Then, (Alors)… Au revoir et à bientôt j'espère!

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!

"Having a little bicycle in one's head! " "Avoir un petit vélo dans la tête!":-)

Thousands of riders rolled out on the streets of Boston last Sunday, for the 4th annual "Hub On Wheels" .
This charitable organization raises money to help Boston students to get the skills and technology they need to succeed.
The riders choose 10, 30 or 50 miles route through Boston, starting and arriving at the City hall Plaza.
This program, making Boston’s largest city-sponsored sporting event, raised $50000 last year.

Des milliers de coureurs cyclistes se sont élancés dans les rues de Boston dimanche dernier, à l’occasion de la 4ieme course annuelle “ Hub on wheels» qui a eu lieu dimanche à Boston (surnommée "The Hub") .
Cette institution caritative soulève des fonds pour aider les étudiants de Boston à obtenir les outils et les formations technologiques nécessaires à leur réussite scolaire.
Les coureurs ont le choix de parcourir 16 km, 48 km ou bien 80 km avec comme de point de départ et d’arrivée l’esplanade de la mairie.
Ce programme, faisant de Boston le plus grand évènement sportif sponsorisé à l’intérieur d’une ville, a soulevé $50000 l’année dernière.

French Expression in context / Expression française en contexte

1. “ Avoir un petit vélo dans la tête !" (lit: Having a little bicycle in one's head!): To go crazy/ to have an obsession. The French word “vélo” is a short cut for “vélocipède”: “veloce” for “rapide" (velocity) and ped for “pied” (foot). This machine, invented in Germany by Baron Drais in 1818, was primarily a waking machine called “Draisienne”( Laufmaschine). Later in 1841, French inventor Pierre Michaux applied pedals to the front wheel and gave it the name of "vélocipède". The metaphor “avoir un petit vélo dans la tête », was introduced in the 60’s. We don’t know the origin. However, considering the success and strong enthusiasm for cycling in France at that time, it's easy to understand why it appeared in different French expressions as well. Then, let me introduce you to another funny one, very much in vogue back then: 2. "Pédaler dans la choucroute " : (lit: to pedal in the sauerkraut) To spin one’s wheels! "la choucroute" is a dish, originally from Germany, which became later part of the native cuisine of Alsace Lorraine region. In the old days, choucroute was made with chopped stripes of white cabbage placed in barrels macerating in brine and anchovy juices for several weeks. Thus, the French word "choucroute” derives from the German word “Sauerkraut” which literally means “sauer grass” (“herbe sure/aigre” in French). In the late 17th century, the Alsatian dialect used the word “Sûrkrût”. Through the intervention of phonetic mistakes, the word slowly evolved over the years. “sur” disappeared to be replaced by the French word“chou”(cabbage) and the word " krût" evolved into"crute" and later became “croute”. For the same reason explained above, the popularity of the sport of cycling in the 60's, is presumably the source of it. Also the reference to a dish makes it all more "real"... Now, do you get the picture of a rider pedaling in Sauerkraut? :-) --->Note that there is also another French metaphor which ends up to the same result: "Pédaler dans la semoule" (to pedal in the semoulina). Which one do you prefer?

"One man, one boat, one ocean" "Un homme, un bateau et l’Océan"

Loick Peyron on board his blue 60 foot monohulls Gitana Eighty, won the transat solo race for the third time, on May 24, 2008.

In doing so, he has beaten French notorious Eric Tabarly's record. Leaving Plymouth (UK) on May 11, he sailed 2 982 miles to Boston in 12 days, 11 hours, 45 minutes and 35 secondes.

"One man, one boat, one ocean" three emblematic words uttered by English navigator Blondie Hasler, who created with Francis Chichester, the race solo across the Atlantic in 1960.

This oldest solo ocean race held every four years across the North Atlantic and formaly known as "The Transat" took the name of " The Artemis Transat " in 2008 .

Check out the race here

Loick Peyron a battu le record du célèbre navigateur Eric Tabarly, en remportant, pour la troisième fois, la transat en solitaire à bord de son monocoque bleu de 18,28m le "Gitana Eighty" ce 24 mai 2008.

Parti de Plymouth (UK) le 11 mai, il a parcouru les 2 982 milles jusqu'à Boston en 12 jours 11 heures 45 minutes 35 secondes.

"Un homme, un bateau et l’Océan" trois mots emblématiques prononcés par le navigateur anglais Blondie Hasler qui créa en 1960 avec Francis Chichester, la transaltantique en solitaire. Cette épreuve qui se déroule tous les quatre ans est la plus ancienne transat en solitaire. Anciennement connue sous le nom de "La Transat, elle a été rebaptisée "Transat Artemis"en 2008. Suivez la course ici

Here comes the friendly winner Loick Peryon ! Congratulations again for your great victory!

Et voici Loick Peyron, fort sympathique au demeurant!
Encore bravo pour votre belle victoire!

Another French skipper Armel Le Cléac’h aboard BritAir arrived second.

Un autre skippeur français, Armel Le Cléac’h, à bord du Brit Air, est arrivé second.

French skipper, Yann Elies, on Generaly crossed the finish line on the third position in spite of a damage to the top spreader's mast.

Le skippeur français Yann Elies à bord du "Generali"a franchi la ligne d'arrivée en troisième place en dépit de sa barre de flèche endommagée.

"Gitana Eighty" alongside Rowes Wharf at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Le "Gitana Eighty" le long du quai devant l'Hotel du port de Boston.

Time for Repair! Séquence Réparations!

Applying a strip of carbon fibre on the damage surface...

Application d'une bande de fibre de carbone sur la partie endommagée...
Then, gluing the strip with a special resin. Even toilett paper works for such a repair!

Collage ensuite de la bande avec une résine spéciale. Même du papier toilette fait l'affaire pour une telle réparation!

A last layer...Then, wait for it to dry, et voilà! All fixed!

Une dernière couche... Puis attendre que le tout sèche, et voilà! C'est reparé!

Fixing the spreader problem on "Generali"....
Réparation de la flèche tribord en haut du mât sur le Generali...

French Expression in context / Expression française en contexte

The french familiar expression "être mal barré !" wich means "to be in big trouble" (literally, "to be badly helmed) originates from the nautical expression:
"être à la barre" : "to be at the helm".

It is mostly used in a figurative way to express that someone is in trouble...
Obviously, here, Yann Elies was "mal barré", in both figurative and proper meaning. However, he still made it! :-)

The world's only preserved Heavy Cruiser. Le seul croiseur lourd préservé dans le monde.

The “USS Salem CA-139”, a heavy cruiser, was born here, in Quincy (South of Boston) 65 years ago. After 10 years of good and faithful service as flagship of the American Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean first and of the Second Fleet in the Atlantic later, she was decommissioned in 1959 and stayed in Philadelphia until1994 before returning to its homeport where she is now serving as a museum. She was the first in the world to hold an automatic triple gun turret.

Two of my visitors, "Vic" and "History-Boat", have raised an interesting point regarding the letters CA. So, let me give you some more information I gathered from my research and phone calls I made, including to the USS Salem CA 139 Museum. 1) The prefix "USS" stands for "United States Ship," It is used to identify a commissioned ship of the Navy. 2) The letters C.A. designate the type of the ship, which is a classification used by the US navy. For instance: B for Battleships , C for Cruiser , D for Destroyer etc… Before 1900, cruisers were just designed by the letter C but were reassigned, in 1920, as C.A (Armored Cruiser) which changed again the following year. This terminology makes it quite confusing. You can find more information here. Back to the USS Salem CA 139. C.A means that she belongs to the category “Heavy Cruiser” as CB means "Battle large cruisers", and CL "light cruisers". You can find a list of all the US cruisers here 3) The number 139. corresponds to the quantity of Cruisers that were made. The USS Salem was the 139th cruisers to be built out of 150.

Le « USS Salem Ca-139 », un croiseur lourd, a vu le jour ici, à Quincy (au Sud de Boston) il y a 65 ans. Après 10 ans de bons et loyaux services comme vaisseau amiral de la sixième flotte américaine dans la mer Méditerranée, et de la deuxième flotte dans l’Atlantique, il fut décommissionné en 1959 et resta à Philadelphia jusqu’en 1994, avant de retourner à son port d’attache où il sert maintenant de musée. Ce fut le premier navire du monde construit avec un canon automatique muni d’une tourelle triple.

Deux des mes visiteurs, « Vic » et « History Boat » ont soulevé un point intéressant concernant les lettres CA. Je vais donc essayer d’éclaircir cette question en vous donnant les informations que j’ai réunies et les coups de fil que j’ai donnés, entre autre au musée du USS Salem. 1) le préfixe « USS » est l'acronyme de « United States Ship ». C’est l’identification de chaque navire américain commissionné. 2) Les lettres C.A désignent le type du navire. C’est une classification utilisée par la marine américaine. Par exemple B pour Battleships , C pour Croiseur , D pour Destroyer etc… Avant 1900, les croiseurs étaient désignés seulement par la lettre C, mais en 1920 on les redésigna par les lettres C.A (Armored Cruiser) ce qui changea de nouveau l’année suivante. Cette terminologie rend les choses un peu déroutantes. Vous pouvez trouver plus d’informations ici. Pour revenir au USS Salem CA 139, C.A signifie que le navire appartient à la categorie « Heavy Cruiser » de la même façon que CB signifie « Battle large cruiser)et CL « light Cruiser ». Vous pouvez trouver la liste complète des croiseurs americains ici. 3) le chiffre 139 correspond au nombre de croiseurs qui ont été faits. Le USS Salem fut le 139ième croiseur parmi les 150 construits.

French Expression of the Week / Expression de la semaine:
Ce n'est pas la mer à boire! It's not a big deal!

--->French lesson, click: Here