[Global Language Services is a partner of World Language Communications]
French Cats vs
English Cats: Idioms Translation from French to English
When is a cat not a cat? It happens quite often when doing a
translation from French to English involving figures of speech! Anyone who has
studied both languages may well have already noticed that the French much
prefer the cat over most other animals in their figures of speech, compared
with British English sayings. We’ve looked at our favourite French cat sayings
and translated them into English - partly as an intriguing vocabulary exercise
and partly as an excuse to fill this article with cats!
Est-ce que le chat est toujours un chat, en anglais et en
français? Souvent en traduisant le français vers l’anglais, on trouve les
figures du style clairement félines que n’existent pas en anglais. On a choisi
quelques figures: du style et ‘du chat’ - en partie comme un exercice de
vocabulaire, en partie pour chercher les chats!
Á bon chat bon rat
Literal Translation: For each good cat, there’s a good rat.
Translation from French to English: Two can play at that
game. But cats and rats would most likely play it better!
Chat échaudé craint
l’eau froide
Literal Translation: A scalded cat is scared of cold water.
Translation from French to English: Once bitten, twice shy.
Most likely by a cat?
Donner sa langue au
chat
Literal Translation: To give your tongue to the cat.
Translation from French to English: To have no idea.*
*Ah, you thought we nearly had a matching idiom, there! When
questioning if the cat has your tongue in French, it’s often translated as
<tu as perdu(e) ta langue?> No cats in sight. Utterly bizarre.
Avoir un chat dans la
gorge
Literal Translation: To have a cat in your throat.
Translation from French to English: To have a frog in your
throat. Not quite a cat. It’s turning into a horrible round of ‘would you
rather’. Frog or cat? A frog is smaller, I suppose!
Appeler un chat un
chat
Literal Translation: To call a cat a cat.
Translation from French to English: To call a spade a spade.
What about if you chose to call your cat, Spade? Would that make this more or
less confusing?
Il n’y a pas de quoi
fouetter un chat
Literal Translation: It’s nothing to whip a cat about.
Translation from French to English: There’s no need to get
your knickers in a twist. Relieved cats and non-twisted knickers all round,
hooray!
C’est du pipi du chat
Literal Translation: It’s cat urine.
Translation from French to English: It’s nothing to worry
about. Any excuse to talk about cats, eh?
Gourmande comme un
chat
Literal translation: Food-lover, like a cat
Translation from French to English: Describes someone who is
either a foodie, and very passionate about food or perhaps even a bit picky.
Which makes sense, because have you ever tried to feed a cat anything that
didn’t look expensive enough for it? That nose in the air - that’s what this
phrase sums up.
Quand le chat n’est
pas là, les souris dansent
Literal Translation: When the cat isn’t there, the mice
dance.
Translation from French to English: When the cat’s away, the
mice will play. Whether the dancing French mice or the playing English mice have
more fun? That’s debateable!
Il n’y a pas un chat
Literal Translation: There isn’t a cat.
Translation from French to English: There isn’t a soul.
Trying to describe a deserted street in French? The cats, or lack of them, will
sum up the image perfectly.
So there you have it! Looking for more English to French
translation? World Language Communications is happy to count Global Language Services as a global partner. We work in partnership to provide translation, interpretation and
more in over eighty languages, employing talented individuals translating into
their native language. We pride ourselves on speed and efficiency, so don’t
hesitate to get in touch with your translation and interpretation needs!
Cherchez-vous une agence de traduction et interprétation?
Global Language Services propose les services linguistiques dans plus de
quatre-vingts langues. N’hesitez-vous de nous contacter!
Posts
