Do you know pretty old-fashioned words what did our grandmothers use?
Because our grandmothers had a lot of vocabulary...
These expressions of yesteryear are now almost forgotten!
What a pity, because these old words are often poetic and sometimes funny.
They are part of the colloquial, slang or on the contrary supported register.
Today, we invite you to rediscover some of these old forgotten French words.
We have selected for you 15 expressions and words of yesteryear that only our grandmothers can understand. Watch:
"Ah what a swashbuckler that one is!"
"He's playing swashbuckling..."
Maybe that's an expression you've heard before?
A braggart is a man who shows off .
He is a person who stands out and displays a courage... that he does not necessarily have.
A bully, a braggart!
It is an outdated and colloquial expression, but above all pejorative.
"My brother and my sister have finally patched things up. They're not mad anymore".
This is an old word that we like at comment-economiser.fr because it means to repair, to retype.
Yes, our grandmothers weren't the type to throw something away as soon as it was damaged.
No waste or mess with it.
No, if something was broken, she fixed it, patched it up and patched it up . In short, she patched it up.
Repairing can have another meaning, that of reconciling.
If you've had a fight with your lover, we hope you'll make it up quickly.
"This guy is a bad bitch..."
In other words, this guy is a thug !
In short, someone not very recommendable...
This is an obsolete and popular expression which replaces with panache rascal or scoundrel.
It's better to say a little gouape than a little strike, isn't it?
"Come on, I'll stick my ticket to you that he's not coming."
Sticking your ticket means betting, giving your word.
It's a colorful way our grandmothers had to say "I bet you".
It's a popular expression and quite colorful I think, don't you?
It can be replaced by "give your ticket", "file your ticket", "flank your ticket", "fuck your ticket".
"Harry of Sussex is the youngest son of William of Cambridge".
With this obsolete term, we change register since we are in a more supported language!
A sibling is the one born after.
It's the youngest , the little brother or the little sister.
This word is simply composed of "then" and "born".
With use, the "s" disappeared and was replaced by the circumflex accent.
"He asked me for help, I sent him to the balls!"
This expression used by our grandmothers comes from military slang.
It means reject, repulse , do not grant someone's request.
Yes, our grandmothers weren't shy about sending pests away!
In military vocabulary, the word pelota refers to the platoon of punished soldiers who had to perform chores.
"Let me laugh, please..."
Our grandmothers weren't always tender...
And if they made fun of a person, it was because they were making fun of them.
It's a strong, but antiquated expression for mocking, make fun of someone, laugh at someone, make fun of them.
"He's a stiff potato from his neighbor".
That's an adorable popular expression that we don't hear anymore.
To be stiff potato is to be stiff crazy in love from someone!
You can also use the expression to say that you are passionate about something.
That's cute, isn't it? And you, are you someone's stiff right now?
"It fell on my overcoat without warning!"
This old expression has several meanings.
This is a colloquial way of saying that someone has approached you very abruptly.
It's borderline aggressive! A synonym is for example:attack or jump on someone.
But this expression also has a figurative meaning.
The expression is also used to say that something happened unexpectedly :
"It fell on my overcoat!"
Finally, it can also have the meaning of insult or strongly criticize.
"My mother fell on my overcoat."
And by the way, do you know what an overcoat is?
It is a garment that is worn over other garments. It is usually buttoned in the front.
"I didn't expect his proposal. He took me off guard."
We still appeal to the sartorial register with this old-fashioned expression.
Originally, the expression comes from "se débotter" which simply means:take off your boots.
By extension, it becomes the moment when you take off your boots when you get home.
And figuratively, unbooted means unexpectedly .
"He took me off guard":this comes from the fact that we took off his boots and didn't have time to put them back on.
As Captain Haddock says in Tintin:"Damn, it's about keeping an eye open!"
This is an old expression that expresses surprise, fear, annoyance or astonishment.
It can also mean admiration.
This expression comes from the word "bugger".
Besides, we can also say damn or damn.
"That's damn good!"
"That old car isn't worth a penny!"
A kopeck was Russian currency which is worth one hundredth of a ruble .
The kopek was gradually devalued.
In other words, it's not worth much!
When your grandmother said, it's not worth a penny, that means it's not worth anything...
It has no value.
Similarly, you may have heard your grandmother say, it's three times nothing or for three francs six cents...
"His fascinating story stunned us!"
This verb, which is no longer used much, comes from the verb s'esbaudir.
In Old French, bald means "happy".
To be amazed means to be entertained, to rejoice , cheering up often loudly .
It's obviously an old expression, but you can still slip it in during a meal.
This always produces its small effect!
But beware, nowadays, this expression is a bit ironic...
"Me too my love, I dislike you."
We just made you a declaration of love?
Have you finally been told "I love you"?
Don't answer:me too...
It's so commonplace!
No, rather say:I don't like you!
Yes, "counter-love" means "to love back".
It's much more classy and original, don't you think?
"You know what I like about her? She's got a conversation!"
Attention, this expression is a false friend!
Of course, one can recognize that a person has conservation, without any ulterior motive.
This is the case if a person has presence of mind and talks easily about different topics.
But be careful when you use it to qualify a woman!
Because it has a slightly more saucy meaning...
It can mean:have a nice chest , have a generous chest.
In other words, there are people on the balcony!
And let me tell you, these expressions are very familiar...
