Thursday, January 11, 2007

Parisians

Famous for their alleged rudeness and pride, Parisians also boast a wide range of verbal and facial expressions, that a non-profit tourism organization decided to showcase in their latest advertising campaign. To be fair, these are not specific to Paris, but see if you can spot the signs and gestures that accompany:
  • On s'appelle? = Call me (literally let's call each other)
  • Bof = hmm, eh, or whatever else you say when you shrug
  • Camembert! = a cheese, of course. Telling someone "Ferme ta boite à Camembert" ("shut your Camembert box", or "Camembert" for short) is a (rather childish) way of telling him or her to shut up. I personally prefer "ta gueule!"
  • Ras le bol = fed up (the 's' is silent). Un bol is a bowl, so the image is that of a bowl filled to the top, ready to overflow, as in the other expression la goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase
  • Hein? or Répétez? = Uh? Say again?
  • On se tire or on se casse = Let's get the hell out of here (slang)
  • Les boules = when you're upset. Une boule = ball. Note the gesture can also accompany tu me gonfles! (or tu me les gonfles!) = you're getting on my nerves!

See if you can find them all, plus la moue (pout), and if you feel like it you can also enter their contest to win a week-end in Paris for two by taking pictures of yourself practicing those gestures.

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