La main dans le sac

Learn or practise some idiomatic French expressions in this bilingual caper. Click any phrase for the English translation and links to relevant French grammar lessons.

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Q&A relating to this exercise 6 questions, 10 answers

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DrewC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

D'être pris?

Why does the final sentence, "Plutôt fuir que d'être pris la main dans le sac," utilize être in "d'être pris" vs avoir like in "d'avoir pris." ???

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer2

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Drew,

Here it means 'to be caught red-handed' which as in English uses the verb to be (être).

Hope this helps!

Like02 years ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

It is a passive construction, which is always constructed with être.

Like02 years ago

Drew asked:View original

D'être pris?

Why does the final sentence, "Plutôt fuir que d'être pris la main dans le sac," utilize être in "d'être pris" vs avoir like in "d'avoir pris." ???

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BarbaraC1Kwiziq community member

how on earth do you put that into english

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer4

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Barbara,

If you mean the expression 'La main dans le sac'?

Être pris la main dans le sac, is to be caught red-handed ..

Like02 years ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

What ate you referring to?

Like02 years ago

BarbaraC1Kwiziq community member

I mean all of those little sayings. the cat one is easy guess just have to learn them par coeur..

thats the french language and why we love learning it. I love your program and how it is presented. I am a longtime etudiante ever since Laura first started just like to moan occasionally.

Like12 years ago

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi Barbara,

Another one for you which describes language learning well I feel :

Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid....

Like12 years ago

Barbara asked:View original

how on earth do you put that into english

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PaulC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Request concerning the interface to play this sound clip.

It doesn't appear possible to rewind this sound clip. For me personally , that makes it much less useful, as you have to replay the whole thing from the beginning. ( I have tried Firefox and Microsoft edge, so I don't think it's the web browser).

Could we please have an interface that allows us to rewind the sound ? Thanks Paul.

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer1

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi Paul,

As this is a technical question could you re-post it using the Help and Support button ?

Like02 years ago

Paul asked:View original

Request concerning the interface to play this sound clip.

Could we please have an interface that allows us to rewind the sound ? Thanks Paul.

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JamesC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

The meaning of `Jurer` - to swear

Does the verb `Jurer` - to swear, have optional meanings as it does in English, i.e. to swear an oath or to curse?

Asked 2 years ago

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ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

It is sometimes helpful to use an online dictionary like, e.g., this one:

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/french-english/jurer

Like02 years ago

James asked:View original

The meaning of `Jurer` - to swear

Does the verb `Jurer` - to swear, have optional meanings as it does in English, i.e. to swear an oath or to curse?

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MaxineA1Kwiziq community member

"....nos jambes a notre cou !" Pourquoi est-ce que le mot "cou", n'est pas en forme pluriel?

Asked 2 years ago

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ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

French differs a bit from English in this respect. In French, the focus is more on the single person. ...our legs at our neck: one person has one neck. In English you would say ... our legs at our necks, arguing that there are multiple persons and hence more than one neck. Not so in French.

Like02 years ago

Maxine asked:View original

"....nos jambes a notre cou !" Pourquoi est-ce que le mot "cou", n'est pas en forme pluriel?

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LauraC1Kwiziq community member

Qu'est-ce que signifie "mettre les pieds dans le plat"?

Asked 2 years ago

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EmilyB2Kwiziq community memberCorrect answer

Putting your foot in it.

Like02 years ago

Laura asked:View original

Qu'est-ce que signifie "mettre les pieds dans le plat"?

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