Et encore

Question

What would be the meaning of "et encore" in her sentence :  "Mieux vaut éviter les vêtements que le bébé ne portera qu'une seule fois, et encore". I can't work out why (or in what sense) she is adding "et encore" at the end.

Accepted Answer

Thanks Chris. Your answers are always appreciated. I still wasn’t quite satisfied with your translation in this context though, but I found another possible meaning for “et encore” at the end of a sentence which makes more sense to me i.e. “if that”.  For example “ça vaut dix euros, et encore”. That’s worth 10 euros, if that. Or in the case of this exercise, the baby might only wear the clothes once, if that.

Answer

Et encore -- and even then, and stillThis is an idiomatic phrase.