Re: Jennifer Saunders Fan Club

gerardM Mer 8 Fév - 22:02

As British tourists in Israel, a man and his wife were sitting outside a Bethlehem souvenir shop, waiting for fellow tourists. An Arab salesman approached them arm loaded with belts. After an impassioned sales talk yielded no results, he asked where they were from.
"England," the husband replied.
Looking at the wife's dark hair and olive skin, the Arab responded. "She's not from the UK."
"Yes I am," said the wife.
He looked at her and asked, "Is he your husband?"
"Yes," she replied.
Turning to the husband, he offered... "I'll give you 100 camels for her."
The husband looked stunned, and there was a long silence. Finally he replied, "She's not for sale."
After the salesman left, the somewhat indignant wife asked her husband what took him so long to answer, to which the husband replied, "I was trying to figure out how to get 100 camels back home."

MurielB Mer 8 Fév - 22:29

gerardM Ven 10 Fév - 22:04

MurielB Sam 11 Fév - 11:19

Gérard "to get even" is an expression I didn't know

if you get even with someone who has done something bad to you, you do something bad to them

Of course "Laughter is the best medecine" to the fear of growing old and ugly ! affraid

gerardM Sam 11 Fév - 16:26

Muriel,
This use of "even" is not surprising, not something weird.
Take a look at the different meanings of the word (especially meanings 4 and 6 of even-adjective):
- even as an adverb -> même
- even as a noun (old meaning) -> soir (think of evening)
- even as an adjective

1 (level) [ground, surface] égal; to be even with être au même niveau que [wall, floor];
2 (regular) [teeth, hemline] régulier/-ière; [temperature] constant;
3 (calm) [voice, tone, disposition, temper] égal;
4 (equal) [contest] égal; to be even [competitors] être à égalité (with avec);
5 (fair) [exchange, distribution] équitable;
6 (quits, owing nothing) we're even nous sommes quittes; to get even with sb rendre à qn la monnaie de sa pièce;
7 Math [number] pair.

- even as a verb:

Phrasal verbs
»» even out:
» even out [differences, imbalance, inequalities] s'atténuer;
» even [sth] out, even out [sth] répartir [distribution, burden]; réduire [disadvantage, inequalities].
»» even up:
» even [sth] up, even up [sth] équilibrer [contest]; it will even things up ce sera plus équilibré.

gerardM Sam 11 Fév - 16:59

MurielB Sam 11 Fév - 22:20

gerardM a écrit:
Muriel,
This use of "even" is not surprising, not something weird.
Take a look at the different meanings of the word (especially meanings 4 and 6 of even-adjective):
- even as an adverb -> même
- even as a noun (old meaning) -> soir (think of evening)
- even as an adjective
1 (level) [ground, surface] égal; to be even with être au même niveau que [wall, floor];
2 (regular) [teeth, hemline] régulier/-ière; [temperature] constant;
3 (calm) [voice, tone, disposition, temper] égal;
4 (equal) [contest] égal; to be even [competitors] être à égalité (with avec);
5 (fair) [exchange, distribution] équitable;
6 (quits, owing nothing) we're even nous sommes quittes; to get even with sb rendre à qn la monnaie de sa pièce;
7 Math [number] pair.
- even as a verb:
Phrasal verbs
»» even out:
» even out [differences, imbalance, inequalities] s'atténuer;
» even [sth] out, even out [sth] répartir [distribution, burden]; réduire [disadvantage, inequalities].
»» even up:
» even [sth] up, even up [sth] équilibrer [contest]; it will even things up ce sera plus équilibré.

Thanks Gérard for that very useful explanation !

Remy Dim 12 Fév - 5:13

The english people say "vital statistics" for a woman. That means "mensurations" in french. What do you think of that ?

Guilaine Dim 12 Fév - 12:08

Hi Remy !

I had to look up in my dictionary to check if that expression was indicated.
Indeed it was ! It is very peculiar, isn't it ?
It should be interesting to launch a research to find out what is hidden behind these words.
Are measurements so vital for a woman, and a woman only ?
Who decided such a funny thing ?

I notice an asterisk (*) before the expression in my dictionary Robert & Collins, which indicates that the expression, while not forming part of standard language, is used by all educated speakers in a relaxed situation but would not be used in a formal essay or letter, or on occasion when the speaker wishes to impress.

Remy Dim 12 Fév - 12:27

Thank you for these explanations, Guilaine !

It's perhaps english humour...

gerardM Mer 15 Fév - 12:00

gerardM Mer 15 Fév - 15:22

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy.
He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull." Buddy didn't move.
Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull." Buddy didn't respond.
Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Jennie, pull." Nothing.
Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull." And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.
The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.
The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind, and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try!"

Remy Mer 15 Fév - 19:44

gerardM Ven 17 Fév - 19:51

gerardM Ven 17 Fév - 19:58

Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son.
"Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!"
"But why, Mum? I don't want to go."
"Give me two reasons why you don't want to go."
"Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me also!"
"Oh, that's no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get
ready."
"Give me two reasons why I should go to school."
"Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And for another, you're the PRINCIPAL!"

MurielB Ven 17 Fév - 22:13

gerardM Sam 18 Fév - 18:42

MurielB Sam 18 Fév - 20:38

Importance of Trees: Trees are a part and parcel of earthly life. All life directly or indirectly owes its existence to them.
•Trees release oxygen which we need for our life. They also absorb the carbon-dioxide.
•Many living species live in trees. Trees form the natural habitat of many animals, birds and insects.
•Trees help make the land fertile. We get good crops out of fertile land.
•They are the sources of the fruits and flowers.
•They offer us cool shade during summer.
•During rainy season, we take shelter under the trees.
•Trees and plants are the sources of many supply life-saving drugs.
•They prevent land erosion and guard us against pollution. Thus, trees keep up the ecological balance.
•Trees protect us from inclement wind also.
•Seeds, nuts and fruits are food sources for humans and animals.

Conclusion: Thus, trees play an important role in our life. Felling of trees disturbs the eco-system. We should preserve trees and plants with great care.

http://www.importantindia.com/11512/short-paragraph-on-trees/

gerardM Sam 18 Fév - 22:47

MurielB a écrit:... Conclusion: Thus, trees play an important role in our life. Felling of trees disturbs the eco-system. We should preserve trees and plants with great care.
...

Hi Muriel,
Thanks for your post.
I didn't ever read "felling" nor "fell".
"Fell" is a very weird word.
Can we imagine a word that is in fact a past participle?
This past participle becomes a new verb the meaning of which is related to "to fall" (Fr abattre).
It's also a noun for which I can't see any link with "to fall" (the translation into French is montagne but it's used in the north of England only).
A quirk of use of "fell" in idioms:
-> in one fell swoop - d'un seul coup
-> with one fell blow - d'un seul coup.
What the hell is this word grammarwise?? "fell swoop"?? "fell blow"?? What's the noun in these couples?
NB: This strangeness is not rare... the answer is: grammarwise "fell" is called a "modifier". Smile

~~ edit

En "Modifier" -
I know about "modifiers" in English grammar.
L'équivalent en linguistique française est "modificateur"... je suis bien incapable de donner un seul exemple de modificateur (sauf à la rigueur, dans un mot composé avec un trait d'union).

gerardM Sam 18 Fév - 22:59

gerardM Dim 19 Fév - 12:13

A guy goes to the supermarket and notices an attractive woman waving at him.
She says hello. He's rather taken a back because he can't place where he knows her. So he says, "Do you know me?"
To which she replies, "I think you're the father of one of my kids."
Now his mind travels back to the only time he has ever been unfaithful to his wife, and he says, "Oh, are you the stripper from my bachelor party that I did on the pool table with all my buddies watching while your partner whipped me with wet celery?"
The woman looks sternly into his eyes and says very calmly, "No, I'm your son's teacher."

gerardM Dim 19 Fév - 12:15

gerardM Dim 19 Fév - 19:53

gerardM Dim 19 Fév - 21:11

MurielB Dim 19 Fév - 22:36

gerardM a écrit:
A guy goes to the supermarket and notices an attractive woman waving at him.
She says hello. He's rather taken a back because he can't place where he knows her. So he says, "Do you know me?"
To which she replies, "I think you're the father of one of my kids."
Now his mind travels back to the only time he has ever been unfaithful to his wife, and he says, "Oh, are you the stripper from my bachelor party that I did on the pool table with all my buddies watching while your partner whipped me with wet celery?"
The woman looks sternly into his eyes and says very calmly, "No, I'm your son's teacher."

Oh it is better to think twice before talking ! $C\'est vrai!!$

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