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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French expression of the day: Fayot de la classe

You could become the dry bean of your French class with this expression.

Published: 30 March 2021 14:56 CEST
French expression of the day: Fayot de la classe
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know fayot de la classe?

Because it is difficult to translate directly and it’s a convenient one to know, especially if you have kids in a French school.

What does it mean?

Un fayot can either refer to a dry bean, or someone who works hard to get recognition. De la classe means ‘of the class’.

The best English equivalent is therefore probably ‘teacher’s pet’.

The image below illustrates it like this: “Teacher: Well, who want’s to wipe clean the board? The fayot de la classe:”

Fayot de la classe can be shortened to just fayot, if the person targeted is trying to impress other superiors than a teacher. In this sense, the English equivalents are ‘kiss-up’, ‘suck-up’ or similar.

For example, espèce de fayot, which directly translates as ‘species of fayot‘, means something like ‘what a kiss-ass’.

It’s not a very nice thing to call someone.

Use it like this

La France a tellement voulu faire plaisir à l’Union Européenne, Emmanuel Macron est le fayot de la classe. – France wanted so bad to please the European Union, Emmanuel Macron is the teacher’s pet.

J’en peux plus de ce fayot. – I can’t take anymore of that suck-up.

C’est la fayotte de la classe, celle-là. Mais on l’aime beaucoup quand même. – She’s the teacher’s pet, that one. But we like her a lot all the same.

Synonyms

Lèche-botte – boot-licker

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For members

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French Expression of the Day: Faire du lèche-vitrine

This French expression might come in handy in the weeks leading up the bi-annual 'soldes'.

Published: 31 May 2024 11:08 CEST
French Expression of the Day: Faire du lèche-vitrine

Why do I need to know faire du lèche-vitrine?

Because you might opt for this if your bank account is running a little low.

What does it mean?

Faire du lèche-vitrine – roughly pronounced fair doo lesh vih-treen – translates as ‘to do the window licking’. 

If your friend suggests this for a Saturday afternoon activity, do not worry – it’s not to be taken literally. The phrase is the French equivalent of ‘window-shopping’ in English.

In France, people have been using this expression since the 20th century. Before that, in the 19th century, the word lécher took on a second meaning of ‘to brush against’, in addition to ‘passing one’s tongue over something’.

As for window shopping, the French expression gives the image of a person who is so enthralled with the items shown in the shop windows that they are close enough to the glass to lick it.

If you want a synonym for this expression, you might say on va flâner dans les magasins (we are going to leisurely walk around the shops).

There are a few other French expressions that use lécher – such as lécher les bottes à quelqu’un (to lick someone’s boots, or overly flatter them).

Use it like this

Mon compte en banque est presque vide. Je ne peux me permettre que de faire du lèche-vitrine. – My bank account is almost empty. I can only afford to window-shop.

Ma grand-mère adore faire du lèche-vitrine le samedi après-midi. – My grandmother loves window-shopping on Saturday afternoons.

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