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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French phrase of the day: Y’a pas photo

Learn to be more decisive by using this phrase.

Published: 11 August 2021 11:29 CEST

French phrase of the day: Y’a pas photo

Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know y’a pas photo?

Because not only will you sound very French, you’ll also appear more confident.

What does it mean?

Il n’y a pas photo is used when comparing two or more things – it means that one is clearly ahead of the others.

In informal conversation it’s often shortened to y’a pas photo.

It comes from horse racing, where a photo finish is used for incredibly tight races. When it’s difficult to see which horse crossed the line first, you need to check the photo.

By extension, il n’y a pas photo (literally “there’s no photo”) means there’s no need for a photo finish, because the winner is clear.

You can use it to compare pretty much anything, and the person you’re speaking to will understand immediately how strongly you feel.

There are plenty of potential English translations, including:

It’s a no brainer
Hands down
No contest
It’s not even close
By far

Use it like this

Le PSG est la meilleure équipe en Ligue 1, il n’y a pas photo – PSG is hands down the best team in Ligue 1

Je préfère la cuisine française à la nourriture britannique, y’a pas photo – I prefer French cooking to British food, no contest

‘Tu préfères quelle robe ?’ ‘La rouge, il y a pas photo’ – ‘Which dress do you prefer?’ ‘The red one, by far’

Synonyms

De loin – by far

Largement – easily

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French Expression of the Day: Ne pas avoir la langue dans sa poche

Why do I need to know ne pas avoir la langue dans sa poche?

Because depending on your sensitivity level, you would either seek out this type of person or try to stay far away from them.

What does it mean?

Ne pas avoir la langue dans sa poche – roughly pronounced nuh pahz ah-vwar lah lahng dahn sah poe-sh – translates precisely as ‘to not have the tongue in the pocket’.

This is an old French expression, dating back to the 19th century, and it does not have anything to do with literal tongues in pockets.

It refers to someone who speaks freely and without any restraint. In English one might say that ‘they do not hold back’ or perhaps ‘calls a spade a spade’ – it means someone who is blunt and says exactly what they are thinking, regardless of whether it might offend or upset people.

A person qui n’a pas la langue dans sa poche might be borderline rude, or impulsive, as they speak without thinking.

While you are most likely to hear this in the negative sense (about a blunt person), you could also use it in the opposite way (avoir la langue dans sa poche) to describe someone who is guarded and speaks carefully.

There are a couple of similar French expressions, though they do not convey exactly the same meaning of speaking carelessly. One option is être un moulin à paroles (‘to be a mill with words’, or to speak a lot and quickly, without taking any pauses).

Another is une pipelette for someone who talks a lot and enjoys gossiping.

Use it like this

Ne t’inquiète pas, ma belle-mère n’a pas la langue dans sa poche. Elle dira exactement ce qu’elle pense. – Don’t worry, my mother in law does not hold back. She will say exactly what she is thinking.

Il n’a pas la langue dans sa poche. Il m’a dit carrément que ma robe était moche. – He is brutally honest. He told be outright that my dress was ugly.

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