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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French phrase of the Day: Monstre sacré

Don't worry, this type of monster is unlikely to be hiding under your bed.

Published: 8 September 2021 11:57 CEST
French phrase of the Day: Monstre sacré
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know monstre sacré?

Because it’s a widely used phrase in France, especially during times of great public emotion.

What does it mean?

You might expect this to mean ‘sacred monster’ and it’s true that un monstre is a monster and sacré generally translates as sacred, but taken together as a phrase it has a very different meaning.

Someone who is given the title of un monstre sacré is a public figure who is striking, unusual or cherished. In English you might call them a superstar, an icon or a national treasure.

If you have been following the news coverage of the death of French screen superstar Jean-Paul Belmondo you are likely to have seen this phrase used a lot to describe his iconic status.

Although sacred or holy is the primary meaning of sacré it has other uses including to be ‘crowned a winner’ often in a sporting sense, and it can also be used to add emphasis to what you are saying – click here for alternative uses of sacré.

Use it like this

L’acteur Jean-Paul Belmondo était un vrai monstre sacré du cinéma français – The actor Jean-Paul Belmondo was a true icon of French cinema

Il n’est pas très connu en France, mais il est un monstre sacré en Angleterre – He’s not very well-known in France, but he is a national treasure in England

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For members

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

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

This French expression is a good one to teach your unfiltered friend.

Published: 26 April 2024 10:50 CEST
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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