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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French Expression of the Day: Éclater en sanglots

This French expression might come up after dealing with impossible admin challenges in France.

Published: 12 March 2024 10:50 CET

French Expression of the Day: Éclater en sanglots

Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know éclater en sanglots ?

Because this happens to everyone from time to time.

What does it mean?

Éclater en sanglots – roughly pronounced ay-clah-tay ahn san-glow – means to burst into tears (or sobs).

It uses the word éclater, which means to burst. Some people might use this expression with the word exploser (to explode) instead of éclater.

Sanglots is the French term for heavy crying or sobbing. It carries a more technical definition as a ‘spasm causing contractions of the diaphragm and accompanied by tears’.

Generally, the expression is used in the same way English speakers would use ‘bursting into tears’ or ‘sobbing’ – the speaker might have experienced something very sad or tragic or they might be crying after happy news.

For example, after she won an Oscar, French director Justine Triet told the French press: Quand je suis sorti, j’ai explosé en sanglots, donc beaucoup d’émotions joyeuses – When I left, I burst into tears, so there were a lot of happy emotions.

A similar French expression would be fondre en larmes.

Use it like this

J’ai éclaté en sanglots après avoir appris que j’étais acceptée à l’université. – I burst into tears after learning I was accepted into the university.

Elle a éclaté en sanglots après avoir appris la tragique nouvelle. – She burst into tears after hearing the tragic news.

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French Expression of the Day: Avec des si on mettrait Paris en bouteille

Why do I need to know avec des si on mettrait Paris en bouteille?

Because every so often we all have outlandish things to say.

What does it mean?

Avec des si on mettrait Paris en bouteille – roughly pronounced ah-veck day see ohn met-tray Par-ee ahn boo-tie – translates as ‘with ifs we could put Paris in a bottle’.

As you might’ve guessed, this French expression is not a literal one. In reality, avec des si… is more of a proverb than something you would say in everyday conversation, though don’t be surprised if an older French person uses it to temper your expectations.

People have been speaking this French phrase since at least the 18th century, and it is meant to be a warning against unnecessary or irrelevant speculation and doubt.

The expression basically means if the impossible were possible (e.g. putting the entire city of Paris into a bottle), then reality would be different, but there is no point in worrying or fantasising about unrealistic things.

A similar English expression might be “if ‘its’ and ‘buts’ were candy and nuts, it would be Christmas every day”.

You might use this French expression if your friend has a habit of imagining the worst case scenario all the time.

Someone might also add it after describing an unlikely hypothetical situation – for example ‘if I were president…’ or ‘if I were the wealthiest person in the world…’

Use it like this

Si je dirigeais le monde, je mettrais fin à la faim dans le monde, mais avec des si on mettrait Paris en bouteille. – If I ruled the world, then I’d end global hunger, but no point in fantasising about the impossible.

Si j’étais maire de Paris, j’exigerais que tous les habitants nettoient les déjections de leurs chiens, mais bon. Avec des si on mettrait Paris en bouteille. – If I was the mayor of Paris, I’d make everyone clean up after their dogs, but whatever. That’s a pipe dream.

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