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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

boire le bouillon

11:22 Jun 14, 2017
This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer

French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
French term or phrase: boire le bouillon
How would you translate this phrase, much heard in France lately in the context of our parliamentary election?

eg. Les ténors des Républicains/du PS boivent le bouillon.

Many thanks!
Isabelle Cluzel
France
Local time: 18:16


Summary of answers provided
4 +1bear the brunt / suffer the consequences
Katarina Peters
4to be wiped out
katsy
Summary of reference entries provided
fwiw, hth
writeaway

Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


30 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
bear the brunt / suffer the consequences


Explanation:
English expressions with the same meaning.


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Note added at 1 hr (2017-06-14 12:58:39 GMT)
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I may be wrong. I took it from the similar Hungarian expression "meginni a levét" (drinking its liquid/water/juice etc.) meaning "taking the consequences". However, the meaning here could be different, such as "have the proof in the pudding" so my answer was just a suggestion. Comments welcome.


Katarina Peters
Canada
Local time: 12:16
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  writeaway: any refs? for the Fr meaning and/or the English translation? /bouillon, 56. m. i. Boire, prendre un bouillon, to experience a failure. // a pris le bouillon, his business has gone smash.
31 mins
  -> bouillon, 56. m. i. Boire, prendre un bouillon, to experience a failure = https://archive.org/stream/glossaryoffrench00lerouoft/glossa...
agree  HERBET Abel: Ça me plaît
9 hrs
  -> Merci, Herbert :)
neutral  katsy: with writeaway// :-) I have proposed sth in the DB. Can post if desired, but as everyone else has done the harder work....
20 hrs
  -> OK, so just ignore it and post your own answers :)
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1 day 21 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to be wiped out


Explanation:
Having been encouraged (!) to post an answer.... here's a quote
“The election has crystallized [the country’s] divisions,” said Fieschi, “and at the same time wiped out the traditional parties who have normally dealt with them. So it means that this could be a real moment of reinvention, if Macron can seize it.”
https://www.vox.com/world/2017/5/7/15571666/french-elections...

Which would give in you context:
LR and PS grandees have been wiped out

You can always add a 'practically' if you wish

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Note added at 1 day21 hrs (2017-06-16 08:51:50 GMT)
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youR context of course

katsy
Local time: 18:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 15
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Reference comments


1 hr peer agreement (net): +3
Reference: fwiw, hth

Reference information:
Boire la tasse"



Signification


Avaler de l'eau en se baignant.



Origine


Lorsque l'on se baigne, il arrive parfois que l'on avale de l'eau involontairement. Cela s'appelle "boire la tasse". L'expression, très courant, est une variante des anciennes formules "boire la grande tasse", ou encore "boire un bouillon". Celles-ci apparurent vers la fin du XVIIIe siècle et le sens figuré en était "échouer". Aujourd'hui, celui-ci a disparu et seul le sens propre est encore utilisé
http://www.linternaute.com/expression/langue-francaise/575/b...

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Note added at 1 hr (2017-06-14 12:28:13 GMT)
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boire le bouillon

date : 1808 registre moderne : 5 fréquence : 10
boire le bouillon & boire un bouillon ; faire boire de rudes bouillons ; avaler un bouillon ; bouillon – locution
Perdre de l'argent, subir une perte, faire dépenser trop d'argent, faire une mauvaise spéculation, échec, insuccès ; subir un malheur ALL : Geld verlieren

Synonyme : échec, insuccès, échouer, manquer, argent (perdre de l'), mauvaise affaire
• 1909 [principe des brocanteurs est d'être maîtres sans laisser les bourgeois] leur disputer les objets […] on les voit donc faire à ceux-ci une guerre à coups de surenchères, afin de les décourager en leur faisant «boire de rudes bouillons» 1909. Les bandes noires - Etude sur l'exploitation des vendeurs, producteurs, négociants, etc. (Les Plaies Sociales) <1 citation(s)>
http://www.languefrancaise.net/Bob/11693

writeaway
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  mchd
9 mins
agree  Michele Fauble
5 hrs
agree  katsy
20 hrs
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