il est trop cher

English translation: he is a bit dear

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:il est trop cher
English translation: he is a bit dear
Entered by: Marcombes (X)

13:12 Mar 10, 2014
French to English translations [PRO]
Slang
French term or phrase: il est trop cher
This is in an email chain - the first person has complained about their job and their boss, and the second person has replied sympathetically that "il [the boss] est trop cher (c'est un français) !!" and that the first person deserves better.

I think it means he's a bit of a diva? Anyway, is "he's too much" ok in your opinion? Also, can this phrase be meant positively in other context?
Clompy
Australia
Local time: 23:30
he is a bit dear
Explanation:
he is pricey
Selected response from:

Marcombes (X)
France
Local time: 13:30
Grading comment
Thanks for this answer - this is how the French commenters seem to understand it. I used expensive for the glossary entry as per KMPrice's comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4he is a bit dear
Marcombes (X)
4he's too much
KMPrice
3he's a pain
katsy


Discussion entries: 10





  

Answers


21 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
he is a bit dear


Explanation:
he is pricey

Marcombes (X)
France
Local time: 13:30
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks for this answer - this is how the French commenters seem to understand it. I used expensive for the glossary entry as per KMPrice's comment

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  KMPrice: I understand 'too dear' in the sense that something is too expensive, but only because I'm over 50. It's outdated.
7 hrs

neutral  MoiraB: Not at all outdated if you're from Scotland, where it's commonly used to mean expensive - but perhaps too 'regional' for this context
7 days
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
he's a pain


Explanation:
... amongst other possibilities.
Here is a link to a "slang" site: http://www.languefrancaise.net/bob/detail.php?id=1300
I have copied the main entry (but there are examples also) ¶ Intensif, haut ; élevé ; beaucoup ; bien, fort, difficile, beaucoup, vite ; rude ; important, énorme ; exagérer, difficile à croire

Given the context you give us I'd imagine the boss comes into the "difficile" category!
So I'd say "he's a pain" to keep the slangy element;
Or more prosaically
he's difficult
he makes our lives difficult
It doesn't seem to me that "diva" would be it, though impatient, short-tempered MIGHT come into it.
I wouldn't personally go for 'too much', (though that might be just personal!) - if you want to go along that road, why not, the more euphemistic "he's very intense"?
OTT possibly!
Hope you find something there to help you!

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Note added at 5 hrs (2014-03-10 18:55:48 GMT)
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Ah! Nearly forgot... the 'trop' is very probably the intensifier (synonym of très) used more and more in everyday informal speech (waaah, trop bien, trop génial etc....)

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Note added at 1 day7 mins (2014-03-11 13:19:58 GMT)
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As noted in the discussion box, I wonder if it could be "il est trop chier"
Here are some examples found on google (âmes sensibles s'abstenir!!) http://manoulette70.skyrock.com/562442475-putain-comme-elle-...
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=323380981044611&st...

If Asker thinks this is a possibility, then I adjust my suggested answer to:
"He's a (real) pain in the ass."

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Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2014-03-11 15:38:12 GMT)
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As noted in the discussion box, here is the view of a young French person...
"Jamais entendu "il est cher". En revanche il est chier, oui, dans le sens 'il exagère, il abuse, il est gonflé' ".
So once again, I'll try to adjust my suggestion accordingly.

He goes too far (not particularly slangy, though!)
He really pisses people off
He thinks he's God's gift (don't know if that is too old..)
He thiks he's so bloody marvellous...

katsy
Local time: 13:30
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  KMPrice: All viable possibilities, but say word gets around that so-and-so said the boss is any of those adjectives, when all he meant was overpaid? Too risky. I maintain that "too much" can be construed many ways, including all of yours, making it a safer choice.
23 hrs
  -> You have a point, Karen :-)
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1 day 4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
he's too much


Explanation:
I agree with your initial thought, Clompy. If you use "too much", which can be construed in several different ways, you'll be safe.

And if Katsy's link to the definition of Bob is on the money, you're covered there too, as too much covers those adjectives nicely.

Also, assuming that the writer of the e-mail meant "trop chié" is a really dangerous way to go.

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Note added at 1 day5 hrs (2014-03-11 18:15:46 GMT)
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"on Bob" not "of Bob".

KMPrice
Canada
Local time: 05:30
Native speaker of: English
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