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Can you speak the Lingo ?
in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:55 pmby Poptop320 •
| 2.631 Posts
Im sure that at some time those that travel abroad in their eribas will have had to use pigeon French etc, that they learnt from school with some amusing results. I was away with my uncle in France a few years ago on a WW1 battlefield tour, we broke away from the main party and decided to have a meal in a local restaurant......... as they say when in Rome?
The waitress came to the the table where i asked "pouvez-vous parler Anglais" ( can you speak English) and the response was "Non"
We wanted a steak but we were warned to ask for it to be very well done as the French like their meat to be still bleeding. So using my best pigeon French from school and a French titled Bryan ferry album I had I strung a sentence together to ask for a well done Steak and a drink,
I didn't know the word well done but I know that the word Black was in the title from my Ferry album Bete Noire, but I wasn't sure which one meant black so I used both to be sure 
"se il vous plaît que nous pouvons avoir deux bêtes noires et un seau d'eau de puits?" I said to the waitress, she looked puzzled and said "pardon" with her mouth quivering, I then repeated my request "se il vous plaît que nous pouvons avoir deux bêtes noires et un seau d'eau de puits?" with that she couldn't control herself and started to laugh 
and then the tables nearby started laughing 
. My Uncle asked "what are they laughing at" to which I replied " I'm not sure but I don't think we will be getting steak and chips? The waitress controlled herself and then said "excusez-moi se il vous plaît" (excuse me please) and she went into the kitchen and brought out the Chief with a big white hat on his head. He looked at me and said "Pardon" to which I replied with the same sentence, he too thought it was hilarious and he had to sit down to get his breath 
. Luckily there were pictures on the menu so we just pointed to what we thought was steak......... an hour later two Pork steaks turned up... 
Anyway after getting home I remembered my sentence and got some one to translate "se il vous plaît que nous pouvons avoir deux bêtes noires et un seau d'eau de puits?"
which means
Please can we have two black beasts and a bucket of well water? 
As they say in Wales "Ah c'est la vie" 
When I go on holiday I like to pop my top!
replyRE: Can you speak the Lingo ?
in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:03 pmby Julie Grafo •
| 3.555 Posts
Where's "la plume de ma tante" when you need it
Puck L 225 GT pushing Honda CRV SE 1.6 i-DTEC
RE: Can you speak the Lingo ?
in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:09 pmby Poptop320 •
| 2.631 Posts
Quote: Julie Grafo wrote in post #2
Where's "la plume de ma tante" when you need it
I have just used Google translate, we would be no good on holiday together...
When I go on holiday I like to pop my top!
Zitat
later two Pork steaks turned up...
With French frys 
Vauxhall Insignia Sri towing 2006 Triton 430 import
When visiting the UK I attempt to put on my very best neutral accent and use grammar correctly. However, that still didn't prevent my steak turning up one evening burnt to a crisp when I specifically asked for medium rare. Perhaps I should have stuck with German or French. 
2013 Triton 430, VW Touran TDI BM
RE: Can you speak the Lingo ?
in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:35 pmby Randa france •
| 13.258 Posts
Quite a few years ago we stayed overnight at a Chambre d'hote near Bourges. Over breakfast Mrs R got talking to a very sophisticated middle aged French lady guest who was commenting in French about the inclement weather. Having recently learned the phrase from a French friend, the missus returned the conversation by stating that "il pleut comme vache qui pisse", which is the sort of equivalent of "it's raining cats and dogs". However, the French lady was quite shocked
As we never have burnt steak in the UK, normally going for rare or medium rare, we got fed up with French waiters always assuming that in typical British style, we like our meat cremated. Therefore we asked for "bleu" only to find that when the waiter disappeared into the kitchen, we saw three of four heads looking through the glass portholes at these strange Brits.
The way the French cut their meat, a bleu steak is fabulous.
I've linked a previous thread regarding quite a funny Anglais-Francais Dictionnaire to add to your collection.
Slang French-English
Randa
1999 Eriba Troll 530 pushing a VW Touran 2L TDi Match 
RE: Can you speak the Lingo ?
in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:15 pmby Randa france •
| 13.258 Posts
There was another occasion when we stayed overnight at a Table d' Hote near Orange. Thanks largely to Mrs R's brave attempts at French and a smattering of English by the hostess, we were getting on famously.
Like most Table d' Hotes in France, the guests eat with the family so, about half hour before our evening meal we went for a walk in their extensive garden. We came across a charming old man who proceeded to talk in French to us. We just couldn't keep up so just politely nodded and agreed with what he was saying from time to time.
Later, during the meal, we were able to understand a little of what everyone was saying except for the old gentleman. We found that the hostess's daughter had very good English so during a break in the chat we explained the situation to her. She came back to us and said none of them could understand him either.
Randa
1999 Eriba Troll 530 pushing a VW Touran 2L TDi Match
| 675 Posts
RE: Can you speak the Lingo ?
in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:29 pmby Randa france •
| 13.258 Posts
Did she give you a spray that would repel all insects? You know. One for all and all for one
1999 Eriba Troll 530 pushing a VW Touran 2L TDi Match
Quote: Magpie wrote in post #9
When in Beaune I was somewhat bothered by flying insects. I popped into a pharmacy and in my bestest French asked for an appropriate spray. The assistant very politely sold me something suitable. I realised later that I had asked for 'Something against the Musketeers'. (Dangerous Burgundian swordsmen?)
You were lucky you did'nt end up with haemorrhoid cream
Johnny Cash once wrote a song that an advertising agency wanted to use to advertise it's product but his management turned down the request
Likes to wax and have a smooth finish!
They teach you truth is good, then when you tell the truth everyone get's offended!
Quote: Agger wrote in post #11Quote: Magpie wrote in post #9
When in Beaune I was somewhat bothered by flying insects. I popped into a pharmacy and in my bestest French asked for an appropriate spray. The assistant very politely sold me something suitable. I realised later that I had asked for 'Something against the Musketeers'. (Dangerous Burgundian swordsmen?)
You were lucky you did'nt end up with haemorrhoid cream
I notice no-one else has stooped low enough to hazard a guess at what that song might have been ...
Olivers Twists at http://martynoliver.wordpress.com/
RE: Can you speak the Lingo ?
in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Fri Feb 27, 2015 12:17 pmby Keith and Sue •
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