Feb 21, 2004 09:46
20 yrs ago
French term
essuyer les plâtres
French to English
Other
general
locution figee
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
2 hrs
Jonathan MacKerron
Native in English
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
963
French term (edited):
essuyer les pl�tres
Selected
to put up with initial problems
is what Hachette says, Harraps weighs in with "to be the first occupant; (subir des conséquences fâcheuses) to put up with the teething problems"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
sarahl (X)
: I like the teething! nice analogy.
16 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank you very much"
6 mins
John Peterson
Native in English
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English to French, Turkish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
1014
To have initial problems/to have problems at the start
Essuyer also has the colloquial meaning to endure or suffer (e.g. an attack, criticisms).
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Note added at 2004-02-21 09:56:39 (GMT)
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According to Le Petit Robert it can also mean living in a newly-built dwelling, so the context will determine the meaning.
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Note added at 2004-02-21 09:56:39 (GMT)
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According to Le Petit Robert it can also mean living in a newly-built dwelling, so the context will determine the meaning.
7 mins
French term (edited):
essuyer les pl�tres
to face the first disadvantages of a business
this is the figurative sense
the literal one is 'to live in a newly built house'
I still don't have the exact equivalent, but maybe this is helpful too.
Ref.: Larousse Dictionary
the literal one is 'to live in a newly built house'
I still don't have the exact equivalent, but maybe this is helpful too.
Ref.: Larousse Dictionary
+3
1 hr
French term (edited):
essuyer les pl�tres
be the first to do something, with the disadvantages which that entails
context would be useful as the term is very widely used
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
LilyBart
1 hr
|
| agree |
Dylan Edwards
: Yes, suffer the backwash/repercussions.
9 hrs
|
| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
10 hrs
|
+1
2 hrs
Genevieve Tournebize
Native in French
&
English
Fast & Accurate
Native in: French 
, English
Works in: English to French, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
28
to be the guinea pig
the meaning depends of the situation but basically it means to be the first one to try something
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Adam Thomson
: yes - "guinea pig" is good - although we cannot possibly know without more CONTEXT...
3 hrs
|
Discussion
Thanks