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Slow Traveler
Posted
How would you translate:
"She could talk anyone under the table, and she usually did."
Thanks.
 
Posts: 473 | Location: Bayeux, France | Registered: 01 December 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post

Slow Traveler
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I don't even know what that means in English!
Do you mean somebody who is "soulante"? or somebody "qui te prend la tête?"
Sylvain, au secours !
 
Posts: 1931 | Location: Paris, France | Registered: 01 March 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Traveler
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I also don't know the meaning of this in English! So I can't be of any help as it is.
 
Posts: 59 | Location: Grenoble, France | Registered: 09 July 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Slow Traveler
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According to Wikipedia (ugh! -- the only place I can find a definition):

to talk somebody under the table =
1. (idiomatic) to bore (somebody) with excessive talk or numerous arguments

My wife said "soulant." Doesn't look like a verb to me...
 
Posts: 473 | Location: Bayeux, France | Registered: 01 December 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post

Moderator Emeritus
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It seems like this must be a variation of "to drink somebody under the table," to continue to drink long after the other person has given up and gone to sleep or passed out under the table.
 
Posts: 7519 | Location: Sacramento, CA | Registered: 18 June 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Traveler
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You can use "saoulant(e)" or the verb "saouler" (you don't pronounce the first a). Be aware it's familiar form though. By the way, "se saouler" means to get oneself drunk.
 
Posts: 59 | Location: Grenoble, France | Registered: 09 July 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Slow Traveler
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What an uncommon idiom. I agree with Chris that it is a variation of to drink someone under the table but I think it has nothing to do with getting drunk.

I am thinking of the English word garrulous to sum up the idiom, but the often offered translation to loquace for French seems inadequate. Bavard would be too light. Does garrulous translate into some form of garruleux directly?
 
Posts: 184 | Location: DC Metro Area - Virginia | Registered: 02 January 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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