Don't break three legs of a duck
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2025 5:59 am
Hello everyone! We meet again today for a new episode of the Français Authentique podcast, a podcast during which we discover together a French idiomatic expression. By the way, I don't know if you had time to listen to it, but last week, we saw together the meaning of the expression " prendre la rouge dans le sac ". If you didn't have time to listen to the episode, think about doing so when you have a moment.
Before revealing today's expression, I invite you to join the Français Authentique newsletter in which you will receive two exclusive emails each week with content in French. And it will be very useful for your language learning. The link to subscribe to this newsletter is in the description, so remember to go see it as soon as you have a moment.
Let's move on to the expression of the day, which is very iran whatsapp number data intriguing, "ne pas casse trois pattes à un canard". Let's start with the words of the expression.
“Not” is the sign of negation.
“Casser” is a verb which means “to break”, “to fracture a bone”.
“Legs” are the limbs of animals.
And finally, "duck" is a water bird with a flattened beak and webbed feet.
As for the meaning of the expression, then originally there are two hypotheses.
The first hypothesis is that since a duck has only two legs, breaking three of a duck's legs is a feat that is nothing short of miraculous. And conversely, not breaking three of a duck's legs means accomplishing something that is ultimately nothing extraordinary.
The second hypothesis is that horses with knock-kneed legs, i.e. with slightly twisted legs, were called cagnards. Therefore, only the most valiant riders dared to ride these horses at the risk of breaking one or more legs.
So, in fact, it means to be banal, to be very common, or even mediocre. In fact, it is nothing extraordinary or even impressive. So, we use this expression to describe situations or actions that are not worthy of being praised. There is a synonym for this expression which is "not breaking bricks".
So, I'm going to give you three examples here, three different contexts so that you understand the meaning of the expression a little better.
First example: Peter boasts that he can climb trees, but he doesn't break three legs of a duck. My 7-year-old daughter can do it too.
So, here, we understand that Peter is boasting about something that is ultimately not extraordinary, that is very common and for which there is nothing impressive.
Second example: I saw the movie, it was funny, but it wasn't great. The story was pretty predictable.
So, here, we understand that the film was ultimately quite banal, quite mediocre, and that ultimately, there was nothing extraordinary.
Third example: Why does everyone love this singer? The lyrics of his songs are so banal, they are not that great.
So, here it's the same, the person says that it's completely banal, that it's mediocre, that there's nothing impressive, that there's nothing extraordinary about this singer, at least in the lyrics of the songs.
That's it for the three examples. So, I think you now have a little better understanding of how and when we use this expression in French.
Now let's do a little pronunciation exercise by placing the word order correctly with the negative. So, I'm going to pronounce sentences and I'll give you time to repeat after me.
So, in the simple tense, it gives ne + verb + pas + complement.
Example: I don't eat chocolate.
In the compound tense, it gives ne + auxiliary + pas + complement.
Example: I didn't eat any chocolate.
And there you have it, the little pronunciation exercise is over. I hope you enjoyed repeating little French sentences after me. I'm also done with the explanations of today's expression, "ne pas casse trois pattes à un canard". So, I hope you can reuse this expression with your French-speaking friends.
Consider joining the Français Authentique newsletter . You will receive exclusive content every week in French, and that is very, very interesting. For my part, I'll see you next week for a new podcast episode. Bye!
Before revealing today's expression, I invite you to join the Français Authentique newsletter in which you will receive two exclusive emails each week with content in French. And it will be very useful for your language learning. The link to subscribe to this newsletter is in the description, so remember to go see it as soon as you have a moment.
Let's move on to the expression of the day, which is very iran whatsapp number data intriguing, "ne pas casse trois pattes à un canard". Let's start with the words of the expression.
“Not” is the sign of negation.
“Casser” is a verb which means “to break”, “to fracture a bone”.
“Legs” are the limbs of animals.
And finally, "duck" is a water bird with a flattened beak and webbed feet.
As for the meaning of the expression, then originally there are two hypotheses.
The first hypothesis is that since a duck has only two legs, breaking three of a duck's legs is a feat that is nothing short of miraculous. And conversely, not breaking three of a duck's legs means accomplishing something that is ultimately nothing extraordinary.
The second hypothesis is that horses with knock-kneed legs, i.e. with slightly twisted legs, were called cagnards. Therefore, only the most valiant riders dared to ride these horses at the risk of breaking one or more legs.
So, in fact, it means to be banal, to be very common, or even mediocre. In fact, it is nothing extraordinary or even impressive. So, we use this expression to describe situations or actions that are not worthy of being praised. There is a synonym for this expression which is "not breaking bricks".
So, I'm going to give you three examples here, three different contexts so that you understand the meaning of the expression a little better.
First example: Peter boasts that he can climb trees, but he doesn't break three legs of a duck. My 7-year-old daughter can do it too.
So, here, we understand that Peter is boasting about something that is ultimately not extraordinary, that is very common and for which there is nothing impressive.
Second example: I saw the movie, it was funny, but it wasn't great. The story was pretty predictable.
So, here, we understand that the film was ultimately quite banal, quite mediocre, and that ultimately, there was nothing extraordinary.
Third example: Why does everyone love this singer? The lyrics of his songs are so banal, they are not that great.
So, here it's the same, the person says that it's completely banal, that it's mediocre, that there's nothing impressive, that there's nothing extraordinary about this singer, at least in the lyrics of the songs.
That's it for the three examples. So, I think you now have a little better understanding of how and when we use this expression in French.
Now let's do a little pronunciation exercise by placing the word order correctly with the negative. So, I'm going to pronounce sentences and I'll give you time to repeat after me.
So, in the simple tense, it gives ne + verb + pas + complement.
Example: I don't eat chocolate.
In the compound tense, it gives ne + auxiliary + pas + complement.
Example: I didn't eat any chocolate.
And there you have it, the little pronunciation exercise is over. I hope you enjoyed repeating little French sentences after me. I'm also done with the explanations of today's expression, "ne pas casse trois pattes à un canard". So, I hope you can reuse this expression with your French-speaking friends.
Consider joining the Français Authentique newsletter . You will receive exclusive content every week in French, and that is very, very interesting. For my part, I'll see you next week for a new podcast episode. Bye!