As the Olympic Games approach, athletes and fans alike are gearing up with excitement. Let’s explore some key French Olympic terms and expressions that capture the spirit of the Games!
1. « Être au taquet » (To be at full throttle)
This expression comes from maritime terminology. A « taquet » is a cleat, a nautical device used to secure ropes on ships. It dates back to the 16th century.
Associated with « être », this popular French term means to be fully committed, motivated, or at maximum capacity. It implies reaching one’s limit or being unable to do more.
Therefore, it is often used to describe being extremely busy or fully prepared, such as athletes being « au taquet » in their training before the Olympics.
Example in sports: « Les athlètes olympiques sont au taquet dans leur préparation pour Paris 2024. »
(Olympic athletes are going full throttle in their preparation for Paris 2024.)
Example in everyday life: « Je suis au taquet au travail cette semaine avec tous ces projets à terminer. »
(I’m at full capacity at work this week with all these projects to finish.)
2. « Faire un carton » (To make a cardboard / To score a hit)
This expression comes from shooting sports, where a cardboard target was used.
It means to achieve great success or excel in a competition. It’s equivalent to « hitting the bullseye » or « scoring a big hit ».
In sports, it could mean winning decisively or performing exceptionally well.
Example: « L’équipe de natation française a fait un carton aux derniers Jeux Olympiques, remportant cinq médailles d’or. »
(The French swimming team scored a big hit at the last Olympic Games, winning five gold medals.)
Example in everyday life: « Son nouveau livre a fait un carton dès sa sortie. »
(His new book was a huge success right from its release.)
3. « Saisir la balle au bond » (To seize the ball on the bounce)
This phrase originates from « jeu de paume, » an ancestor of tennis and Basque pelota, dating back to the 17th century.
It refers to seizing an opportunity as soon as it presents itself, similar to the English expression « to strike while the iron is hot ».
This French idiom is used to describe quick thinking and opportunistic behavior, both in sports and in general life situations.
Example in sports: « Quand le champion en titre s’est blessé, son rival a su saisir la balle au bond pour remporter la médaille d’or. »
(When the reigning champion got injured, his rival knew how to seize the opportunity to win the gold medal.)
Example in everyday life: « Quand mon patron m’a proposé une promotion, j’ai saisi la balle au bond sans hésiter. »
(When my boss offered me a promotion, I seized the opportunity without hesitation.)
4. « Se renvoyer la balle » (To throw the ball back and forth)
Also from ball games, this expression has seen its meaning evolve over time.
Initially, it meant to exchange arguments intensely. Now, it often refers to shifting responsibility or blame between parties.
These common sports and Olympic terms are often used in situations of debate or when describing how people avoid taking responsibility.
Example in sports: « Après la défaite, l’entraîneur et les joueurs n’ont cessé de se renvoyer la balle sur les raisons de leur mauvaise performance. »
(After the defeat, the coach and players kept passing the blame back and forth about the reasons for their poor performance.)
Example in everyday life: « Les politiciens se renvoient la balle sur la question du changement climatique sans prendre de mesures concrètes. »
(Politicians keep passing the buck on the issue of climate change without taking concrete action.)
5. « La balle est dans ton camp » (The ball is in your court)
This expression comes from ball sports, particularly tennis.
It means that it’s your turn to act or make a decision. The responsibility or next move lies with you.
These Olympic terms are used in various situations, from negotiations to personal interactions, when indicating that it’s someone else’s turn to take action.
Example in sports: « Après avoir battu le record du monde, l’athlète a déclaré à ses concurrents : ‘La balle est dans votre camp maintenant.' »
(After breaking the world record, the athlete declared to his competitors: ‘The ball is in your court now.’)
Example in everyday life: « J’ai fait ma proposition pour le projet. La balle est dans ton camp pour décider si on continue ou non. »
(I’ve made my proposal for the project. It’s up to you now to decide whether we continue or not.)
6. Other Olympic Terms: Coach vs. Entraîneur sportif
Coach (in sports context)
Among the popular Olympic terms, « coach » comes from English and has been adopted in French sports terminology.
It refers to a professional who focuses on the mental and psychological aspects of an athlete’s performance.
In sports, a coach works alongside the traditional trainer or manager, specializing in mental preparation and personal development.
Example: « Le coach (sportif) a aidé l’athlète à surmonter l’anxiété de performance, ce qui a conduit à de meilleurs résultats dans des situations de haute pression. »
(« The coach helped the athlete overcome performance anxiety, leading to improved results in high-pressure situations. »)
Entraîneur sportif (Sports trainer)
This French term literally means « sports trainer ».
It refers to a professional who primarily focuses on developing an athlete’s physical, tactical, and strategic skills. Context: In French sports, the « entraîneur » is traditionally responsible for the overall training and preparation of athletes or teams.
Example: « L’entraîneur a développé une nouvelle formation tactique qui a considérablement amélioré les capacités défensives de l’équipe. »
(« The entraîneur developed a new tactical formation that significantly improved the team’s defensive capabilities. »)
Therefore, the main distinction between a coach and an entraîneur sportif lies in their focus and approach. An entraîneur primarily concentrates on developing an athlete’s physical, tactical, and strategic skills, aiming for tangible achievements like championships. In contrast, a coach specializes in the mental and psychological aspects of performance, helping athletes overcome internal barriers, manage stress, and achieve personal growth.
All these Olympic terms, deeply rooted in sports and maritime history, have become part of everyday French language. They reflect various aspects of competition, opportunity, responsibility, and effort, making them particularly relevant in the context of the Olympic Games and sports in general.
Join us on an exciting journey to master French Olympic terms in Paris!
Learn French with passion, engage with native speakers, and leave your mark in the heart of France. Together, let’s achieve fluency and celebrate the spirit of the Olympics!
