In the article entitled Encore deux jours pour réfléchir, I came accross the expression “faux-cul”.
Lui, il était faux-cul.
The word “faux-cul” means:
Two-faced bastard
As you can see, it is quite “strong” so careful when and where you choose to use it! In this case, to my delight, it was designating Nicolas Sarkozy!
In the article entitled A Toulouse, Royal fustige la “fracture républicaine”, I came accross the expression “point d’orgue”.
A trois jours du scrutin, aucun argument n’a été laissé au hasard, hier soir au parc des expositions de Toulouse, pour orchestrer ce qui devait constituer le point d’orgue de la campagne de Ségolène Royal.
“Le point d’orgue” can be translated as:
The final touch
Hence the whole sentence can be translated as:
At three days from the vote, no argument was left to chance last night at the exposition park in Toulouse – to orchestrate what should constitue the final touch of Ségolène Royal’s presidential campaign.
In the article entitled Dans le secret des secrétaires I came across the expression “moins de chichis”.
Je me sens respectée, considérée, et utile; peut-être parce que le boss est un homme et qu’il y a donc moins de chichis, d’histoires.
“Faire de chichis” means:
To put on airs, to act haughtily
“Sans chichis” means:
Without any fuss, without fussing
In this particular case, “moins de chichis” would mean:
Less fuss, less fussing around
Hence the whole translation could be:
I feel respected, considered and useful; perhaps because the boss is a man and so there is less fussing around
In the article entitled Dans le secret des secrétaires, I came accross the expression “sans atomes crochus”:
Sans atomes crochus avec son boss, la fonction n’a pas de sens.
The expression “avoir des atomes crochus avec qqn” means:
To have a lote in common with somebody
Hence the whole phrase can be translated as:
If you don’t have anything in common with your boss, the job is pointless.