Whilst reading the article entitled “Relance : Sarkozy bat la mesure”, I came across the expression “prime à la casse”:

L’accent est mis sur la relance de la demande grâce à une prime à la casse de 1 000 euros, instaurée jusqu’à la fin 2009 sur les véhicules particuliers et utilitaires légers de plus de 10 ans.

The word “prime à la casse” means:

Scrappage premium, a benefit given to people in order to encourage them to get rid of their old vehicles and replace them with newer, more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Scrappage is defined as: the scrapping of discarded objects (e.g. automobiles)

Hence the whole sentence could be translated as:

Stress is placed on the revival of consumer demand thanks to a 1000 euro scrappage premium for cars over 10 years old which will be valid until the end of 2009 and which applies to all private vehicles and light vehicle users.

In the article entitled Le Parlement roumain destitue Basecu, I came across the expression “remporter haut la main”.

Une démission pour mieux rebondir, espère-t-il, car il compte remporter haut la main l’élection présidentielle anticipée qui sera organisée d’ici à trois mois.

The expression “remporter haut la main” means:

To walk away with (something)

The whole sentence can be translated as:

A resignation for better to bounce back, he hopes, as he counts on walking away with the title of President in the anticipated elections to be organised three months from now.

In the article entitled Le Parlement roumain destitue Basecu, I came across the expression “jeter un pavé dans la mare”.

C’est le Président qui, le premier, a jeté un pavé dans la mare, en rendant public un billet du Premier ministre dans lequel ce dernier lui demandait d’invertvenir en faveur d’un ami inculpé de fraude et d’évasion fiscale.

The expression “jeter un pavé dans la mare” means:

To make waves

Hence the whole sentence can be translated as:

It was the President who was the first to make waves, making public a bill from the Prime minister in which the latter asked him to intervene in favour of a friend who had been charged with fraud and tax evasion.

In the article entitled Le Japon sous le choc après le meurtre du maire de Nagasaki, I came across the expression “avoir pignon sur rue”.

Forte de 39000 hommes (parmi les quelque 92000 yakusqs recensés), cette organisation criminelle a encore pignon sur rue, malgré l’adoption en 1992 de la “loi antigang”.

The expression “avoir pignon sur rue” means:

To be prominently placed, to be well established

Hence the translation of the whole sentence above is:

39,000 strong (amongst about 92000 yakusqs counted), this criminal organisation is still well established, despite the adoption in 1992 of an “anti-gang law”.

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.

In the article entitled “Paris Match”, Cécilia et les rumeurs, I came across the epxression “de fil en aiguille”:

Et puis, de fil en aiguille, l’utilisation incontrôlée des moyens de l’Etat pour protéger la jeune fille, utilisation d’autant plus incontrôlée que la presse faisait silence, aboutit au scandale des écoutes téléphoniques.

The expression “de fil en aiguille” means:

One thing leading to another, gradually

Hence we can translate:

And then, one thing leading to another, the unchecked use of state resources to protect the girl, all the more unchecked due to the silence of the press, led to the telephone tapping scandal.

In the article entitled Bayrou-Royal, les programmes à la loupe, I came across the expression “pomme de discorde”:

Sept sujets de société passés en revue: entre convergences et pommes de discorde.

“Une pomme discorde” can be translated as:

Bone of contention

Hence the whole phrase above can be translated as:

Seven public policy issues were reviewed: with both convergences and bones of contention.