Gauthier Delomez 12:00 p.m., November 06, 2021

The French language is very largely provided by expressions which have a more or less direct relationship with gastronomy.

On Europe 1, Marcelle Ratafia, specialist in the subject, looks back on these expressions that have become commonplace and unveils their history, from their origins to their meaning.

We may not think about it, but many expressions in the French language use the lexical field of food.

Take a bottle, put a grain of salt ... Author of 

150 funny expressions of the kitchen that are not lacking in salt

(Le Robert) with the participation of Yves Camdeborde, Marcelle Ratafia returns, in the show

La Table of the good living

, on the origin of certain expressions entered into everyday language.

"Slang is very inspired by violence, money, but also food", she underlines on Europe 1.

>> Listen again to La Table des bons vivant in podcast or in replay here

Chickens, beef and carrots ... the police are well represented

The detective world has a lot of expressions around food.

For example, the Poulaga house is used to designate 36, quai des Orfèvres, where the judicial police are located in Paris.

“Before, it was the poultry market, where we sold chickens,” explains Marcelle Ratafia.

The author also mentions other expressions such as the salad basket, "which shakes its guests like salad leaves, or the salads that are told to denote lies. It is also said 'to be as good as romaine'. , which means that we are as tender as a leaf of lettuce and that we will get pinched, ”says the writer.

Finally, the beef carrots can be applied to the police who "simmer" their defendants.

Wine and sauce: two themes that inspired

Wine is also not stingy in terms of expressions, such as "rehabiller la frangine", which is half a bottle in Angevin region ", specifies Marcelle Ratafia, stressing that all these expressions do not necessarily come from slang." Taking from the bottle comes from a Roman custom which was to offer an amphora of wine for a birthday ", continues the writer. Or" to pay bribes ", which comes from Burgundy. the same meaning as bribe, since it meant something that came in addition, like a bribe, "says Marcelle Ratafia.

The theme of the sauce also comes up often in the French language.

"Put the sauce", "send the sauce", "use in all sauces" ... According to the writer, the sauce inspires "by its variety. Everyone prefers one".

Expressions that have changed meaning

Some expressions have changed meaning, such as "having the slab". “Originally, it was thirsty, and rather alcohol. It comes from an old Breton word that belongs to the navy, since it was a small conduit on the boats that allowed the water. We understand the idea of ​​the throat. " Another expression coming from the world of the navy: "to go together", and not "in concert". "We often do somersaults. Canning comes from

cum servare

, which means sailing on sight. The word 'can' recalls the little box we all know, and which was often used to eat on boats," says she does.

Hot in front, put a grain of salt, pay in cash ... Marcelle Ratafia believes that there are still many other French expressions around food.

Proof that gastronomy is a cultural marker in France.