French Word Play
Monday November 17, 2008
In this new weekly feature, I'm going to offer a brief analysis of examples of French word play I find interesting.
Obama effrayé par l'état des finances américaines : Que de trous... à busher !
Source: Le Canard enchaîné, 12 Nov 2008, page 1*
This is a play on the phrase trous à boucher, which means "holes to plug" or "holes to be plugged." The satirical newspaper coined the word busher from the last name of the lame-duck American president Bush.
The main story of the same paper is headlined SARKOBAMA, which is just Sarko (French president Nicolas Sarkozy's nickname) and Obama (American president-elect's last name) combined into a single word.
More: French fun | French news
*In the little boxes on either side of the newspaper's title - if anyone knows what this feature of the paper is called, please let me know.
Obama effrayé par l'état des finances américaines : Que de trous... à busher !
Source: Le Canard enchaîné, 12 Nov 2008, page 1*
This is a play on the phrase trous à boucher, which means "holes to plug" or "holes to be plugged." The satirical newspaper coined the word busher from the last name of the lame-duck American president Bush.
The main story of the same paper is headlined SARKOBAMA, which is just Sarko (French president Nicolas Sarkozy's nickname) and Obama (American president-elect's last name) combined into a single word.
More: French fun | French news
*In the little boxes on either side of the newspaper's title - if anyone knows what this feature of the paper is called, please let me know.
Comments
In the UK advertising industry the little boxes either side of the masthead are called “ear pieces” or “title corners”
In America, I’ve heard them called “sky boxes.”
In North America those boxes (or triangles) are called snipes
Dans Amerique du Nord, ils s’appellent SNIPE
I like this new feature, keep doing the good work
In Oz they are called “ears”.
As an old newspaper man who knew the monetary value of ears I am currently remaking my website front to include ears for wee banners.
They help you hear the cash registers ringing teehee.
Love your work
kim
The Wall Street Journal calls it “What’s News”
peut-être ont-ils aussi voulu faire un jeu de mot avec le verbe bûcher (bosser)
Great new feature!!!