Comments

January 6, 2012 at 12:12 pm

(1) Elisabeth Rosen says:

re. a rebours: couldn’t it be translated, “against the grain”?

January 6, 2012 at 12:40 pm

(2) David says:

@ElisabethRosen: Yes, I would so translate “à rebours.”

January 6, 2012 at 12:49 pm

(3) Pamela Molyneux says:

I suppose the natural English expression would be “against the grain”, which essentially means the same thing as “against the nap” (perhaps with reference to wood rather than fabric?).

However, it would be expected that there would be some historical and etymological reference to “rebours” and also to “bours”, which so far I cannot find.
Any ideas would be most welcome.

January 6, 2012 at 12:55 pm

(4) David Burke, Ireland says:

I never see this expression without thinking of the famous symbolist novel of the same name by Huysman which was a sensation in the 1880s-90s and is widely believed to have been the “poisonous French novel” which contributed to the corruption of Dorian Grey in Oscar Wilde’s great novel.

January 6, 2012 at 3:08 pm

(5) LKL - French Guide says:

Certainly if you’re speaking figuratively, “against the grain” is an acceptable translation. But please note that if you’re speaking literally, the French equivalent of “against the grain” is à contrefil.

January 6, 2012 at 3:11 pm

(6) John Grimes says:

À rebours is also the title of a famous novel by J. K. Huysmans and would best be translated in that case, “Against the Grain.“

January 7, 2012 at 6:04 am

(7) Denis says:

Sans être exactement équivalentes, on peut citer les expressions :
À rebrousse-poil / À contre-poil
- Brosser un chapeau à rebrousse-poil / à contre-poil
- À rebrousse-poil des sentiers battus / des conventions / des habitudes…

January 7, 2012 at 10:05 am

(8) Robert April says:

Ironiquement, j’ai toujours compris “a rebours” a rebours de son sens, le confondant avec a rebord — donc toujours a l’ecart du propos. Merci de l’avoir eclaire pour moi.

January 10, 2012 at 5:43 am

(9) shweta says:

hi Laura! you explained the expression “a` rebours” wonderfully but i was not able to understand one of its meaning-against the nap.Also please help me out with french present tense.I am Shweta(cs123456) on discussion forum for french learners. thank you!

January 11, 2012 at 2:59 am

(10) LKL - French Guide says:

Bonjour Shweta – Nap refers to the fuzzy surface of certain fabrics, like velvet. When you run your hand across velvet a certain way, the nap is flat and the fabric looks its best. When you run your hand the other way – against the nap – the nap stands up and the fabric looks strange.