À la bonne franquette

Expression: À la bonne franquette

Pronunciation: [a la buhn fra(n) keht]

Meaning: simple, without any fuss, informal

Register: informal

Notes: The French expression à la bonne franquette is somewhat old-fashioned, but I still hear it quite a bit. Franquette is a diminutive of franc, meaning "frank" or "straightforward." So à la bonne franquette is kind of like saying "really simple" with no negative connotation. You can use it like an adjective - "simple" or "unceremonious," or like an adverb - "simply" or "unceremoniously." I've also heard it used for potluck meals (where guests bring dishes to share), which has no real French equivalent.

Examples:

   C'est une réunion à la bonne franquette.
   It's an informal meeting.

   Nous avons mangé à la bonne franquette.
   We ate a simple meal.


More

• Expressions with à
• Expressions with bon
• Most common French phrases