Pronunciation: [fehr ka do]
Meaning: to give (something), to let off easily
Literal translation: to make gift
Register: normal
Notes: Literally, the French expression faire cadeau means "to give (something) as a present," as in Mon copain m'a fait cadeau d'une voiture - "My boyfriend gave me a car (as a gift)." But there are also a couple of more idiomatic and interesting uses.
Ne pas faire de cadeau(x) can mean "to not let off lightly/easily, to give a run for one's money, to make it difficult for you" as when talking about police, parents, proctors, enemies:
Quand j'ai cassé la fenêtre, mes parents ne m'ont pas fait de cadeau.
When I broke the window, my parents didn't let me off lightly.
Faire cadeau des détails means "to spare (someone) the details, to make a long story short":
Je ne peux pas sortir ce soir - je te fais cadeau des détails.
I can't go out tonight - I'll spare you the details (I'll skip the long story about why I can't go).
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Synonyms
- et ainsi de suite
- et bla bla bla (informal)
- et cetera
- et j'en passe
- et patati et patata (informal)
