Métro, boulot, dodo

Expression: Métro, boulot, dodo

Pronunciation: [may tro boo lo do do]

Meaning: same old routine, work work work

Literal translation: subway, work, sleep

Register: informal

Notes: The French expression métro, boulot, dodo is a wonderfully succinct way of saying that you live to work. Métro refers to a subway commute, boulot is an informal word for work, and dodo is baby for sleeping.

The English equivalents - the rat race, the same old routine, work work work - don't quite capture the same sense of constant movement, and a more literal English translation, "commute, work, sleep," isn't as poetic as the French.

Example:
   Depuis ma promotion, c'est métro, boulot, dodo !
   Ever since my promotion, it's been nothing but work, work, work!

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Most common French phrases