French Expression "Métro, Boulot, Dodo" Explained

Métro, boulot, dodo

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The informal French expression métro, boulot, dodo (pronounced [may tro boo lo do do]) 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 talk 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!
Translation: Ever since my promotion, it's been nothing but work, work, work!

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Team, ThoughtCo. "French Expression "Métro, Boulot, Dodo" Explained." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/metro-boulot-dodo-1371303. Team, ThoughtCo. (2023, April 5). French Expression "Métro, Boulot, Dodo" Explained. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/metro-boulot-dodo-1371303 Team, ThoughtCo. "French Expression "Métro, Boulot, Dodo" Explained." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/metro-boulot-dodo-1371303 (accessed March 19, 2024).