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 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.
What do you think? Post your comments on my
French blog - just hit "comments" at the bottom of the post.
Example:
Depuis ma promotion, c'est métro, boulot, dodo !
Ever since my promotion, it's been nothing but work, work, work!