Pédaler dans la choucroute

Expression: Pédaler dans la choucroute

Pronunciation: [pay da lay da(n) la shoo croot]

Meaning: To be at a complete loss, getting nowhere fast, spinning one's wheels

Literal translation: To pedal in the sauerkraut

Register: familiar

Notes: This is one of my favorite French expressions. Pédaler dans la choucroute offers a fantastic visual image of someone working like crazy but getting exactly nowhere. It's also completely bizarre - why on Earth would anyone be riding a bike in a bowl of sauerkraut?

Synonyms: pédaler dans la semoule (to pedal in the semolina), pédaler dans le yaourt (to pedal in the yogurt)

Example:
   Ce n'est pas la peine de continuer à chercher - tu pédales dans la choucroute.
   Don't bother continuing to search - you're spinning your wheels.

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