French expression of the day: Crier cocorico
Feeling good about your achievements? It's time to celebrate like a rooster.
Why do I need to know crier cocorico?
Because it's a fun expression pepped up with added French patriotism.
What does it mean?
Crier is French for 'to shout' and cocorico is what French roosters say - cock-a-doodle-doo in English.
READ ALSO: Groin groin, coin coin and meuh - The weird things French animals say
So crier cocorico means 'to shout cock-a-doodle-doo', which sounds like something you would not do unless you are a rooster.
But earlier this week, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said: "We will not yet shout cock-a-doodle-doo".
It sounds like quite an odd thing for a PM to tell his people - unless you know the true meaning of the expression.
Sur la sécurité sanitaire, @JeanCASTEX aux députés LREM « nous avons pris un certain nombre de mesures. Nous avons un arbitre : les résultats sanitaires. Ils sont parmi les meilleurs d’Europe actuellement. On ne va pas crier cocorico, ils ne sont pas encore suffisants »#COVID19
— Isabelle Ficek (@IsabelleFicek) December 1, 2020
Crier cocorico is actually a French way of saying 'to celebrate' or 'to cry out victory'.
So NOT shouting cock-a-doodle-doo means to NOT celebrate - just yet.
Castex was talking about the Covid-19 health situation, which was looking much better than it had in recent weeks. But it was too early to celebrate, according to the PM. Hence the no-cocorico policy.
Anti-riot police officers evacuate a protester wearing a rooster hat in Avignon, southern France, on March 30th, 2019. Photo: AFP
Origins
As you may know, le coq gaulois - the Gallic rooster - is France's unofficial national symbol, and the shirts of many French national sports teams have tiny cockerels sewn on them.
Crier cocorico is a way of showing patriotism and Gallic pride, according to French language guardian Académie Française (8th edition).
Use it like this
Est-il trop tôt pour crier cocorico ? - Is it too early to cry out victory?
Je vous fais un petit cocorico parce que cette prestation est vraiment fomidable ! - I'm giving you a little shoutout because this performance is truly brilliant!
Il n'y a pas de quoi crier cocorico encore. Attendons les résultats. - There's nothing to celebrate just yet. Let's wait for the results.
Comments
See Also
Why do I need to know crier cocorico?
Because it's a fun expression pepped up with added French patriotism.
What does it mean?
Crier is French for 'to shout' and cocorico is what French roosters say - cock-a-doodle-doo in English.
READ ALSO: Groin groin, coin coin and meuh - The weird things French animals say
So crier cocorico means 'to shout cock-a-doodle-doo', which sounds like something you would not do unless you are a rooster.
But earlier this week, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said: "We will not yet shout cock-a-doodle-doo".
It sounds like quite an odd thing for a PM to tell his people - unless you know the true meaning of the expression.
Sur la sécurité sanitaire, @JeanCASTEX aux députés LREM « nous avons pris un certain nombre de mesures. Nous avons un arbitre : les résultats sanitaires. Ils sont parmi les meilleurs d’Europe actuellement. On ne va pas crier cocorico, ils ne sont pas encore suffisants »#COVID19
— Isabelle Ficek (@IsabelleFicek) December 1, 2020
Crier cocorico is actually a French way of saying 'to celebrate' or 'to cry out victory'.
So NOT shouting cock-a-doodle-doo means to NOT celebrate - just yet.
Castex was talking about the Covid-19 health situation, which was looking much better than it had in recent weeks. But it was too early to celebrate, according to the PM. Hence the no-cocorico policy.
Anti-riot police officers evacuate a protester wearing a rooster hat in Avignon, southern France, on March 30th, 2019. Photo: AFP
Origins
As you may know, le coq gaulois - the Gallic rooster - is France's unofficial national symbol, and the shirts of many French national sports teams have tiny cockerels sewn on them.
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