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French Word of the Day: Charrier

The Local France
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French Word of the Day: Charrier
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond"

This jovial word should not be taken too seriously. But it is a useful one to know and could come in handy around the Christmas table.

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Why do I need to know the word charrier? 

Because it is very versatile word with a generally playful meaning. 

What does it mean? 

Literally charrier (pronounced sha-ree-ay) means to transport something by cart. 

Its more common meaning though, is "to take the mickey out of someone/tease someone" or "to exaggerate". 

In this context, it is similar to the English idiom of being "taken for a ride". 

Use it like this

Mes potes aiment me charrier - My friends like teasing me 

Les jeunes se charrient sur leurs parents - Young people take the mickey out of their parents 

C'est mon droit de te charrier - It is my right to tease you

Il ne charrie pas - He is not exaggerating

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Synonyms 

Charrier is a much gentler way of expressing the following ideas:

Se moquer de quelqu'un - To mock someone 

S'amuser de quelqu'un - To make fun of someone 

Ridiculiser - To ridiculise 

Abuser - To abuse 

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Anonymous 2021/12/16 00:03
'Taking the mickey' is nothing like 'taken for a ride' which is the activity of a con artist. Meanings change , sometimes based on persistent mistake or inversion i.e. wicked. "Taken for a ride ' could be the treatment of a victim who was defrauded , duped or conned. It is usually not the loss of a reputation but the loss of assets, cash and similar . The sale of time shares in the '70s and '80s was sometimes accompanied by sleight of hand or fraud. Salut.

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