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French Expression of the Day: Boules puantes

The Local France
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French Expression of the Day: Boules puantes
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

This is a useful word for practical jokers and lovers of a good metaphor.

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Why do I need to know boules puantes? 

Because it is a handy if you are a prankster, but you will also hear it used in a less literal way. 

What does it mean? 

Boules puantes, pronounced bool poo-ont, is a French word for stink bombs. 

Boules literally means balls, while puant means stinking. 

La boule puante est un accessoire incontournable pour faire des farces - The stink bomb is an essential accessory for doing pranks

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Les boules puantes se diffusent une odeur proche de l'œuf pourri - Stink bombs give off a smell close to rotting eggs 

Sometimes, the word can be used metaphorically to describe kicking up a fuss. 

When 2022 French presidential candidate Valérie Pécresse was accused of having an illegal conflict of interest, she used the phrase to bat away the allegations, saying they were an attempt to kick up a fuss for her.  

C'est malheureusement les boules puantes de la fin de la campagne - It is unfortunately stink bombs at the end of the campaign

Other prank-related vocab

Canular/blague/farce/piège - prank 

Coquin/farceur - prankster

Coussin péteur - farting cushion (whoopee cushion) 

Déguisement - disguise 

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