French Expression of the Day: Manger un bout
The opposite of the classical French dining experience.
Why do I need to know manger un bout ?
Because you probably feel like doing this most evenings before dinner time.
What does it mean?
Manger un bout – pronounced mahn-jay uhn boo – translates precisely to ‘to eat a piece’ or ‘to eat a fragment’, but it really meals eating something that is not quite a full meal - the English equivalent would be ‘to grab a bite’ or ‘to get something to eat'.
The expression implies eating something quick and light, like a snack, instead of a meal. However, it should not be confused with ‘goûter’ which is the dedicated snack hour (usually filled with chocolate and cookies) in the mid-to-late afternoon.
READ ALSO How to snack (or not) like a French person
It is a pretty simple, yet common, expression in French, so you will likely hear it often. If someone offers you to 'grab a bite' with them, then you probably do not have to anticipate a long, involved sit-down meal. Instead, you might get a kebab, a sandwich or some easy street food.
Some think that the phrase was popularised by police in the 18th and 19th centuries. The criminal would supposedly be deprived of food until he agreed to confess or betray his accomplices, but when he confessed he was allowed a ‘bite to eat.’
You might also hear another version of this expression: “manger un morceau” (to eat a piece) which carries the same meaning.
Use it like this
Je vais juste manger un bout avant de vous rejoindre. – I am just going to eat a bite of food before joining you guys.
Je n'ai pas eu le temps de préparer un repas complet, alors j'ai juste mangé un bout et je suis partie rapidement de chez moi pour arriver à l’heure. – I did not have the time to make a full meal, so I just grabbed something quick and left my house quickly to be on time.
Comments
See Also
Why do I need to know manger un bout ?
Because you probably feel like doing this most evenings before dinner time.
What does it mean?
Manger un bout – pronounced mahn-jay uhn boo – translates precisely to ‘to eat a piece’ or ‘to eat a fragment’, but it really meals eating something that is not quite a full meal - the English equivalent would be ‘to grab a bite’ or ‘to get something to eat'.
The expression implies eating something quick and light, like a snack, instead of a meal. However, it should not be confused with ‘goûter’ which is the dedicated snack hour (usually filled with chocolate and cookies) in the mid-to-late afternoon.
READ ALSO How to snack (or not) like a French person
It is a pretty simple, yet common, expression in French, so you will likely hear it often. If someone offers you to 'grab a bite' with them, then you probably do not have to anticipate a long, involved sit-down meal. Instead, you might get a kebab, a sandwich or some easy street food.
Some think that the phrase was popularised by police in the 18th and 19th centuries. The criminal would supposedly be deprived of food until he agreed to confess or betray his accomplices, but when he confessed he was allowed a ‘bite to eat.’
You might also hear another version of this expression: “manger un morceau” (to eat a piece) which carries the same meaning.
Use it like this
Je vais juste manger un bout avant de vous rejoindre. – I am just going to eat a bite of food before joining you guys.
Je n'ai pas eu le temps de préparer un repas complet, alors j'ai juste mangé un bout et je suis partie rapidement de chez moi pour arriver à l’heure. – I did not have the time to make a full meal, so I just grabbed something quick and left my house quickly to be on time.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.