Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
(banquette) clic clac
English translation:
(clic-clac) sofa bed
Added to glossary by
Tony M
May 9, 2007 15:13
17 yrs ago
11 viewers *
French term
clic clac (or banquette clic clac)
French to English
Tech/Engineering
Furniture / Household Appliances
seating/bedding
I just want to confirm that this is what we know in the US as a futon. I am pretty sure it is, but I would like incontrovertible confirmation.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +14 | sofa bed |
Tony M
|
| 3 +10 | clic-clac sofa bed |
Emma Paulay
|
| 4 +1 | convertible |
CMJ_Trans (X)
|
| 4 -1 | foldaway bed |
Odette Grille (X)
|
| 3 -1 | Z-bed |
Rebecca Parker - Into English Ltd. (X)
|
Change log
May 16, 2007 13:34: Tony M changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/17356">jmleger's</a> old entry - "clic clac (or banquette clic clac)"" to ""sofa bed""
Proposed translations
+14
10 mins
French term (edited):
(banquette) clic clac
Selected
sofa bed
No, it isn't really the same as a futon, even though they do both serve the same function, of course.
'clic-clac' refers to the particular type of mechanism used, which I'd never seen before I came to France, and really is very simple and ingenious.
In the UK we used to call them a 'put-U-up', but that referred to a particular design, and was I suspect a proprietary term.
They have also, in the past, in the UK at least, been referred to generically as a 'studio couch', although there the mechanism is not specified.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-05-09 16:44:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I agree up to a point with Amy's comment to Emma's answer, that the clic clac is of course one specific type of all sofa beds; however, as CMJ has already pointed out, the term has become so generic these days, if someone says "we can out you up on the clic-clac", they're not really thinking about the technical details of its mechanism, but just its function in their home.
So in more everyday contexts, other than perhaps technical furniture trade literature, I think 'sofa bed' tout court is adequate, and nearly as snappy as the original.
'clic-clac' refers to the particular type of mechanism used, which I'd never seen before I came to France, and really is very simple and ingenious.
In the UK we used to call them a 'put-U-up', but that referred to a particular design, and was I suspect a proprietary term.
They have also, in the past, in the UK at least, been referred to generically as a 'studio couch', although there the mechanism is not specified.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-05-09 16:44:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I agree up to a point with Amy's comment to Emma's answer, that the clic clac is of course one specific type of all sofa beds; however, as CMJ has already pointed out, the term has become so generic these days, if someone says "we can out you up on the clic-clac", they're not really thinking about the technical details of its mechanism, but just its function in their home.
So in more everyday contexts, other than perhaps technical furniture trade literature, I think 'sofa bed' tout court is adequate, and nearly as snappy as the original.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
CMJ_Trans (X)
: this is not a bad idea - I think clic-clac was first a brand name....
0 min
|
|
Thanks, Chris! Yes, I believe it was, and almost certainly still is. But as you say, it has now become generic, and I think this term is equally generic in EN
|
|
| agree |
cristina estanislau
5 mins
|
|
Thanks, Cristina!
|
|
| agree |
Katherine Mérignac
: I think this is the most suitable term and the one that springs to mind - a futon is generally unsprung, and (I think) is often made of wood, while the clic clac generally has a metal structure, is not as low as a futon and is a good sofa! Need I go on?!
11 mins
|
|
Thanks, Katherine! No, I think you've about summed it up!
|
|
| agree |
Charles Hawtrey (X)
: Futon is the term now in wide use in the UK too for sofa beds. Clic-clac must be recent... //Hey - the last time I bought an occasional sofa bed was about a dozen years ago
14 mins
|
|
Thanks, Charles! Not THAT recent, but specifically FR, I think; 'futons' are a sub-set of all sofa-beds
|
|
| agree |
Julie Barber
: because they click & clack when you open them....\ in fact they are listed on the net in Eng - see asker notes \ me neither
15 mins
|
|
Thanks, julie! That's interesting, I hadn't seen them before I left the UK 10 years ago. Might as well call them 'ouch' as you trap your fingers...
|
|
| agree |
Emma Paulay
: I was pasting my refs while you posted your answer..
20 mins
|
|
Thanks, Emma! Well done.
|
|
| agree |
Assimina Vavoula
: Hi, again....
20 mins
|
|
Efharisto, Assimina! (again!)
|
|
| agree |
Sandra Petch
: I haven't heard "put-u-up" in years!!! / The best I can offer guests is a blow-up campbed tho I have splashed out on a foot-pump ;-)
32 mins
|
|
Thanks, Sandra! Probably better not to admit to EVER having heard it, I'm afraid it dates us! // Never had much joy with blow-ups, though loads of giggles!
|
|
| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
38 mins
|
|
Efharisto, Vicky!
|
|
| agree |
Bourth (X)
: Simple qnd ingenious, but hardly robust!//Not personally, no, but the one in the flat has been knackered in a short time by friends and friends of friends who've been to stay. And you seldom go far on a Paris street without finding an abandoned one ...
39 mins
|
|
Thanks, Alex! Why, are you in the habit of wearing them out?! // Aw, all those poor, abandoned friends trudging the streets of Paris...
|
|
| agree |
cmwilliams (X)
: yes, just 'sofa bed'
56 mins
|
|
Thanks, CMW!
|
|
| agree |
Charlie Bavington
: altho I can't say whether it's ok for the US or not
5 hrs
|
|
Thanks, CB! Very true, I only speak from a UK perspective, and I suspect in AE it might be more to do with a couch
|
|
| agree |
writeaway
: jein (a qualified agree) it's a clic-clac sofa bed. just sofa bed is not enough because it there are so many different kinds (very different to the clic-clac system). but it's NOT a futon in US, UK or anywhere else .
6 hrs
|
|
Thanks, W/A! I understand your point, but I think the genericness (or not) of this term has been sufficiently highlighted for Asker to call that one
|
|
| agree |
Delphine Joly
: YES ! and in the US too !
20 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Delphine!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Let's go with sofa bed then, since it seems to be the consensus.
Cheers!
JM"
-1
3 mins
Z-bed
I thought i was a z-bed, or camp bed, but maybe that was in the pre-futon days...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2007-05-09 15:17:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I thought IT was a z-bed (not that I was a z-bed... tsk tsk)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2007-05-09 15:17:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I thought IT was a z-bed (not that I was a z-bed... tsk tsk)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Emma Paulay
: I'd like to see you try to be a Z bed!!
4 mins
|
|
Lol I feel like one at the mo!
|
|
| disagree |
Tony M
: No, that's one quite specific KIND of ad hoc bed, and not the same at all
7 mins
|
|
Ok then :)
|
+1
5 mins
convertible
futon is a Japanese bed - something different again
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
romainlaine
3 mins
|
| neutral |
Emma Paulay
: An "ordinary" sofa can be convertible, but it doesn't have the "clic-clac" mechanism.
4 mins
|
|
the term has become generic
|
|
| neutral |
Rebecca Parker - Into English Ltd. (X)
: makes me think of cars more than beds ...
18 mins
|
-1
5 mins
foldaway bed
You can put a futon as mattress
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: Not really, because the whole point is that it doesn't fold AWAY, but stays there doubling as a sofa
6 mins
|
+10
15 mins
clic-clac sofa bed
Can't say I've ever heard the term in EN - but it is used apparently. The second ref even says "Le" clic-clac!
Reference:
http://www.dealclick.co.uk/subcat/sofa-beds.php
http://www.churchfield.com/catalogue/contemporary_range.htm#clicclac
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Julie Barber
: I posted some links on asker note....\ it can be written click-clack too...
15 mins
|
|
Thanks Julie//for the links too!
|
|
| agree |
Assimina Vavoula
16 mins
|
|
Thanks Assimina
|
|
| agree |
Nathalie Elson
: and different to a futon
21 mins
|
|
Thanks Nathalie
|
|
| agree |
Sandra Petch
: I'm a futon girl myself ;-)
28 mins
|
|
Thanks Sandra
|
|
| agree |
Tony M
34 mins
|
|
Thanks Tony
|
|
| agree |
awilliams
: as opposed to a normal sofa bed, which pulls out from the bowels of the sofa. This one simply folds flat.
45 mins
|
|
Thanks Amy. Exactly. I like the bowels!
|
|
| agree |
David Goward
: As Amy says.
54 mins
|
|
As I said to Amy!
|
|
| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: this is the "real McCoy"
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Ingeborg
|
|
| agree |
danièle davout
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Danièle
|
|
| agree |
writeaway
: This is the most accurate answer. sofa bed alone doesn't do it. there are too many different kinds. fwiw-It's not a futon in the USA either . Some futons do fold up, others don't. but a clic-clac sofa bed is definitely NOT a futon in anyone's English
6 hrs
|
|
Thanks writeaway
|
Discussion