Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

avaler des paquets de mer

English translation:

the pirogue takes in (loads of) seawater

Added to glossary by Drmanu49
Oct 23, 2006 11:57
17 yrs ago
French term

avaler des paquets de mer

French to English Other Ships, Sailing, Maritime état de mer
Les creux n’atteignent que la hauteur d’un homme assis, mais l’embarcation est légère. Parfois, la pente est telle que, malgré les précautions prises, la pirogue avale des paquets de mer. Il faut alors écoper avec une écuelle en bois, une bonne occasion pour me rendre utile. Nous sommes trempés et, avec le vent, j’en oublie que le soleil, au zénith, prend plaisir à griller ma peau claire.

Discussion

Graham macLachlan (asker) Nov 5, 2006:
Thanks Miranda, pity you didn't find it earlier!
Miranda Joubioux (X) Nov 3, 2006:
I've just found 'paquet de mer' in "Dictionnaire de Marine" - by Dupont and Roussin, while looking for something else. The translation given is "surge/green sea". "Masse d'eau tombant brusquement à bord". I thought this might be of some interest.

Proposed translations

+5
3 mins
Selected

the pirogue takes in (loads of) seawater

.
Peer comment(s):

agree Carol Gullidge
1 hr
Thank you Carol.
agree Bourth (X) : takes in water by the .... not boatload ... "We are taking in water by the bucketful," said he; "our side has been stove in." "Impossible!" I exclaimed. "We were not struck with enough force for that "
14 hrs
Great! Thank you.
agree ACOZ (X) : perhaps "gallons of" instead of "loads of"?
19 hrs
Thank you but maybe a little too metric for the language level. I like "by the bucketful".
agree Miranda Joubioux (X)
23 hrs
Thank you.
agree Nikki Scott-Despaigne : takes ON masses of water
1 day 8 hrs
Thank you for your suggestion.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all, I used the verb 'ship' in the end."
3 hrs

water slopped over the side of the pirogue/dugout

I think you're getting the idea... :-)
Something went wrong...
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