Rester bouche 产茅别: Our French expression of the week
After one lucky woman obtained millions for a vase she thought was worth 鈧�2,000 we look at expressions for extreme surprise
One seller was left bouche 产茅别 after the item she thought was worth 鈧�2,000 sold for over 鈧�9million at an auction
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According to the auctioneer who presided over the sale, a woman whose Chinese vase sold for 鈧�7.7million (鈧�9million with costs) this weekend a 茅t茅 abasourdie par la nouvelle 鈥� she was absolutely stunned by the news.
It was hardly surprising, seeing that French experts, before the bidding went wild with competition among Chinese buyers, had thought it to be worth about 鈧�2,000.
Read more: Chinese vase valued at 鈧�2,000 sells at 鈧�9million in French auction
You might in fact say, elle en est rest茅e bouche 产茅别 鈥� another colourful way to say that she was astonished by it.
Rester bouche 产茅别 comes from a very old French verb 产茅别谤 of which 产茅别 is the past participle.
Nothing to do with alcoholic refreshment (or insects that make honey), 产茅别谤 literally means 鈥榯o be widely open鈥�, so the expression suggests someone with their mouth open in surprise, as used in social media emoticons for a reaction of surprise.
It is linked to the more common modern French word 产茅补苍迟, an adjective which also means 鈥榞aping open鈥�, and the verb 产芒颈濒濒别谤, meaning to yawn.
Abasourdir, meanwhile, has a complicated history, influenced by words with meanings including to kill, stun or to deafen by a loud noise.
According to the Tr茅sor de la langue fran莽aise etymological dictionary it brings to mind ideas such as someone being bashed over the head and 鈥渋t implies certain physical consequences and, especially, a characteristic facial expression with round eyes and open mouth鈥�.
Here are some other ways you might express a similar idea:
Etre sid茅r茅/e 鈥� this means to be stupefied and derives from a Latin expression meaning to be under a negative influence from the stars, in an astrological sense. It comes from sideris (star).
Tomber 脿 la renverse or (less politely) sur le cul 鈥� literally, to fall over backwards or onto your bum.
Les bras m鈥檈n tombent 鈥� 鈥楳y arms are falling (off)鈥�. The related image is of someone who was carrying out some task when an astonishing thing happens which makes them physically incapable of continuing.
As well as to express astonishment, this phrase can also be used to refer to a situation with which you feel totally fed up or exasperated and therefore incapable of raising the strength to do anything about.
En rester sans voix 鈥� literally, to remain speechless due to something
En rester baba 鈥� this probably comes from being so astonished that you cannot pronounce anything sensible so just make a babbling noise
Etre estomaqu茅/e 鈥� from a verb literally meaning to receive a punch to the stomach or be knocked breathless
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