passer la main dans le dos
To be under pressure
بهطور تحتاللفظی: To pass the hand in the back
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- To flatter someone insincerely to get a favor.
- Similar to 'buttering someone up' or 'ego stroking'.
- Used when you suspect someone has a hidden motive.
معنی
Actually, this phrase doesn't mean being under pressure! It means to flatter someone or 'butter them up' to get what you want.
مثالهای کلیدی
3 از 6Observing a colleague with the boss
Regarde-le, il lui passe la main dans le dos pour avoir une promotion.
Look at him, he's buttering her up to get a promotion.
A sibling being unusually helpful
Arrête de me passer la main dans le dos, je ne te prêterai pas d'argent !
Stop flattering me, I'm not lending you any money!
Texting a friend about a mutual acquaintance
Elle lui passe trop la main dans le dos, c'est gênant.
She's sucking up to him way too much, it's cringey.
زمینه فرهنگی
This idiom reflects the French 'esprit critique' or critical mind. It highlights a cultural suspicion toward excessive friendliness, which is often seen as a tactic rather than genuine warmth. It is frequently used in political commentary to describe how candidates treat voters before an election.
Don't take it literally
If you actually rub someone's back in France, use `masser` (to massage). Using this phrase for a literal backrub will sound very confusing!
The 'Pigeon' Factor
In France, if someone is passing you the hand in the back, they might think you are a 'pigeon' (someone easily fooled). Stay sharp!
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- To flatter someone insincerely to get a favor.
- Similar to 'buttering someone up' or 'ego stroking'.
- Used when you suspect someone has a hidden motive.
What It Means
Imagine you are petting a cat to make it purr. That is exactly what passer la main dans le dos feels like. You are being extra nice to someone. You might give them a compliment you don't fully mean. You are essentially 'stroking their ego'. It is about manipulation through kindness.
How To Use It
You use it when you see someone being overly sweet. It usually describes a third person’s behavior. You can say someone is en train de lui passer la main dans le dos. It implies you see through their little game. It functions as a verb phrase in your sentence. Just conjugate passer like a normal -er verb.
When To Use It
Use it when a colleague suddenly calls the boss 'a genius'. Use it when your sibling wants to borrow your car. It is perfect for those 'I see what you're doing' moments. It works well in office gossip or family chats. You can use it at a restaurant if a waiter is being overly charming for a tip. It is a great way to call out fake behavior.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for genuine, sincere compliments. If you truly love your friend's new shoes, don't use this. It implies a hidden motive or dishonesty. Avoid it in very formal, written legal documents. It is a bit too colorful for a court of law. Also, don't use it if someone is actually stressed. As we noted, it is about flattery, not pressure!
Cultural Background
French culture values sharp wit and social observation. We love spotting when someone is being 'mielleux' (honey-tongued). The image comes from calming an animal before milking or shearing it. It suggests the person being flattered is a bit of a 'pigeon' (a sucker). It has been used for decades to describe political maneuvering. It captures the French skepticism toward over-the-top enthusiasm.
Common Variations
You might also hear caresser dans le sens du poil. This means 'to stroke the fur the right way'. Both mean you are avoiding conflict by being agreeable. Another one is cirer les pompes, which is much more vulgar. That one literally means 'to shine someone's boots'. Stick to the back-rubbing version for a more clever vibe.
نکات کاربردی
This is an informal idiom. It is perfect for social observations and casual venting, but avoid it in formal academic writing or high-level business negotiations unless you are being intentionally provocative.
Don't take it literally
If you actually rub someone's back in France, use `masser` (to massage). Using this phrase for a literal backrub will sound very confusing!
The 'Pigeon' Factor
In France, if someone is passing you the hand in the back, they might think you are a 'pigeon' (someone easily fooled). Stay sharp!
Synonym Alert
If you want to sound even more 'street', use `fayoter`. It means to be a teacher's pet or a suck-up.
مثالها
6Regarde-le, il lui passe la main dans le dos pour avoir une promotion.
Look at him, he's buttering her up to get a promotion.
Shows a clear ulterior motive in a professional setting.
Arrête de me passer la main dans le dos, je ne te prêterai pas d'argent !
Stop flattering me, I'm not lending you any money!
Directly calling out the behavior in a family context.
Elle lui passe trop la main dans le dos, c'est gênant.
She's sucking up to him way too much, it's cringey.
Uses the phrase to express social discomfort via text.
Le vendeur m'a passé la main dans le dos tout l'après-midi.
The salesman was kissing my up to me all afternoon.
Describes a commercial interaction where the flattery felt fake.
Le candidat passe la main dans le dos des électeurs avant le vote.
The candidate is playing up to the voters before the ballot.
A classic use case in French political discourse.
J'ai réalisé trop tard qu'il me passait juste la main dans le dos.
I realized too late that he was just buttering me up.
Reflective and slightly disappointed tone.
خودت رو بسنج
Choose the correct verb to complete the idiom.
Il essaie de me ___ la main dans le dos pour que je fasse son travail.
The standard idiom always uses the verb `passer` (to pass/slide).
Which situation best fits this phrase?
Julie ___ à son père pour obtenir une nouvelle voiture.
Flattering a parent for a gift is the perfect context for this expression.
🎉 امتیاز: /2
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Formality Scale
Cirer les pompes
Il lui cire les pompes.
Passer la main dans le dos
Arrête de lui passer la main dans le dos.
Caresser dans le sens du poil
Il sait le caresser dans le sens du poil.
User de flatterie
Il use de flatterie pour convaincre.
When to use 'Passer la main dans le dos'
Office Politics
Kissing up to the manager
Family Favors
Wanting to borrow the car
Sales
A pushy real estate agent
Elections
Politicians meeting citizens
بانک تمرین
2 تمرینهاIl essaie de me ___ la main dans le dos pour que je fasse son travail.
The standard idiom always uses the verb `passer` (to pass/slide).
Julie ___ à son père pour obtenir une nouvelle voiture.
Flattering a parent for a gift is the perfect context for this expression.
🎉 امتیاز: /2
سوالات متداول
10 سوالNo, despite some translations suggesting pressure, it strictly means insincere flattery. If you are stressed, use être sous pression instead.
It's not a swear word, but it is a criticism. You are accusing someone of being fake, like saying Tu lui passes la main dans le dos.
Only if you are joking and have a very close relationship. Otherwise, it sounds like you are calling them manipulative or gullible.
It comes from the idea of stroking an animal to calm it down before you take something from it, like wool or milk.
Not really for this specific phrase, but you can use the verb flatter for a more neutral, direct meaning.
It follows the regular -er pattern: Je passe, Tu passes, Il passe, etc. Example: Nous lui passons la main dans le dos.
Yes, it is understood throughout the Francophonie, though Quebec has its own colorful variations like téter for sucking up.
Usually no. It implies a selfish motive rather than genuine attraction. It would sound like the flirting is a scam.
They are both very common. Passer la main dans le dos feels slightly more focused on the act of manipulation.
Using sur le dos instead of dans le dos. Make sure to use dans to sound like a native speaker.
عبارات مرتبط
Caresser dans le sens du poil
Cirer les pompes
Fayoter
Faire de la lèche
Mielleux
