در ۱۵ ثانیه
- To give someone a severe scolding or reprimand.
- Used when an authority figure is angry with you.
- Think of 'washing away' someone's mistakes with harsh words.
معنی
Think of this as getting a 'dressing down' or a 'scolding'. It is what happens when someone (usually a boss or parent) yells at you for a mistake.
مثالهای کلیدی
3 از 6Talking about a bad day at work
Mon patron m'a passé un savon parce que j'étais en retard.
My boss gave me a scolding because I was late.
Texting a friend after a party
Mes parents vont me passer un savon quand je vais rentrer !
My parents are going to give me a lecture when I get home!
Explaining why a colleague is upset
Elle s'est fait passer un savon par le directeur devant tout le monde.
She got chewed out by the director in front of everyone.
زمینه فرهنگی
In French corporate culture, 'le savon' is often seen as a necessary part of management. While it might seem harsh to outsiders, it is often followed by a quick return to normalcy once the 'cleaning' is done. While understood, Quebecers might also use 'se faire chicaner' or 'se faire donner une volée de bois vert' for similar levels of scolding. The phrase is widely used in Belgium with the same meaning. Belgians might also use 'se faire sonner les cloches' (to have one's bells rung). In Romandy (French-speaking Switzerland), 'passer un savon' is standard, but you might also hear 'se faire remuer' (to be stirred up/shaken).
Use the passive
You will hear 'se faire passer {un|m} savon' much more often than the active version in daily life.
Don't use 'le'
Always use '{un|m} savon'. Using 'le' makes it literal soap.
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- To give someone a severe scolding or reprimand.
- Used when an authority figure is angry with you.
- Think of 'washing away' someone's mistakes with harsh words.
What It Means
Imagine you just messed up a big project. Your boss calls you into the office. They start shouting or lecturing you. In French, they are 'passing you a soap'. It means to reprimand someone severely. It is about getting cleaned out for your behavior.
How To Use It
You use it with the verb passer. The structure is passer un savon à quelqu'un. If you are the one getting yelled at, you say se faire passer un savon. It is a very active, visual expression. You can almost feel the bubbles of the lecture.
When To Use It
Use this when a situation involves authority. It fits perfectly when a teacher catches a student cheating. It works if you come home way past your curfew. You might tell a friend, 'My dad really passed me a soap.' Use it when the scolding is loud and clear.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for a polite suggestion. If someone says 'please don't do that,' it is not a savon. Avoid it in very high-level diplomatic meetings. It is a bit too colorful for a legal contract. Also, do not confuse it with actually giving someone soap in the shower!
Cultural Background
This phrase dates back to the 19th century. Back then, laundry was done by hand with harsh soaps. To 'soap' someone meant to rub them vigorously to get the dirt out. Over time, the dirt became the person's mistakes. The soap became the harsh words used to 'clean' their character. It is a classic piece of French imagery.
Common Variations
You might hear remonter les bretelles, which means 'pulling up someone's suspenders'. Another one is passer une soufflante, which is even more intense. Both mean you are in big trouble. If you want to be more formal, use réprimander. But passer un savon is much more fun to say.
نکات کاربردی
This is an informal idiom. It is perfect for storytelling among friends or colleagues, but avoid using it in written academic essays or legal contexts.
Use the passive
You will hear 'se faire passer {un|m} savon' much more often than the active version in daily life.
Don't use 'le'
Always use '{un|m} savon'. Using 'le' makes it literal soap.
Add adjectives
To emphasize the scolding, add 'sacré' or 'mémorable': 'Il m'a passé {un|m} sacré savon !'
مثالها
6Mon patron m'a passé un savon parce que j'étais en retard.
My boss gave me a scolding because I was late.
Standard use showing authority (boss) over employee.
Mes parents vont me passer un savon quand je vais rentrer !
My parents are going to give me a lecture when I get home!
Commonly used by teenagers or young adults with parents.
Elle s'est fait passer un savon par le directeur devant tout le monde.
She got chewed out by the director in front of everyone.
Uses the passive form 'se faire passer' to show she received the scolding.
Fais attention, ou le prof va te passer un savon !
Watch out, or the teacher is going to yell at you!
Lighthearted warning between peers.
Le chef a passé un savon au serveur car la soupe était froide.
The chef gave the waiter a dressing down because the soup was cold.
Classic kitchen hierarchy scenario.
Je me souviens du savon que j'ai reçu après avoir cassé le vase.
I remember the scolding I got after breaking the vase.
Here 'savon' is used as a noun for the event itself.
خودت رو بسنج
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Mon patron est furieux. Il va me ______ {un|m} savon.
The standard verb used in this idiom is 'passer'.
Which sentence correctly expresses that YOU were the one scolded?
Comment dire 'I got scolded' ?
The 'se faire + infinitive' construction is the standard way to express being the recipient of an action in this idiom.
Match the situation to the most likely response.
Situation: Tu as oublié de faire ton travail et ton professeur t'appelle dans son bureau.
This is a classic 'savon' situation involving a mistake and an authority figure.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Pourquoi Marc pleure ? B: Son père ______ parce qu'il a cassé la voiture.
We use the indirect object pronoun 'lui' (to him) and the indefinite article 'un'.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
بانک تمرین
4 تمرینهاMon patron est furieux. Il va me ______ {un|m} savon.
The standard verb used in this idiom is 'passer'.
Comment dire 'I got scolded' ?
The 'se faire + infinitive' construction is the standard way to express being the recipient of an action in this idiom.
Situation: Tu as oublié de faire ton travail et ton professeur t'appelle dans son bureau.
This is a classic 'savon' situation involving a mistake and an authority figure.
A: Pourquoi Marc pleure ? B: Son père ______ parce qu'il a cassé la voiture.
We use the indirect object pronoun 'lui' (to him) and the indefinite article 'un'.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
سوالات متداول
10 سوالIt's not rude, but it is informal. It's a colorful way to describe a conflict, not a swear word.
You can use it *about* your boss to a friend, but don't say it *to* your boss's face unless you have a very close relationship.
'Une engueulade' is more vulgar and implies a lot of shouting. 'Un savon' is more about the lecture/reprimand itself.
Yes, it is understood and used, but 'passer' is more traditional and common.
Yes, 'des savons', but it's rare. Usually, we talk about one specific instance.
Usually, yes. It implies the person did something that warranted a 'cleaning' of their behavior.
Yes, it is a very standard idiom across the Francophonie.
It's better for medium to large mistakes. For a small one, 'se faire gronder' is enough.
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but 'faire des compliments' or 'féliciter' would be the functional opposites.
Yes, you can say 'J'ai reçu {un|m} savon.'
عبارات مرتبط
remonter les bretelles
synonymTo scold someone to put them back in their place.
passer une soufflante
similarTo give someone a very loud scolding.
laver la tête à quelqu'un
synonymTo scold someone severely.
engueuler quelqu'un
similarTo yell at someone.
donner un avertissement
formal equivalentTo give a formal warning.
