15초 만에
- Intense work obsession.
- Implies total absorption in job.
- Used informally.
- Can be positive or negative.
뜻
이 문구는 업무에 너무 몰두하여 자신의 일에 완전히 빠져드는 사람을 묘사합니다. 일 자체가 주요 생계 수단이 되는 강렬한 집중력이나 일 중독 수준을 의미합니다.
주요 예문
3 / 12Texting a friend about a busy colleague
Mon collègue, il `boit les travail` en ce moment, il ne voit plus le soleil !
My colleague, he's drinking work right now, he doesn't see the sun anymore!
Instagram caption about a passion project
Ce projet me consume ! Je crois que je `bois les travail` ces jours-ci. 😅 #passion #workhard
This project is consuming me! I think I'm drinking work these days. 😅 #passion #workhard
Discussing a friend's career choices
Depuis qu'il a lancé sa boîte, il `boit les travail` jour et nuit.
Since he started his company, he drinks work day and night.
문화적 배경
French workers value their personal time; this phrase is often used to warn against burnout. Similar usage, though often paired with 'le boss' to describe corporate pressure.
Context is key
Only use this with close friends.
15초 만에
- Intense work obsession.
- Implies total absorption in job.
- Used informally.
- Can be positive or negative.
What It Means
This phrase isn't about literally consuming your work like a beverage. It's a vivid metaphor for being completely engrossed in your job. Think of someone so passionate, so dedicated, they 'drink it all in.' They lose themselves in tasks, often to the point of becoming a workaholic. It carries a vibe of intense focus, sometimes admirable, sometimes a little concerning. It’s like your work is the only thing keeping you alive and energized, for better or worse!
How To Use It
You use boire les travail when someone is totally consumed by their work. It highlights an extreme level of dedication or obsession. It's often used to describe someone who prioritizes their job above all else. You can use it to explain why someone is always busy or unavailable. It’s a great way to capture that 'all or nothing' attitude towards a career. Just remember, it’s not always a compliment; it can imply an unhealthy obsession too. So, choose your moment wisely!
Real-Life Examples
Imagine your friend is always glued to their laptop, even on vacation. You might say, "Il boit les travail, il ne s'arrête jamais !" (He drinks work, he never stops!). Or perhaps you see a colleague consistently staying late, skipping social events. You could comment, "Elle semble boire les travail ces temps-ci." (She seems to be drinking work these days). It's that kind of situation. It’s like watching someone binge-watch a whole series in one weekend – except it's their job! They’re just *that* into it.
When To Use It
Use boire les travail when you want to describe someone who is exceptionally dedicated to their job. It's perfect for highlighting extreme focus or workaholism. You can use it in casual conversations with friends about colleagues or even yourself. It fits when discussing someone's career choices or lifestyle. Think about someone who thrives on challenges and sees work as their primary passion. It’s the phrase for that person who lives and breathes their profession, like a famous chef obsessed with perfecting a dish.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use boire les travail for normal hard work or dedication. If someone is just putting in a solid effort, it’s too extreme. Avoid it if you mean someone is simply enjoying their job or finding it fulfilling. It’s not for someone who has a healthy work-life balance. Using it for mild enthusiasm would be like calling a light drizzle a hurricane – just doesn't fit! Also, steer clear if you want to be purely complimentary; the phrase has a slightly negative edge of obsession.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse boire les travail with simply liking one's job. They might also misuse the verb or the object. Forgetting the intensity is key. It's not just about being busy; it's about being *consumed*. A common slip-up is using aimer le travail (to like work) when you mean this intense absorption. Another is trying to say manger le travail (eat work), which doesn't exist in this context and sounds quite strange. Let's fix those!
Similar Expressions
There are other ways to talk about dedication, but boire les travail has a unique flavor. Être passionné par son travail (to be passionate about one's work) is more positive. Travailler comme un fou (to work like crazy) emphasizes the effort. Être dévoué à son travail (to be devoted to one's work) is more about loyalty. Se tuer au travail (to kill oneself at work) is even more extreme and negative. Boire les travail sits in the middle, highlighting absorption.
Common Variations
While boire les travail is the standard, you might hear slight tweaks. Sometimes people say il boit son travail (he drinks *his* work), adding a possessive pronoun for emphasis. You could also hear it used with a specific project, like "Il boit ce projet" (He's drinking this project up). The core idea of intense absorption remains. Think of it like adding "really" or "so" to an English sentence – it just intensifies the feeling.
Memory Trick
Imagine a super-powered coffee mug labeled "WORK." Your friend is gulping down the contents like it's the elixir of life. They're *drinking* their *work* straight from the mug, eyes wide, completely wired. The mug is overflowing, and they just keep drinking! If you can picture that intense, slightly manic gulping, you'll never forget boire les travail.
Quick FAQ
Q. Is boire les travail positive or negative?
A. It can be both! It shows intense dedication, which is often admired. However, it can also imply an unhealthy obsession or workaholism. The context and tone tell you which meaning is intended. It’s like saying someone is 'driven' – could be good, could be too much!
Q. Can I use it for studying?
A. Not really. Boire les travail specifically refers to professional work or a career. For studying, you'd use phrases like se plonger dans ses études (to immerse oneself in studies) or bosser dur (to work hard). Think of it as a work-specific idiom, not a general study one.
Q. Is it common in everyday French?
A. Yes, it's fairly common, especially in informal conversations. You'll hear it among friends discussing careers or colleagues. It’s not something you'd typically find in formal business reports, but it’s definitely part of everyday spoken French.
사용 참고사항
This is an informal idiom primarily used in spoken French. While it vividly describes intense work absorption or workaholism, its slightly negative connotation of obsession means it should be used cautiously in formal settings. Avoid using it literally; focus on the metaphorical meaning of being completely consumed by one's job.
Context is key
Only use this with close friends.
예시
12Mon collègue, il `boit les travail` en ce moment, il ne voit plus le soleil !
My colleague, he's drinking work right now, he doesn't see the sun anymore!
Emphasizes the colleague's extreme focus and lack of personal time.
Ce projet me consume ! Je crois que je `bois les travail` ces jours-ci. 😅 #passion #workhard
This project is consuming me! I think I'm drinking work these days. 😅 #passion #workhard
Uses the phrase humorously to describe deep engagement with a project.
Depuis qu'il a lancé sa boîte, il `boit les travail` jour et nuit.
Since he started his company, he drinks work day and night.
Highlights the all-consuming nature of entrepreneurship.
Je suis très dévoué à mon travail et j'ai tendance à `boire les travail` quand un projet me passionne.
I am very dedicated to my work and I tend to drink work when a project captivates me.
Used cautiously to show dedication, though potentially risky in a formal setting.
Désolé chéri(e), je serai en retard. Je `bois les travail` sur ce dossier urgent !
Sorry honey, I'll be late. I'm drinking work on this urgent file!
Explains lateness due to intense focus on a work task.
✗ Je veux boire le travail. → ✓ Je bois le travail.
✗ I want to drink the work. → ✓ I drink the work.
The verb `vouloir` (to want) doesn't fit; the phrase is about the state of being absorbed.
✗ Il mange le travail pour réussir. → ✓ Il boit le travail pour réussir.
✗ He eats work to succeed. → ✓ He drinks work to succeed.
`Manger` (to eat) is incorrect here; `boire` (to drink) is the established verb for this idiom.
Regarde-le, il est tellement dedans qu'il `boit les travail` même pendant la pause café !
Look at him, he's so into it that he drinks work even during the coffee break!
Exaggerates the friend's work obsession for comedic effect.
Notre chef, il `boit les travail` et il attend la même chose de nous.
Our boss, he drinks work and expects the same from us.
Describes the boss's intense work ethic and high expectations.
Parfois, j'ai peur de `boire les travail` et d'oublier le reste.
Sometimes, I'm afraid of drinking work and forgetting everything else.
Expresses concern about becoming too consumed by work.
Notre culture encourage la passion, mais nous devons veiller à ce que cela ne devienne pas une situation où l'on 'boit le travail' au détriment du bien-être.
Our culture encourages passion, but we must ensure it doesn't become a situation where one 'drinks work' to the detriment of well-being.
Uses the phrase indirectly (in quotes) to acknowledge the potential downside of intense dedication in a more formal context.
Tellement vrai ! J'ai `boire les travail` pendant des mois et j'ai fini par craquer. Faites attention à vous !
So true! I drank work for months and ended up crashing. Take care of yourselves!
Relates personal experience of burnout due to excessive work absorption.
셀프 테스트
Which sentence correctly uses the idiom?
Choose the correct option:
Travail is masculine and singular.
🎉 점수: /1
시각 학습 자료
Formality Spectrum for `boire les travail`
Used casually among friends, possibly with exaggeration.
Oh là là, il `boit les travail` grave !
Standard usage in everyday conversation.
Elle `boit les travail` ces temps-ci.
Can be used carefully in slightly more formal contexts, perhaps with quotes.
On pourrait dire qu'il 'boit le travail'.
Generally avoided in very formal settings.
N/A
When You Might Hear `boire les travail`
Chatting with friends about a colleague
Il `boit les travail` tellement qu'il oublie de manger.
Explaining someone's dedication
Elle `boit les travail` sur ce projet.
Self-reflection on work habits
J'ai peur de `boire les travail` et de manquer ma vie.
Observing an entrepreneur
Depuis qu'il a sa startup, il `boit les travail`.
Humorous exaggeration
Même le week-end, il `boit les travail` !
Discussing job burnout
J'ai trop `boire les travail` et j'ai craqué.
Comparing `boire les travail` with Similar Phrases
Nuances of `boire les travail`
Intensity Level
- • Extreme absorption
- • Total focus
- • Obsessive dedication
Connotation
- • Can be admiring (dedication)
- • Can be critical (workaholism)
- • Often implies imbalance
Usage Context
- • Informal conversation
- • Describing colleagues
- • Self-description (cautiously)
Related Concepts
- • Workaholism
- • Burnout risk
- • Passion vs. Obsession
연습 문제 은행
1 연습 문제Choose the correct option:
Travail is masculine and singular.
🎉 점수: /1
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자주 묻는 질문
1 질문Yes, it works for any intense task.
관련 표현
Avoir la tête dans le guidon
similarTo be overwhelmed by work
Être charrette
similarTo be in a rush