emporter le échec
to emporter the failure
Literally: {"emporter":"to carry away","le":"the","\u00e9chec":"failure"}
In 15 Seconds
- It means carrying the heavy burden of a significant failure.
- It's more dramatic than simply 'to fail'.
- Use for major setbacks with lasting consequences.
- Avoid for small, everyday mistakes.
Meaning
When you `emporter le échec`, you don't just fail, you really *feel* the failure. It’s about the heavy burden of a defeat, like carrying a big, sad sack. Think of it as the universe handing you a big L and you have to walk around with it for a while. It’s not just a quick 'oops', it’s a significant, impactful loss that leaves a mark.
Key Examples
3 of 12Texting a friend after a tough competition
On a vraiment emporté le échec hier soir, j'ai le moral à zéro.
We really carried the failure last night, I'm feeling really down.
Watching a documentary about a failed expedition
Après des mois de préparation, leur expédition a échoué, ils ont emporté le échec avec eux.
After months of preparation, their expedition failed, they carried the failure back with them.
A character in a drama series reflecting
Il a fallu du temps pour accepter, mais j'ai finalement emporté le échec comme une leçon.
It took time to accept, but I finally carried the failure as a lesson.
Cultural Background
In the French school system, 'l'échec' is often stigmatized. Students are taught to avoid it at all costs, which makes the act of 'emporter l'échec' feel much heavier than in more 'trial-and-error' cultures. Quebec culture tends to be slightly more influenced by North American 'resilience' narratives, but the French language roots still maintain the poetic weight of the phrase. In many Francophone African cultures, failure can be seen as a collective burden. If one person 'emporte l'échec', the whole family might feel it too. Belgians often use self-deprecating humor to lighten the load of 'emporter l'échec', making it feel less tragic than in France.
Use with 'avec soi'
To sound more native, add 'avec soi' (with oneself). 'Il emporte l'échec avec lui.'
The 'L' Elision
Never say 'le échec'. It sounds very jarring to French ears. Always 'l'échec'.
In 15 Seconds
- It means carrying the heavy burden of a significant failure.
- It's more dramatic than simply 'to fail'.
- Use for major setbacks with lasting consequences.
- Avoid for small, everyday mistakes.
What It Means
So, emporter le échec isn't about winning something, despite the word emporter (to carry away or win). It's more like you're *taking on* the failure, carrying its weight. Imagine a sports team losing a big game. They didn't emporter the victory, they emporté le échec. It’s the feeling of a heavy defeat that sticks with you. It’s a bit dramatic, like a movie character who just lost everything.
How To Use It
You use emporter le échec when a failure is significant and has a noticeable impact. It's not for tiny mistakes, like forgetting your keys. Think bigger: a failed business, a lost competition, a major disappointment. It implies a real struggle and a sense of enduring a loss. It’s a bit more poetic than just saying échouer (to fail). It adds a layer of consequence and emotional weight. You might say it after a major setback, reflecting on the harsh reality of the situation. It’s like the universe is saying, "Here, carry this!"
Real-Life Examples
- In a documentary about a boxer: "After his devastating loss, he
emporté le échecfor months, struggling to get back in the ring." - A friend venting after a startup fails: "Our project didn't work out. We really
emporté le échecon that one." - A historical account of a battle: "The army, defeated and demoralized,
emporté le échecback to their homeland." - A character in a drama series: "She tried her best, but in the end, she
emporté le échecand had to rebuild her life from scratch."
When To Use It
Use this phrase when you want to emphasize the burden and impact of a failure. It’s for situations where the loss is substantial and has lasting consequences. Think of a major disappointment, a significant defeat in a competition, or a project that crashed and burned spectacularly. It’s perfect when you want to convey a sense of struggle and the emotional toll of a setback. It adds a touch of gravitas to the situation, making it sound more serious. It’s like saying, "This wasn't just a failure; this was a *heavy* failure."
When NOT To Use It
Don't use emporter le échec for minor setbacks or everyday mistakes. Forgetting your wallet or spilling coffee? That's not emporter le échec. It’s too dramatic for small things. Also, avoid it in very formal, technical contexts where precision is key. You wouldn't say it in a business report unless you were being highly metaphorical. It’s generally too emotional for a dry, factual account. Save it for when you want to express a deep sense of loss or a significant downfall. It's not for lighthearted oopsies!
Common Mistakes
Learners often get confused because emporter can mean 'to win'. So, they might think emporter le succès (to win success) is the opposite. But emporter le succès isn't really a standard French phrase; you'd usually say obtenir le succès or connaître le succès. The real confusion comes when mixing up the *feeling* of the phrase.
emporter le succès
✓obtenir le succès (to achieve success)
emporter une petite déception
✓ressentir une petite déception (to feel a small disappointment)
emporter la victoire
✓gagner la victoire or remporter la victoire (to win the victory)
Similar Expressions
Subir un échec: To suffer a failure. This is very close and also emphasizes the negative experience. It’s slightly less dramatic thanemporter le échec.Connaître l'échec: To experience failure. This is more neutral, stating that failure happened without emphasizing the burden.Essuyer un échec: To wipe away a failure. This implies dealing with and getting past a failure, often after the fact.Faire face à un échec: To face a failure. This focuses on the act of confronting the setback.
Common Variations
While emporter le échec is the core phrase, you might hear variations depending on context and speaker. Sometimes, the definite article le might be replaced by un if it's a less specific or singular instance of failure, making it emporter un échec. However, emporter le échec is the most established form, implying *the* failure that matters. You won't typically see it conjugated in weird ways; it usually sticks to its past participle form emporté le échec in past tenses. It's a pretty solid phrase, not prone to wild transformations.
Memory Trick
Imagine you're carrying a giant, heavy Eggplant (échec) and you have to PORT it all the way home. It's awkward, heavy, and makes you miserable. You em-PORT-er le é-CHÈC! The eggplant is the failure you're stuck carrying. It’s a comically burdensome image, perfect for remembering the weight of the phrase. Don't drop that eggplant!
Quick FAQ
Q. Is it always about a big, dramatic failure?
A. Mostly, yes. It implies a significant setback with emotional weight, not just a minor slip-up. Think major disappointment, not forgetting your lunch.
Q. Can I use it for academic failures?
A. Absolutely! Failing a major exam or an entire year can definitely be described as emporter le échec, especially if it has serious consequences for your studies.
Q. Does it sound old-fashioned?
A. It has a slightly more literary or dramatic feel, so it might sound a bit formal or poetic in casual chat. But it's still understood and used, especially when describing significant hardships.
Usage Notes
This phrase carries a significant emotional weight and is best reserved for major setbacks, not minor inconveniences. While understood in neutral contexts, its dramatic flair makes it lean towards slightly more formal or literary usage. Avoid confusing `emporter` (to carry away/win) with its idiomatic meaning here, and don't use it for positive outcomes.
Use with 'avec soi'
To sound more native, add 'avec soi' (with oneself). 'Il emporte l'échec avec lui.'
The 'L' Elision
Never say 'le échec'. It sounds very jarring to French ears. Always 'l'échec'.
Emotional Nuance
Use this phrase when you want to show you are being serious and reflective. It's a 'deep' phrase.
The 'Seum'
If you are with young people, they might say 'avoir le seum' instead. 'Emporter l'échec' is more poetic and standard.
Examples
12On a vraiment emporté le échec hier soir, j'ai le moral à zéro.
We really carried the failure last night, I'm feeling really down.
Here, `emporté le échec` emphasizes the heavy emotional impact of the loss.
Après des mois de préparation, leur expédition a échoué, ils ont emporté le échec avec eux.
After months of preparation, their expedition failed, they carried the failure back with them.
This highlights the enduring consequence of the failed attempt, like bringing the failure back physically.
Il a fallu du temps pour accepter, mais j'ai finalement emporté le échec comme une leçon.
It took time to accept, but I finally carried the failure as a lesson.
Shows how the phrase can be used to signify learning from a significant, difficult experience.
Ce projet n'a pas marché comme prévu... on a emporté le échec, mais on apprend ! #startup #resilience
This project didn't work as planned... we carried the failure, but we're learning! #startup #resilience
Modern usage on social media, acknowledging a failure with a hint of optimism.
Sad to see this, they really emporté le échec on this one. Such a shame.
Sad to see this, they really carried the failure on this one. Such a shame.
A typical online comment acknowledging a significant, unfortunate outcome.
Bien que nous ayons emporté le échec lors de la phase initiale du projet, nous avons tiré des leçons précieuses.
Although we experienced failure during the initial phase of the project, we learned valuable lessons.
Used in a professional context to describe a past, significant setback that was overcome.
La tentative de colonisation a emporté le échec, marquant un tournant dans l'histoire de la région.
The colonization attempt resulted in failure, marking a turning point in the region's history.
Adds a formal, historical weight to a significant defeat.
✗ J'ai emporté le échec parce que j'ai raté mon train. → ✓ J'ai raté mon train et j'étais déçu.
✗ I carried the failure because I missed my train. → ✓ I missed my train and was disappointed.
This is too dramatic for missing a train; `emporter le échec` is for much bigger failures.
✗ Il a emporté le échec de la compétition avec brio. → ✓ Il a remporté la compétition avec brio.
✗ He carried the failure of the competition brilliantly. → ✓ He won the competition brilliantly.
The phrase means to suffer failure, not to win brilliantly. The verb `remporter` is used for winning.
Ma tentative de faire un soufflé a été un désastre total. J'ai emporté le échec avec une burnt odeur.
My attempt at making a soufflé was a total disaster. I carried the failure with a burnt smell.
Humorous exaggeration, applying the dramatic phrase to a comedic failure.
Après avoir traversé ça, on peut dire qu'on a emporté le échec, mais on en est sortis plus forts.
After going through that, one can say we carried the failure, but we came out stronger.
Expresses a deep, personal hardship and the lasting impact of overcoming it.
Le parti a emporté le échec cuisant lors de ces élections.
The party suffered a crushing failure in this election.
Emphasizes the severity and completeness of the defeat.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'emporter' and the article.
Après avoir perdu le tournoi, les joueurs ______ ______.
We need the plural verb 'emportent' and the elided article 'l''.
Which sentence is the most natural for a professional setting?
Comment dire qu'on accepte la responsabilité d'un projet raté ?
This is professional, reflective, and uses the correct collocation.
Match the feeling to the phrase.
You feel a heavy sadness after a big loss.
This phrase specifically describes the 'heavy' feeling of a loss.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Tu as l'air triste. B: Oui, je n'ai pas eu le job. Je ______ ______.
The context of not getting a job implies failure.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Emporter vs. Apporter
Practice Bank
4 exercisesAprès avoir perdu le tournoi, les joueurs ______ ______.
We need the plural verb 'emportent' and the elided article 'l''.
Comment dire qu'on accepte la responsabilité d'un projet raté ?
This is professional, reflective, and uses the correct collocation.
You feel a heavy sadness after a big loss.
This phrase specifically describes the 'heavy' feeling of a loss.
A: Tu as l'air triste. B: Oui, je n'ai pas eu le job. Je ______ ______.
The context of not getting a job implies failure.
🎉 Score: /4
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, especially in sports and journalism, though it is more of a strong collocation than a daily slang term.
No, that would be too dramatic. Use it for things that actually feel like a 'burden'.
'Emporter' means you take the failure away with you from the scene of the event.
It is neutral to formal. You can use it with friends or in a business meeting.
J'ai emporté l'échec.
Yes, 'porter le poids de l'échec' is also common and very similar.
'Emporter la victoire' (to carry away the victory).
No, it just describes the current feeling of carrying the loss.
Yes, 'un échec'.
Yes, to show you take your past mistakes seriously and learn from them.
Because 'échec' starts with a vowel, so we use elision.
Yes, 'se trimballer un échec' or 'avoir le seum'.
Related Phrases
essuyer un échec
similarTo suffer a failure
digérer l'échec
builds onTo get over a failure
surmonter l'échec
contrastTo overcome failure
tirer les leçons d'un échec
specialized formTo learn from a failure
un goût d'échec
similarA taste of failure
