laver son linge sale en famille
To run away
字面意思: To wash one's dirty laundry in the family
Use this phrase to suggest that private problems should be solved privately, never in front of strangers.
15秒了解
- Keep private arguments away from the public eye.
- Resolve conflicts within the family or group.
- A reminder to stay discreet and protect reputations.
- Avoid making a public scene during a fight.
意思
It means settling private disputes or family arguments behind closed doors. You use it when you want to keep your dirty laundry out of the public eye.
关键例句
3 / 6At a restaurant with arguing relatives
Chut ! On lave son linge sale en famille, pas au restaurant.
Shh! We wash our dirty laundry in the family, not at the restaurant.
During a tense office meeting
Réglons cela en interne ; il faut laver son linge sale en famille.
Let's settle this internally; we must wash our dirty laundry in the family.
Texting a friend about a roommate dispute
Je ne dirai rien sur Twitter. On lave notre linge sale en famille.
I won't say anything on Twitter. We're keeping it between us.
文化背景
This idiom is famously linked to Napoleon Bonaparte, who used it to emphasize national unity during political turmoil. It reflects a deep-seated French cultural value of 'discrétion' and the separation of public and private life. Even today, French people generally prefer to keep personal or professional conflicts strictly within the relevant circle.
The 'Public' Twist
If you want to criticize someone for oversharing, say they are 'lavant leur linge sale en public'. It's a common way to call out 'TMI' (Too Much Information).
Don't be literal
If you actually have a washing machine problem at a relative's house, just say you're doing laundry. Using this phrase will make them think you're about to start a fight!
15秒了解
- Keep private arguments away from the public eye.
- Resolve conflicts within the family or group.
- A reminder to stay discreet and protect reputations.
- Avoid making a public scene during a fight.
What It Means
Imagine your family just had a massive blowout. You wouldn't want the neighbors hearing the drama, right? This phrase is all about privacy. It means resolving conflicts within the group involved. You keep the mess away from outsiders. It is about protecting your reputation. It is about keeping secrets safe.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb phrase. You can say il faut (it is necessary) before it. Or you can use it to describe a situation. It often appears when people are gossiping. It acts as a reminder to stay discreet. Use it when someone starts venting to strangers. It reminds them to go home first.
When To Use It
Use it during a heated family dinner. Use it when a company has internal drama. It works well when friends are fighting in public. You might whisper it to a sibling. It is perfect for professional settings too. It suggests that the team should talk privately. It is a very common way to shut down public scenes.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for literal laundry. That would just be confusing. Avoid it if the conflict is already public news. It is not for happy secrets or surprises. Do not use it if you are the outsider. It might sound like you are being nosy. It is best used by someone inside the group.
Cultural Background
This phrase is attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. He supposedly said it during a speech in 1814. He wanted to keep French political struggles internal. Since then, it has become a French staple. The French value their jardin secret (secret garden). Privacy is a huge part of French social etiquette. Keeping 'dirty laundry' hidden is a point of pride.
Common Variations
You might hear laver son linge sale en public. This is the exact opposite. It means airing your grievances for everyone to see. Sometimes people just say le linge sale. Everyone knows exactly what they mean. It is a very visual and effective metaphor.
使用说明
The phrase is neutral and very versatile. It is safe to use with your boss, your parents, or your friends, provided there is an actual conflict to discuss.
The 'Public' Twist
If you want to criticize someone for oversharing, say they are 'lavant leur linge sale en public'. It's a common way to call out 'TMI' (Too Much Information).
Don't be literal
If you actually have a washing machine problem at a relative's house, just say you're doing laundry. Using this phrase will make them think you're about to start a fight!
Napoleon's Secret
The French take 'discretion' seriously. This phrase isn't just about being polite; it's a social rule. Showing too much emotion or conflict in public is often seen as a lack of 'savoir-vivre'.
例句
6Chut ! On lave son linge sale en famille, pas au restaurant.
Shh! We wash our dirty laundry in the family, not at the restaurant.
A classic way to stop a public scene.
Réglons cela en interne ; il faut laver son linge sale en famille.
Let's settle this internally; we must wash our dirty laundry in the family.
Used here to protect the company's image.
Je ne dirai rien sur Twitter. On lave notre linge sale en famille.
I won't say anything on Twitter. We're keeping it between us.
Shows loyalty and a desire for privacy.
Arrêtez de hurler ! Le linge sale se lave en famille !
Stop screaming! Dirty laundry is washed in the family!
A stern reminder of social decorum.
Apparemment, ils ont oublié de laver leur linge sale en famille.
Apparently, they forgot to wash their dirty laundry in the family.
Sarcastic observation of a public breakup.
Il est préférable de laver son linge sale en famille plutôt que devant la presse.
It is preferable to settle our disputes privately rather than before the press.
Very close to the original Napoleonic usage.
自我测试
Choose the correct verb to complete the idiom.
Il ne faut pas ___ son linge sale en public.
The idiom specifically uses 'laver' (to wash) to complete the metaphor of cleaning dirty laundry.
Complete the phrase with the correct location.
On lave son linge sale en ___.
The phrase 'en famille' indicates that the resolution should happen within the private group.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Laver son linge sale en famille'
Used with friends or siblings during a spat.
Hey, lave ton linge sale en famille !
Standard usage in most social situations.
Il vaut mieux laver son linge sale en famille.
Used in business or politics to suggest discretion.
Nous devons laver notre linge sale en famille.
When to keep it 'In the Family'
Company Scandal
Internal audit before PR release.
Family Feud
Stopping a fight at a wedding.
Friend Group Drama
Taking a group chat argument to a private call.
Sports Team Conflict
Coach talking to players in the locker room.
常见问题
10 个问题Not at all! You can use it for any close-knit group, like a group of friends, a sports team, or even a company. For example, Dans notre entreprise, on lave notre linge sale en famille.
It depends on the tone. It can be a helpful suggestion to stay private, or a sharp rebuke if someone is being too loud. Use Il vaudrait mieux... (It would be better to...) to make it softer.
Yes, it is neutral enough for a professional setting when discussing internal issues. It signals that you want to handle a problem without involving clients or the public.
The closest equivalent is 'to wash one's dirty laundry in public,' but the French version is usually phrased as a positive command to keep it private: 'to wash one's dirty laundry at home.'
You conjugate it like a regular '-er' verb. For example: Nous lavons notre linge sale en famille.
In this idiom, 'linge' is a collective noun and is singular. You say le linge sale, not les linges sales.
No, 'linge sale' (dirty laundry) specifically refers to problems, scandals, or arguments. For positive secrets, you might use garder le secret.
It is a classic, but definitely not old-fashioned. You will hear it in modern news, movies, and daily conversations.
Then you are describing the act of airing grievances openly. Il lave son linge sale en public means he is telling everyone his private problems.
Not a direct one, but you might hear déballer son sac (to unpack one's bag), which means to vent everything, often in public.
相关表达
Laver son linge sale en public
To air one's dirty laundry in public.
Déballer son sac
To get everything off one's chest / to vent.
C'est nos oignons
It's our business (mind your own business).
Entre quatre yeux
In private / between two people (literally: between four eyes).
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