Little Talk in Slow French

Episode Title: Expression: "Avoir quelque chose sur le bout de la langue"
Host: Nagisa Morimoto
Date: July 18, 2022

Brief Overview

In this episode, Nagisa Morimoto explores the French expression “avoir quelque chose sur le bout de la langue” (to have something on the tip of one's tongue). The episode is designed for French learners, focusing on vocabulary, context, everyday situations, and authentic conversational usage—complete with casual examples, cultural notes, and useful digressions about French language and customs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting and Context ([00:06])

• Nagisa is recording outdoors in the countryside, explaining a few French words related to the setting (e.g., “campagne” — countryside), and explaining that there might be natural background sounds.
• She mentions postponing a previously promised episode on reducing dependence on fossil fuels—this will come in a future episode. “En attendant,” she introduces the main topic: a common French expression.

2. Double Meaning of “La Langue” ([01:40])

• “La langue” has two meanings:
  • The tongue (body part).
  • A language (e.g., French, English).
• She illustrates both examples:
  • “Ma langue est bleue parce que j’ai mangé beaucoup de myrtilles.” (“My tongue is blue because I ate a lot of blueberries.”)
  • “Quelle est ta langue maternelle ?” (“What’s your mother tongue?”)
• Notable phrase: “Ma langue est bleue parce que j’ai mangé beaucoup de myrtilles.” ([02:38])

3. Breaking Down the Expression ([04:00])

• Explains “le bout” as “tip” or “end” (e.g., “le bout du doigt”—tip of the finger).
• The phrase “avoir quelque chose sur le bout de la langue” literally means “to have something on the tip of the tongue.”
• Used when you’re sure you almost remember something but can’t quite recall it at that moment.

4. Everyday Usage Scenarios

a. Remembering Facts ([07:00])

• Example: A friend asks, “C’est quoi déjà la capitale de la Bulgarie ?”
  • “Déjà” used here means “again” or “remind me.”
  • Response: “C’est... Oh là là, je l’ai sur le bout de la langue.” (“I have it on the tip of my tongue.”)
• Notable Quote:
  • “C’est... Oh là là, je l’ai sur le bout de la langue.” — Nagisa Morimoto ([07:30])
• Explains “Oh là là” as a very French exclamation, used for both positive and negative emotions.

b. Struggling to Remember Names ([09:00])

• Example: Forgetting an actor’s name:
  • “J’arrive pas à me souvenir du nom de l’acteur qui est dans Fight Club. Je l’ai sur le bout de la langue.” (“I can’t remember the name of the actor in Fight Club. I have it on the tip of my tongue.”)
  • Answer: Brad Pitt or Edward Norton.
• Notable Quote:
  • “J’arrive pas à me souvenir du nom de l’acteur qui est dans Fight Club. Je l’ai sur le bout de la langue.” ([09:19])

c. School or University Exams ([11:45])

• Used after an exam, when debriefing with classmates:
  • Expressing frustration at not recalling a philosopher’s name:
    • “Je suis trop saoulée, j’arrivais pas à me souvenir du nom du philosophe grec là.” (“I’m so annoyed, I couldn’t remember the name of that Greek philosopher.”)
  • Colloquial French: “être saoulé” (to be annoyed or pissed).
• A classmate says: “Tu veux dire Aristote?” (“You mean Aristotle?”)
  • Response: “Oui Aristote, putain, je l’avais sur le bout de la langue tout le long de l’exam.” (“Yes Aristotle, damn, I had it on the tip of my tongue the whole exam.”)
• Notable Quote:
  • “Oui Aristote, putain, je l’avais sur le bout de la langue tout le long de l’exam.” ([13:22])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:38 | Nagisa Morimoto | “Ma langue est bleue parce que j’ai mangé beaucoup de myrtilles.” | | 04:25 | Nagisa Morimoto | “Le bout, c’est the tip or the end.” | | 07:30 | Nagisa Morimoto | “C’est... Oh là là, je l’ai sur le bout de la langue.” | | 09:19 | Nagisa Morimoto | “J’arrive pas à me souvenir du nom de l’acteur qui est dans Fight Club. Je l’ai sur le bout de la langue.” | | 12:40 | Nagisa Morimoto | “Je suis trop saoulée, j’arrivais pas à me souvenir du nom du philosophe grec là.” | | 13:22 | Nagisa Morimoto | “Oui Aristote, putain, je l’avais sur le bout de la langue tout le long de l’exam.” |

Language and Tone

• Nagisa uses everyday, informal, and engaging French, blending English explanations for learners.
• She weaves in essential slang (“être saoulé,” “putain”) and cultural remarks about what’s commonly used in contemporary French.
• Frequent code-switching and playful asides maintain a friendly, accessible, and authentic tone.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:06 — Episode introduction and setting the context
• 01:40 — Explanation of “la langue” (tongue vs. language)
• 04:00 — Dissecting “le bout” and the core idiom
• 07:00 — Example: Forgetting a capital city; use of “déjà” and “Oh là là”
• 09:00 — Example: Can’t remember a name (actor in Fight Club)
• 11:45 — Example: After an exam, remembering a philosopher’s name
• 13:22 — Adding emphasis with “putain” and summarizing the meaning

Summary Takeaways

• Expression Focus:
  • “Avoir quelque chose sur le bout de la langue” is a widely-used French idiom meaning you almost remember something, but it’s just out of reach.
• Cultural Notes:
  • “Oh là là” and “putain” are frequently used expressions in French for a range of emotions.
  • Post-exam debriefing is a typical experience for students in France.
• Practical Relevance:
  • Useful in any situation where you’re trying to recall a word, fact, or name.
  • Helps learners sound natural and connect with native speakers.

Host’s Closing Words:
“Voilà, j’espère que vous avez appris beaucoup de choses et que vous saurez utiliser cette expression avoir quelque chose sur le bout de la langue et impressionner beaucoup de Français ou d’autres francophones bien sûr.” ([14:10])

For More:
For episode transcripts or further questions, Nagisa directs listeners to her Patreon and Instagram accounts.