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  3. Slang

elle me baise les pieds

English translation: she almost/practically kisses the ground I walk on

22:20 Sep 5, 2005
French to English translations [PRO]
Slang
French term or phrase: elle me baise les pieds
Context - the same male manager of ladies' clothes shop is still being accused of sexually harassing the female staff.

The manager's wife is now involved, relating a tale of her own experience of one of the allegedly-harassed staff members. This wife visits the shop, and says that:

Quand je [the wife] viens au magasin, elle [the member of staff accusing her husband of harassment] me baise les pieds… elle dit que mon mari la harcèle

Now, I'm assuming that no literal mouth-to-foot interface is involved here, so I'm thinking that "kisses my feet" won't do. Is it a slang way of saying "grovel"? Seems possible. Or maybe "she won't leave me in peace"? All help appreciated.
Charlie Bavington
Local time: 08:32
English translation:she almost/practically kisses the ground I walk on
Explanation:
she is all over me
Selected response from:

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 09:32
Grading comment
While I agree with Rita's view of the headline answer, I went for "all over me", based to no small degree on Anna Maria's interpretation of what was actually going on. Unfortunately though, I just didn't like the feet kissing suggestion in English (which *would* mean grovel), so "all over me" it is. Thanks to all for your help and suggestions.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4I think you are on the right lines...
Sara Noss
5 +1Not offensive
Juan Jacob
4 +2It does mean to kiss the feet but not to grovel. The sense is...
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
4 +1grovel
Hacene
4 +1she almost/practically kisses the ground I walk on
CMJ_Trans (X)


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Not offensive


Explanation:
Elle me baise les pieds: she kisses my feet.
Nothing "bad" in it.
Baise, though, means to f...

Juan Jacob
Mexico
Local time: 01:32
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in FrenchFrench
Notes to answerer
Asker: The "offensive" was a hangover from the previous Q (and even there, I was just being very cautious!) Yeah, I know it can mean f... too!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  sarahl (X): agree except with the 3rd comment. it just means kissing with hands and feet, even south of the Ardennes :-)
41 mins
  -> Merci, quoique "baiser" veux bien dire f..., au sud des Ardennes et partout ailleurs, que je sache.
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18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
I think you are on the right lines...


Explanation:
'She grovels' is about right, or 'she really sucks up to me'.

All the best!

Sara

Sara Noss
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  suezen: sucks up to me is good
7 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  PFB (X)
7 hrs
  -> Merci bien.
agree  David Goward: "sucks up to me"
8 hrs
  -> Cheers.
agree  tatyana000: sucks up to me
18 hrs
  -> Thank you, Tanya.
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
grovel


Explanation:
that's exactly that. The boss's wife befriends and is nicely hypocritical with the concerned woman

Hacene
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:32
Native speaker of: French

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  PFB (X)
7 hrs
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32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
It does mean to kiss the feet but not to grovel. The sense is...


Explanation:
the staff member is eternally grateful and so happy when the wife visits because that means that the husband (the manager) will have to behave himself in the presence of the wife. Whilst the wife is there the staff member has a few moment's respite. The staff member has protested to the wife and is seeking support and help/protection/defense of cause from her. Staff member doesn't want to lose her job but in France you can complain to many employee defense organizations for this kind of thing, assuming this is a real story. HTH

Anna Maria Augustine (X)
France
Local time: 09:32
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X): that's right...it's just like English....to kiss someone's feet..it is the same expression and no groveling!
15 hrs
agree  Gina W: yes, what Jane said...:)
4 days
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
she almost/practically kisses the ground I walk on


Explanation:
she is all over me

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 09:32
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 19
Grading comment
While I agree with Rita's view of the headline answer, I went for "all over me", based to no small degree on Anna Maria's interpretation of what was actually going on. Unfortunately though, I just didn't like the feet kissing suggestion in English (which *would* mean grovel), so "all over me" it is. Thanks to all for your help and suggestions.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Adam Warren: This seems the most plausible interpretation
1 hr
neutral  RHELLER: that means "to adore" - doesn't seem to fit here
4 hrs
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