Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
la langue de bois
English translation:
doublespeak
Added to glossary by
laurawheeler
Mar 2, 2004 13:23
20 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term
France
Quick, conscientious & thorough
Native in: English 
Works in: English to French, French to English
la langue du bois
French to English
Other
Other
how do we translate this in English, please?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +6 | cant, waffle, doublespeak, gobbledygook |
Karen Tucker (X)
|
| 5 | claptrap / babble / heresay, etc.... |
zaphod
|
| 4 | clichés, hackneyed phrases |
Tom Bishop
|
| 2 | platitudes |
Jonathan MacKerron
|
Proposed translations
+6
3 mins
Selected
cant, waffle, doublespeak, gobbledygook
jargon that can become doublespeak; bureaucrats and politicians are often accused of this; overly formulaic, evasive language that is not clear and to the point
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
: and it's Langue DE bois....usually applied to politicians et alia
3 mins
|
| agree |
Mihaela Sinca
4 mins
|
| agree |
Aisha Maniar
4 mins
|
| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
10 mins
|
| agree |
Yann Anyr Bouchedor
1 hr
|
| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: Agree that doubletalk/speak is closest. It is generally used to refer to politicians deliberately saying one thing, to hide the truth of what should really be said.
15 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "doublespeak will do it!
many thanks,"
50 mins
Tom Bishop
Native in English
Technical and commercial translations
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, English to French
Related KudoZ points
:
4
clichés, hackneyed phrases
Take your pick from these or other suggestions according to the precise context of which we are all unaware!
3 hrs
Jonathan MacKerron
Native in English
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
32
platitudes
according to the gospel of Harrap's
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Note added at 3 hrs 3 mins (2004-03-02 16:27:06 GMT)
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\"speaking out of both sides of one\'s mouth\"
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Note added at 3 hrs 3 mins (2004-03-02 16:27:06 GMT)
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\"speaking out of both sides of one\'s mouth\"
4 hrs
claptrap / babble / heresay, etc....
Must be a billion ways to describe it.
Discussion