grignoter

French sea = mer (c) Kristin Espinasse  
Wisteria and the deep blue sea off Toulon…

Yesterday I had the chance to "grignoter une salade" with a friend along the seashore in Toulon… more about that adventure in the next edition.

grignoter (gree-nyoh-tay) verb
  1.  to nibble at one's food
  2.  to eat away at (savings, natural resources…)

Expressions:
grignoter une place = to obtain a seat (coucil, court, board)
grignoter du terrain = to gain ground
grignoter entre les repas = to snack between meals
grignoter son adversaire = to gain ground on one's opponent

………………………
Citation du Jour
Le bonheur est une petite chose que l'on grignote, assis par terre, au soleil.
Happiness is a little thing that we nibble, seated on the ground, in the sun.         –Jean Giraudoux

…………………………………………
A Day in a French Life…

(Don't miss the story that originally appeared here, along with the vocabulary below–now a part of this book!)

………………….
*References: un petit creux (m) = a little hunger; un gouter (m) = a snack; une mauvaise conscience (f) = a guilty conscience; le frigo (m) = the fridge; la gêne (f) = embarrassment; Pâques (m) = Easter; debout (adv) = standing; un pois chiche (m) = a chickpea; tu as une petite faim, cherie? = are you a little hungry, darling?; une cachette (f) = a hiding place; une frite (f) = a french fry; le niveau social (m) = social standing; bon appétit = enjoy your meal; rouge-tomate =
tomato-red


Discover more from French Word-A-Day

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.