à faire et à ne pas faire
The English phrase "dos and don'ts" can be translated into French as à faire et à ne pas faire.
This phrase is used to describe a set of things that one should or should not do in a specific situation.
Meaning: set of things that one should do or not do in a particular situation (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal construction meaning "to do and to not do".
Which one should you use?
You may also use the more formal les règles de conduite, which means "rules of conduct".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of France, you might encounter the expression Les bonnes pratiques et les erreurs à éviter.
Did you know?
- The word pas used to mean a physical step, but it became a grammatical tool for negation. It originally reinforced verbs of motion to mean 'not a step', eventually evolving into the standard way to say 'not' in modern French.
- The French word faire shares a common Latin ancestor, facere, with the English word 'factory'.
Examples in context
- Voici les choses à faire et à ne pas faire pour votre entretien.Here are the dos and don'ts for your interview.
Example conversation
Emma is preparing Lucas for a business trip to Japan.
- EmmaLucas, regarde ce guide sur les choses à faire et à ne pas faire.Lucas, look at this guide on the dos and don'ts.
- LucasC'est utile, merci beaucoup Emma.It is useful, thank you very much Emma.
- EmmaIl est important de respecter les règles locales.It is important to respect the local rules.
- LucasJe vais lire tout le document attentivement.I am going to read the whole document carefully.
