ménage-toi
To pace yourself in French is to say ménage-toi.
The phrase is used to advise someone to avoid doing something too quickly or with too much effort to avoid becoming exhausted. The infinitive form is se ménager, which means to pace oneself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form ménage-toi is in the imperative mood, used to give advice or a command. The infinitive form of the phrase is se ménager.
Did you know?
- The verb ménager is used in the expression ménager la chèvre et le chou, which means to try to satisfy two opposing parties at once. It literally translates to 'sparing the goat and the cabbage'.
- The verb ménager comes from the same root as ménage, meaning 'household'. To pace yourself is literally to treat yourself as carefully as one would manage a home.
- While ménage-toi is a gentle suggestion, the phrase ne te ménage pas can be used as a challenge or a dare to someone to give their maximum effort in a competition.
Examples in context
- Avance à ton rythme, c'est un marathon, pas un sprint.Pace yourself, it's a marathon, not a sprint
- Tu as un long marathon devant toi, ménage-toi.You have a long marathon ahead of you, pace yourself.
- Ménage-toi un peu pendant la randonnée.Pace yourself a bit during the hike.
- Tu travailles trop, ménage-toi.You are working too much, pace yourself.
- Ménage-toi pour ne pas être épuisé ce soir.Pace yourself so you don't end up exhausted tonight.
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are preparing for a long walk in the mountains.
- ChloéOn va marcher longtemps aujourd'hui.We are going to walk for a long time today.
- LucasOui, je me sens très en forme.Yes, I feel very fit.
- ChloéMénage-toi, Lucas, pour éviter la fatigue.Pace yourself, Lucas, to avoid fatigue.
- LucasTu as raison, je vais doucement.You are right, I will go slowly.
