pot d'or
The English phrase "pot of gold" is translated into French as pot d'or.
The phrase refers to a mythical treasure, such as the one hidden at the end of a rainbow by a leprechaun.
What does it mean word for word?
pot d'or is a contraction of pot de or, where pot means pot and or means gold.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase pot d'or, the preposition de elides to d' because or begins with a vowel. This is done to avoid a hiatus.
Did you know?
- In French, the word pot is used in the idiom un pot de colle, which translates literally to 'a pot of glue' but is used to describe a person who is 'clingy' or won't leave you alone.
- In French folklore, the equivalent of a leprechaun is often the lutin, a mischievous sprite who might hide treasures but is fundamentally different from the Irish figure.
- The word or for gold is a homonym of the French conjunction or, which is used to introduce a new fact in a logical argument, similar to the English 'now'.
Examples in context
- Le pot d'or est un symbole de chance et de fortune.The pot of gold is a symbol of luck and fortune.
- Si je gagne à la loterie, je trouverai le pactole!If I win the lottery, I'll find my pot of gold!
- Il cherche un pot d'or au bout de l'arc-en-ciel.He is looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
- Les enfants croient au pot d'or des lutins.The children believe in the leprechauns' pot of gold.
- On ne trouve jamais de pot d'or dans la vraie vie.One never finds a pot of gold in real life.
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are talking about a fairy tale story.
- NathanEst-ce que le héros a trouvé son pot d'or ?Did the hero find his pot of gold?
- ManonNon, il n'a trouvé que des illusions.No, he only found illusions.
- NathanC'est dommage pour lui.That is too bad for him.
- ManonC'est la fin de l'histoire, Nathan.That is the end of the story, Nathan.
