clôture à piquets blancs
The English phrase "white picket fence" is translated into French as clôture à piquets blancs.
This phrase refers to a wooden fence made of white painted stakes. In both English and French, the term often carries a symbolic meaning, representing the idealized image of a middle-class suburban home.
Did you know?
- While clôture à piquets blancs is the literal translation, the image of a white picket fence is a specifically North American cultural trope. In France, suburban boundaries are more traditionally marked by stone walls or tall hedges.
- French law often requires a permis de construire or specific local declarations even for a simple clôture, as fence height and color can be strictly regulated by municipal codes.
- If you use the word clôture to describe a fence, you are using a term that is also the standard word for the 'closing' of a financial market or a business deal.
Examples in context
- Une petite clôture en bois blancA small white picket fence
- Cette clôture blanche en piquets est comme dans un conte de féesThis white picket fence is like in a fairy tale.
- Il a une jolie clôture à piquets blancs.He has a pretty white picket fence.
- La clôture à piquets blancs délimite le jardin.The white picket fence marks the boundary of the garden.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are looking at houses in the suburbs.
- NathanCette maison possède une clôture à piquets blancs.This house has a white picket fence.
- ChloéElle est très charmante, Nathan.It is very charming, Nathan.
- NathanC'est l'image typique de la banlieue.It is the typical image of the suburbs.
- ChloéOui, c'est très classique.Yes, it is very classic.
