A l’eau, c’est l’heure
That’s the motto of the French Navy.
(Thanks, Abby.)
5 Responses to “ A l’eau, c’est l’heure ”
“To the water, now is the time!”
However if you say the French words with a standard English accent it comes out as
“Allo Sailor”
far more appropriate ;o)
Groan. It’s obviously been so long since I’ve watched ‘Allo ‘Allo that that simply didn’t register. D’oh!
The quote “A l’eau, c’est l’heure” came from the late Miles Kington, author of the various franglais books.
“A l’eau, c’est l’heure” was in circulation before Miles Kington pubished his first Franglais work. I heard it first in 1978 (in a school assembly, no less!) as having been over the entrance to the Paris Boat Show in that year. I can’t corroborate this; but if Kington was the originator, it precedes his Franglais books; and if he wasn’t… if I were him I wouldn’t have rushed to correct the mis-attribution! In passing, the French Navy does not have this as a motto, and assumes it is simply an English put-down. I am told that if you ask a French sailor about the truth of this… well, you’d better duck!
My French is a tad rusty… “it is time to pass water”?
Only joking
Something like “to the water [sea?], it’s the time”?