Example: Il m'a posé un lapin hier soir sans prévenir.
Definition
"Poser un lapin" is a French expression meaning to stand someone up by not showing up for a planned meeting or date without informing them. For example, 'Il m'a posé un lapin hier soir sans prévenir' means 'He stood me up last night without warning.'
Translations
To stand someone up
Dejar plantado
Iemand laten zitten
Deixar plantat
Jemanden versetzen
Etymology
The phrase "Poser un lapin" literally translates to 'to put down a rabbit.' Its origin is uncertain, but it likely emerged in 19th-century French slang, where 'lapin' (rabbit) symbolized something elusive or a trick. Did you know? The expression humorously conveys the disappointment of expecting company but only finding an empty place, as if a rabbit had been left instead.
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"Poser un lapin" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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To stand someone up