Example: Son commentaire a jeté un froid dans la réunion animée.
Definition
"Jeter un froid" is a French expression meaning to create an awkward or uncomfortable atmosphere, often by saying something inappropriate or unexpected. For example, "Son commentaire a jeté un froid dans la réunion animée" means his comment caused a chill in the lively meeting.
Translations
To create an awkward silence
Crear un ambiente tenso
De sfeer bederven
Refredar l'ambient
Für eisige Stimmung sorgen
Etymology
The phrase "jeter un froid" literally translates to 'throw a cold' in English. It metaphorically describes how an action or remark can cool down the warmth or friendliness of a situation, much like a sudden drop in temperature. The origin is figurative and tied to the sensation of coldness symbolizing discomfort or awkwardness.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Jeter un froid" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select French as the language you want to learn.
To create an awkward silence